Worker Killed When He Touches Bare Wire Inside Fluorescent Sign : Electrocution: Relatives and friends are baffled by the death of Santa Ana man called ‘Mr. Caution.’ He had no partner on the job.

A maintenance worker was electrocuted after he touched a bare wire inside a fluorescent sign he had been repairing for a recreational vehicle company, authorities said Saturday.

The body of Scott Hamblin, 33, of Santa Ana was inside the giant sign at Camping World on South West Street for almost eight hours Friday before a co-worker was sent to check on him and found his body.

Deputy Coroner Bill King said Saturday that authorities do not know what caused the electrician of 10 years’ experience to make such a mistake.

Hamblin’s death stunned relatives, who said he was very conscious of safety. They were puzzled that he went to fix the sign alone when he usually worked with a partner.

“Why wasn’t anyone there with him?” asked Hamblin’s fiancee, Cindy Roderick, 33.

“We’re completely baffled by this,” said Kathryn Garrett, 39, Hamblin’s sister. “This is Mr. Caution here.”

Hamblin started working for Day-Lite Maintenance of Orange a month ago, Garrett said. He had two children, ages 9 and 13.

Garrett said Hamblin had worked on the Camping World sign Thursday and noted that there were melted wires inside. He arrived for work again Friday and climbed into the sign about 9:30 a.m., said Sgt. Jim Moore of the Anaheim Fire Department.

When he did not return to the lighting maintenance office, a co-worker was sent about 4:15 p.m. to find him.

Firefighters arrived 30 minutes later and broke off part of the double-sided sign to get inside. Also at the business were investigators from the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Alan Cussna, the service manager at Camping World, and the owners of Day-Lite Maintenance declined to comment Saturday about Hamlin’s death.