Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200515625 - Communication Tower Worker Is Killed in Fall

Accident Summary Nr: 200515625 -- Report ID: 0552700 -- Event Date: 06/26/2012
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
316574938	06/27/2012	1731	238210	Midwest Steeplejacks Inc

Abstract: At approximately 5:50 p.m. on June 26, 2012, Employee #1, of Midwest Steeplejacks, Inc., Fargo, ND, was working with Coworker #1 on a 300-foot telecommunication tower in Solway, MN. They were pathing the tower's communication dish with another communication dish located on a telecommunication tower in Bagley, MN, where Coworkers #2 and #3 were working. The task of pathing involved the sending and receiving of microwave signals between the two dishes to align and adjust them so they communicated more effectively. Both dishes had been installed previously. Employee #1 was wearing an ExoFit XP Tower Climbing Harness equipped with a positioning device and twin lanyards. Witness interviews obtained from the Beltrami County Sheriff's Department indicated that Employee #1 was using only one tie-off point when he unhooked his positioning device to reposition himself at a different location on the tower. He fell feet first approximately 153 feet. Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene.

Keywords: COMMUNICATION TOWER, CONSTRUCTION, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, TOWER, COMMUNICATION WORKER

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Tower, tank, storage elevator		Maintenance or repair		Under $50,000		300	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	316574938			Fatality	Other	Electronic repairers, communica. & indus. equip.	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: 153 feet Cause: Installing equipment (HVAC and other) Fatality Cause: Fall from/with structure (other than roof)

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