CABL Forum - Struck By/Fall From Heights

This is a pretty common accident:

Inspection: 305570517 - United States Digital Services Corporation, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Maryland Region 4
Nr: 305570517Report ID:0352440Open Date: 09/10/2002
United States Digital Services Corporation, Llc
2100 Queens Chapel Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC: 4841/Cable and Other Pay Television Services
Mailing: 9244 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
Inspection Type:Accident
Scope:PartialAdvanced Notice:N
Ownership:Private
Safety/Health:SafetyClose Conference:10/03/2002

Close Case:
Related Activity:TypeIDSafetyHealth
Accident102353786

Violation Summary

Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 1

1

2
Current Violations 1

1

2
Initial Penalty 2500

2500
Current Penalty 2500

2500
FTA Amount

Violation Items

# ID Type Standard Issuance Abate Curr$ Init$ Fta$ Contest LastEvent
1. 01001 Serious 19100268 D01 10/29/2002 11/03/2002 $2500 $2500 $0
-
2. 02001 Other 19040004 A 10/29/2002 11/03/2002 $0 $0 $0
-

Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 202347100Event: 09/09/2002Employee Is Injured In Fall From Ladder Onto Highway
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on September 9, 2002, Employee #1, a cable technician, was using a ladder to work on an existing cable television splice box situated on a pole in the 35-inch-wide concrete median strip of a four-lane highway that had a speed limit of 35 mph. The base of her ladder was in the center of the left southbound lane and was protected by a single traffic cone. A car in the left southbound lane, followed closely by a pickup truck, swerved to avoid hitting the ladder. The pickup truck also swerved, but its driver's side mirror struck the ladder as it passed, causing Employee #1 to fall approximately 15 feet to the roadway. She suffered a concussion, a laceration and abrasions to her head and face, and several lacerations and contusions to her back, arms, and legs. She was hospitalized with her injuries. There was only one cone at the base of the ladder, and no advance traffic signs warning motorists of the lane closure. The employer provided only two traffic cones and provided no traffic warning signs, despite referring to these signs in its safety program.
Keywords:fall, ladder, struck by, warning sign, highway, telecom work, concussion, laceration, traffic control, head

Inspection

Degree Nature Occupation
1 305570517

Hospitalized injury Concussion Electronic repairers, communica. & indus. equip.

INSTALLATION

CONSTRUCTION / TECH

OFFICE / OTHER

Struck By/Fall From Heights