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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 123942757 - Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Inspection Information - Office: Modesto District Office
Site Address:
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
P.M. 8.5 Highway 88
Ione, CA 95640
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 7779, San Francisco, CA 94120
Union Status: Union
SIC:4911
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: Y
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 03/18/1993
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 01/05/2011
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361377856 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $5,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,000 |
| Current Penalty | $5,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,000 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 29400008 A | 03/18/1993 | 03/11/1993 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
A POWER LINE CONSTRUCTION CREW FOR AN ELECTRIC UTILITY PICKED UP TWO 55-FOOT-LONG AND ONE 75-FOOT-LONG UTILITY POLES, EACH WEIGHING BETWEEN 3200 AND 4000 POUNDS, AND LOADED THEM ONTO A TRAILER. THE CREW SECURED THE 75-FOOT-LONG POLE TO THE TRAILER BY CABLES AT THE FRONT AND REAR AND THEN USED A CABLE AND HOIST TO SECURE THE OTHER TWO POLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER POLE. THE EMPLOYEES DROVE TO A WORK SITE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 300 YARDS OFF THE HIGHWAY UP A FARM TRAIL ROAD. THEY REACHED A RIDGE THAT WAS ABOUT 100 FEET HIGHER IN ELEVATION THAN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIL. THEY PULLED THE TRUCK DOWN THE BACK SIDE OF THE RIDGE, LEAVING THE TRAILER AT THE TOP. THE TRAILER WAS NEARLY LEVEL FRONT TO BACK BUT WAS LEANING SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL TO THE RIGHT. THE CREW REMOVED THE BINDERS HOLDING THE POLES AND DECIDED TO REMOVE THE 55-FOOT-LONG POLE ON THE LEFT, OR UPHILL, SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THEY ATTACHED A DROP ROPE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAILER, PASSED IT OVER THE LOAD, AND WRAPPED IT AROUND THE DIE DOWN LOOPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. (A DROP ROPE IS USED TO EASE A POLE TO THE GROUND, NOT TO HOLD IT.) TWO EMPLOYEES ROLLED THE POLE TO THE EDGE OF THE TRAILER--ONE EMPLOYEE WAS USING A PEAVEY, AND THE OTHER WAS USING A 5-FOOT-LONG DIGGING BAR. WHEN THE POLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND, THE ROPE GOT CUT BY A ROCK. WITH THE POLE GONE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAILER, THE TRAILER TILTED MORE TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED THE POLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO BEGIN ROLLING FROM THE TRAILER. THE EMPLOYEE WHO HAD BEEN USING THE DIGGING BAR WAS STANDING BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE TRAILER AND THIS POLE. THE POLE ROLLED AGAINST HIM, PINNING HIS LEGS AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THE POLE KNOCKED THE EMPLOYEE OVER BACKWARDS ONTO THE GROUND AND LANDED ON HIM. HE RECEIVED MASSIVE CHEST INJURIES, AND HIS HEART WAS RIPPED IN TWO. FIRST AID AND CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION TECHNIQUES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE EMPLOYEE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
Keywords: CHEST, POWER LINE WORKER, CRUSHED, ELEC UTILITY WORK, TRAILER, UTILITY POLE, UNSTABLE LOAD
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 123942757 | Fatality | Fracture | Electrical power installers and repairers |