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Tower erector/inspector dies after falling 200 feet from a telecommunications tower to the ground - North Carolina.

Casini VJ; Hause MG; Pettit TA; Sniezek J

Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 97-10, 1997 Oct; :1-7

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full9710.html

20000472

On May 15, 1997, and 38-year-old male tower erector/inspector (the victim) died as a result of tower injuries sustained in a 200-foot fall from a telecommunications tower. The incident occurred while the victim and a co-worker were connecting antenna-support brackets on a leg of the tower. The victim apparently disconnected or was attempting to re-connect his fall protection and was climbing down the leg of the tower from 220 feet to 200 feet when he fell to the ground. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by rescue personnel. NIOSH investigators determined that to prevent similar occurrences, employers should: enforce existing safety programs, policies and procedures at all times; thoroughly plan all work and perform a job hazard analysis of the site prior to starting work to ensure employees' knowledge of the use of new tools or new tasks; provide a system or method of fall protection that protects employees at all times when working at elevations; ensure that fall protection equipment is appropriate and maintained in good condition.

Traumatic-injuries; Accident-prevention; Accident-analysis; Safety-equipment; Safety-programs; Region-4; Construction-Search

19971003

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

1998

PB99-157059

A03

FACE-97-10

DSR

NAICS-23

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NC; WV