Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310198403 - Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

On August 15, 2007, Employee #1 was working as a "lineman" with a crew of four employees, including himself. They were working on a project of replacing an electrical pole, and transformer. On the day of the accident, one employee had climbed the pole and installed the "gin pole" assembly to the pole. The "gin pole" assembly is used to hoist the transformer up the pole for installation. At the time of the accident, the crew was raising the 448-lb transformer onto the new pole to install it. They were using an electric hoist (Capstan) with a 100 ft one-inch polypropelene "bull line" rope which is wrapped on the pulley block, which is hooked to the gin pole. The transformer had been raised up to the location under the crossarm where it was to be attached to the pole. A coworker, who installed the "transformer gin assembly", was located on the pole just below the crossarm. Employee #1 had climbed the pole and was positioned about half-way down the 45-ft pole. According to Employee #1, he was positioned there to direct the transformer as it was raised, to make sure it was not in position to hit other cables and apparatus on the pole. Two coworkers were located on the ground, one operating the hoist and the other operating a tag line for the transformer. Employee #1's job was to stay on the pole until the transformer was successfully attached to the pole. At the moment the transformer was raised into position, with Employee #1 on top about to fasten it in place, the "transformer gin assembly" came off the pole, causing the transformer to fall along with the whole "transformer gin assembly". The hoist rope came down and fell across Employee #1's safety belt, pushing him into the pole with the weight of the hanging transformer causing his right leg to be smashed against the pole. The leg was broken between the knee and ankle, and Employee #1 could not release himself from his position. The foreman, who was on the ground, immediately cut the rope which released the pressure from his leg and they initiated a "pole rescue" operation to bring the injured employee off the pole. Employee #1 was taken to Northridge Hospital, where he was hospitalized for seven days with surgery to his right leg.

Keywords: SUPPORT CABLE, TRANSFORMER, LEG