Inspection Detail

Inspection: 101432060 - Texas New Mexico Power Company

Inspection Information - Office: Fort Worth Area Office

Inspection Nr: 101432060

Report ID: 0636900

Date Opened: 09/23/1988

Site Address:
Texas New Mexico Power Company
1304 N. Ave. G, (N. Hwy. 6)
Clifton, TX 76634

Mailing Address:
2 Miles N. Of Meridian, Hwy. 144, Meridian, TX 76634

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:4911

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 09/26/1988

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 12/15/1988

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360344519

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	2					2
Current Violations	2					2
Initial Penalty	$1,400	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,400
Current Penalty	$1,400	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,400
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19260955 A02	11/21/1988	12/02/1988	$800	$800	$0		-
2.	01002	Serious	19260955 A04	11/21/1988	12/02/1988	$600	$600	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14466049

Event: 09/21/1988

FALL - ROTTED UTILITY POLE FAILED

A utility pole was being retired after about 60 years in service. The company had tested the integrity of the pole by sounding it, that is, the pole was struck above ground with a hammer, and the resulting sounds were evaluated. The pole was determined to be solid with this method despite the fact that the company's safety manual required digging 254 millimeters below ground level and sounding, with further checks based on the quality of the initial testing. This rule had been routinely violated for several years. Two power line workers climbed this pole to release the overhead power lines it supported. The pole, which was guyed on the side opposite to where the lines were attached, was rotten just below ground level. When the employees released the tension on the pole from the power lines, the pole shifted and broke where it had rotted. Both employees fell to the ground. One of them died of his injuries. The other employee sustained injuries for which he was hospitalized.

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

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	101432060			Fatality	Bruise/Contus/Abras	Electrical power installers and repairers
2	101432060			Hospitalized injury	Bruise/Contus/Abras	Electrical power installers and repairers

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