Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300880556 - Smud

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On March 3, 2005, a utility pole was being moved approximately 11 ft further from a street. This required the movement of utility lines and cable lines. The new pole was installed and the line crew was moving the cable lines. The old pole had been cut off at the base and was secured by a pole grabber. The cable lines were caught up on the old pole and would not come free. The old pole was secured by the pole grabber and was at an angle next to the new pole. In order to free the cable, Employee #1, a lineman, climbed the new pole. As he was climbing the pole, the cable wire came free and struck him in the head, knocking him off of the pole. He fell approximately 26 ft, and he was hospitalized with two fractured legs and a cracked vertebra.

Keywords: FRACTURE, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, STRUCK BY, UTILITY POLE, VERTEBRA, LEG