The injured employee was assisting in the backfilling of a trench after sewer line and water line repair. A co-worker was directing a waiting vehicle while the injured employee was directing the operator of an excavator that was moving out of the road. The excavator made contact with an overhead electrical line and the injured employee touched the handle on the excavator resulting in a 7400-volt electric shock. The employee was hospitalized for burns to the hand, back and feet.