Inspection Detail
Inspection: 1418197.015 - Wood County Telephone Company
Inspection Information - Office: Madison Area Office
Site Address:
Wood County Telephone Company
15th Street South
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 8045, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495
Union Status: Union
SIC:
NAICS: 517110/Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Inspection Type: Referral
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 09/10/2019
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 12/23/2019
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Referral | 1478486 | Yes |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $11,934 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $11,934 |
Current Penalty | $10,144 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,144 |
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. | 01001A | Serious | 19100268 C | 09/16/2019 | 12/31/2019 | $10,144 | $11,934 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
2. | 01001B | Serious | 19100268 C01 | 09/16/2019 | 10/15/2019 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 4:45 p.m. on July 20, 2019, an employee and a coworker were removing tree brushes that had fallen onto pole-mounted coax cable for a telecommunications company clearing tree limbs and downed trees from pole-mounted coaxial cable following a severe weather event. The weather produced straight lines of approximately 90 mph that blew down trees and tree limbs throughout the city. The employee was using a chainsaw to remove tree branches from the canopy of a tree that had fallen onto the coax cable. The coworker was acting as a spotter and helper for the employee. The employee cut a branch that was partially supporting the tree canopy when the coworker saw the tree canopy start to shift and move. The coworker warned the employee, and the employee was struck across the back by the tree trunk portion of the canopy. The employee sustained paralysis from a severed spinal cord, a fractured pelvis, fractured shoulder, and multiple fractured vertebrae. The employee was hospitalized for these injuries.
Keywords: Chain Saw, Fracture, Paralysis, Pelvis, Shoulder Bone, Struck By, Telecom Work, Tree, Tree Care, Vertebra
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1418197.015 | 38 | M | Hospitalized injury | Telecomm: Line Installers And Repairers |