Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1684028.015 - Northern States Power Company, A Wisconsin Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Eau Claire Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 10:45 a.m. on July 12, 2023, a 65-year-old journeyman lineman (Employee #1) was working with two other linemen on an electrical line replacement and upgrade job for service to a new residential property (single family home). Part of the job was to install new pole-to-pole triplex wire, and the plan was to trim tree limbs that were approaching the pre-existing secondary 120/240 V power line that ran along the main roadway. With the bucket in travel position (i.e. lowered), Employee #1 donned a full body harness and was in the process of accessing the bucket from the catwalk/platform system located on the passenger-side of the truck. Before entering the bucket and connecting the anchored lanyard to the harness, Employee #1 fell from the truck approximately 96-106 inches to the blacktop pavement. Employee #1 was transported off site via ground ambulance and was later life-flighted to a regional trauma center and placed on life support. On July 14, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Employee #1 died due to a spinal fracture and traumatic brain injury.

Keywords: Electrical Work, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Fracture, Overhead Power Line, Spine, Traumatic Brain Injury, Tree Trimming