Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125876284 - Southern Contracting Company

Inspection Information - Office: San Diego District Office

Investigation Summary

At 1:45 p.m. on November 18, 2003, Employee #1 was part of a crew replacing power poles that had been destroyed by fire in a remote part of Harbison Canyon, CA. At the time of the accident, he was setting up the electrical equipment on the new poles. Employee #1 was hanging a hand line on an arm gin for new power lines when he shifted his weight and leaned back. His safety clip detached from the D-ring on his safety harness and he fell approximately 35 ft onto the duff on the ground, and then tumbled downhill. The foreman was about 5 ft away from the pole and he contacted the general manager, who call the paramedics. Employee #1 sustained three fractured vertebrae, a dislocated leg, a separated kidney, a right rotator cuff injury, and fractured ribs. He was flown to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA, where he was admited to intensive care. The employer had provided proper training and instruction on safety practices related to high voltage electrical work in remore and elevated locations. The employer had also provided fall protection and other appropriate equipment for the job. Employee #1's safety clip had became wedged between the V-brace and the cross arm brace at the top of the pole, causing it to become unclipped.

Keywords: ATTACHMENT HOOK, FRACTURE, POWER LINE WORKER, CONSTRUCTION, CAUGHT BETWEEN, ELEC UTILITY WORK, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, KIDNEY, VERTEBRA