Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200531044 - Employee Is Struck by Falling Utility Pole, Later Dies

Accident Summary Nr: 200531044 -- Report ID: 0751910 -- Event Date: 09/06/2006
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
310081823	09/07/2006	4911	221122	Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative

Abstract: Two employees were removing a 10.1-meter-long wooden utility pole as part of an electrical-service upgrade project. One of the employees was on the ground, near the pole. His coworker was operating a digger-derrick, with a wire rope sling and choker around the pole, to pull the pole from the ground. (The pole claws on the derrick were not functional because of a hydraulic failure.) The pole broke at a point about 1.5 meters above the ground. The top of the pole fell over and struck the first employee in the head and shoulder area. The injured worker was hospitalized and died approximately 1 day after the accident. The operator's manual for the digger-derrick prohibited using the equipment for pulling poles or other objects from the ground.

Keywords: DIGGER-DERRICK, HEAD, SHOULDER, POWER LINE WORKER, WORK RULES, ELEC UTILITY WORK, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, UTILITY POLE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	310081823			Fatality	Concussion	Electrical power installers and repairers

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