21.01.2008

Man tossed from platform

A Sacramento Municipal Utilities District employee was injured seriously yesterday while trying to repair downed power lines in South Sacramento. The accident happened after a car had collided with an overhead power line pole bringing down the cables.

The crew arrived with a utility truck to repair the damage while the man was repairing power lines from the aerial work platform a large truck is said to have clipped the aerial lift causing a catapult effect in the basket which threw the man out of the cage.
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The utility truck after the accident

The man, who does not appear to have been wearing a full body harness and short lanyard, fell to the ground, sustaining a broken arm and a broken leg. He was rushed to a hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Reports are not clear on the issue, but a photograph we have been sent suggest that a belt type harness with long lanyard might have been used?

Vertikal Comment

This man was extremely fortunate not to have died he probably fell less than four metres, but still more than enough to have been fatal.

The number of such catapult accidents has appeared to have fallen in the past three months or so, and there is no question that more users are wearing harnesses with short lanyards. If this man had been so equipped he would have remained in the platforms and probably only have suffered from bruising.