Abstract: At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 30, 1991, Employee #1, a lineman for Citizens Utilities Company of California, was using a digger/line truck grapple and winch to remove a standing telephone pole. The 35 ft long pole was grappled below the balance point; when it was lifted out of the ground and the grapple released, the pole toppled over in the winch line. Employee #1 was working 13 ft away and had his back turned when struck by the falling pole. He sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. The employer was issued a citation for a serious violation of T8CCR 500(z) for improper hoisting and control of an overhead load.