Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200552362 - One employee killed, one injured in fall with utility pole

Accident Summary Nr: 200552362 -- Report ID: 0625700 -- Event Date: 02/20/2002
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304475098	02/21/2002	1795	0	Irby Construction Co. Inc.

Abstract: At 9:45 a.m. on February 20, 2002, Employees #1 and #2, both utility linemen, were removing an overhead line from a wooden pole during a pole wrecking operation. After taking down the wires, the two workers were beginning to remove a crossarm when the rotten base of the pole started to break. The pole then fell to the ground with both employees secured to it. Employee #1 suffered multiple injuries and was killed. Employee #2 sustained back injuries, for which he was hospitalized. Prior to climbing the pole, both employees had conducted a hammer test on it. They determined that the pole did not sound good, but they decided to go ahead and climb it anyway.

Keywords: DISMANTLING, POWER LINE WORKER, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, BACK, ELEC UTILITY WORK, FALL, UTILITY POLE, OVERTURN

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Powerline, transmission line		Demolition		Under $50,000		30	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304475098			Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: 30 feet Cause: Demolition Fatality Cause: Fall from/with structure (other than roof)
2	304475098			Hospitalized injury	Fracture	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Fatality Cause:

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