Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201271756 - Three employees are killed in tower collapse

Accident Summary Nr: 201271756 -- Report ID: 0418300 -- Event Date: 09/04/2003
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
306929613	09/04/2003	1799	238990	Doty-Moore Tower Service, Inc.

Abstract: On September 4, 2003, Employees #1 through #3 were at the 700 ft. level on a 1,000-ft-tall, three legged, guyed broadcast tower modifying it to conform to EIA/TIA standard 222-F. Horizontal braces had been installed to enhance the structural strength of the tower. A 160-ft-long gin pole that moves on a track had been assembled at or about the 700 ft. level on the tower. When the track on the gin pole was being raised by a base-mounted drum hoist, the tower collapsed, killing Employees #1 through #3. The investigation determined that the base blocks for the load line and jump line had been attached to the tower at the 35-foot level as opposed to the industry practice of attaching them at the concrete tower base or to an independent anchor. Also, the hoist was at an angle from the face of the tower that resulted in torsional forces beyond those which the tower could withstand.

Keywords: ANCHOR, COMMUNICATION TOWER, COLLAPSE, WORK RULES, HOIST, TOWER

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Tower, tank, storage elevator		Other		$500,000 to $1,000,000		1000	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	306929613	Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Collapse of structure
2	306929613	Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Collapse of structure
3	306929613	Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Temporary work (buildings, facilities) Fatality Cause: Collapse of structure

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