Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119870558 - Pacific Bell

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was repairing a customer drop line from the house to the pole. He had followed all company rules regarding line testing and ladder usage. Employee #1 began to climb a fiberglass extension ladder using the proper fire fighter's stance for angle on the ladder, with hooks extended onto the strand and testing strand and a rope over the strand for security. The drop line from the strand to the customer's house became loose and caused the strand to move forward. Employee #1 felt the ladder move forward and then back. He was thrown off the ladder and fell between 10 ft and 15 ft. Employee #1 sustained a compression fracture to L1 and a basal skull fracture with intracerebellar hemorrhaging. He was hospitalized. There were no witnesses to the accident.

Keywords: FRACTURE, EXTENSION LADDER, REPAIR, TELECOM WORK, HEMORRHAGE, SKULL, FALL, LOST BALANCE, VERTEBRA, BRAIN