Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125591347 - At&T Broadband Internet Services

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

A group of employees was being trained to climb utility poles to install cable television service. The wood training poles, which were located in the cable company's yard, had step bolts installed. The step bolts were spaced 457 millimeters apart (914 millimeters on each side). The working level, which was about 6.4 meters above the ground, had two parallel steps installed. The next step down was 457 millimeters on the left side and 914 millimeters on the right. One at a time, the trainees would climb to the working level, tie off, lean back into their body belts and remove their hands from the pole, then unstrap and climb back down using the pole steps. The employees were trained to go down with the left foot first. One of the trainees was at the working level, ready to climb back down. She stepped down with her right foot first. She apparently panicked when she missed the rung, which was lower than she had anticipated. She bear-hugged the pole, but was unable to hold on and fell. She landed on her head and neck. She died of injuries sustained in the fall.

Keywords: TELECOM WORK, CABLE TV WORK, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, UNTRAINED, UTILITY POLE