Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310970553 - Tricon/Towerwerks, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: South Carolina Priv

Investigation Summary

On June 26, 2007, Employee #1 and his coworkers climbed a tower to a height of approximately 120 feet to begin their work. The foreman remained on the ground, engaged in related tasks. Employee #1 and his coworkers were installing bolts on the new diagonal bracing on the tower. Approximately two hours later, the foreman, a welder, and the site superintendent were on the ground preparing the welder to climb the tower. They heard someone yell and saw Employee #1 falling. He fell approximately 140 feet to the ground and was killed. Employee #1's coworkers on the tower later stated that Employee #1 had lacerated his finger and one of them gave him a piece of tape. He used it to seal the cut and then began to smoke a cigarette. Employee #1 apparently moved from a sitting position to a standing position, when he fell backward off the tower. A coworker observed Employee #1's pelican hook and lanyard unravel within the structure as he fell. There was no evidence that Employee #1 had been tied off at the time of the accident.

Keywords: INSTALLING, CONSTRUCTION, BOLT, SMOKING, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, BRACING, TIE-OFF, TOWER