Inspection Detail

Inspection: 106608003 - Southwest Rural Electric Association

Inspection Information - Office: Fort Worth Area Office

Investigation Summary

On October 22, 1990, Employee #1 and a helper were among a team of employees engaged in changing out about 4 miles of single phase electrical transmission line to 3 phase. Most of the poles had been replaced. The 2 employees were told to install a crossarm on an existing pole. They surveyed the pole and Employee #1 decided that he would climb the pole. He got his hand line and climbed to the area of the transformer where he placed his safety belt around the pole and secured it to his belt. When he sat into his belt, the top of the pole just below the belt separated and Employee #1, along with about 8 ft of the pole, fell to the ground. Employee #1 died.

Keywords: COLLAPSE, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, FALL, UTILITY POLE