OSHA Inspection: MONONGAHELA POWER

Issued

Apr 3, 1992

Abate by

May 4, 1992

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to:
a.  Job site State Route 124 and Sawyer's Run Bridge, Little
Hocking, Ohio:  Prior to allowing an apprentice lineman or any other
employee to climb and perform repair and/or maintenance work on the
electrical power wooden-pole-structure M13872, the employer failed
to execute the company's ten year cycle inspection program of wooden-
pole-structures.
On or about October 26, 1991, an employee was required to
climb a 1949, thirty-five (35) foot, class 6, electrical power wooden-
pole-structure (number M13872) to reconductor one span of number 8
steel two wire 7200V vertically constructed line, using a number two
AAAC conductor.  Because of the lack of adhering to the company's
ten year cycle of wooden-pole-structure inspection, the employee that
was required to climb wooden-pole-structure number M13872 was exposed
to the hazard of the wooden-pole-structure number M13872 breaking
off at approximately ground level and then falling to the ground.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement
methods to correct this hazard are:
1.  To institute and adhere to a sonar inspection of wooden-
pole-structures on or about a ten year in-service cycle.
2.  Wooden-pole-structures on or about the thirty-five (35)
year in-service cycle shall be inspected every two to
three years.
3.  Core testing sampling method to determine the internal
integrity of wooden-pole-structures on or about a ten year
in-service cycle.