Accident/Incident: Mossel Bay Accident/Incident: Mossel Bay Municipality. Municipality.

Accident occurred during July 2006Accident occurred during July 2006

Description of eventsDescription of events

A Senior Electrician from the Mossel Bay A Senior Electrician from the Mossel Bay Municipality, Eastern Region sustained serious injury Municipality, Eastern Region sustained serious injury (broken leg, ribs and punctured bowel) when he fell (broken leg, ribs and punctured bowel) when he fell to the ground whilst replacing a low voltage to the ground whilst replacing a low voltage distribution box on a wooden pole, which broke at distribution box on a wooden pole, which broke at the base.the base.

The wooden pole, which forms part of an ABC strain The wooden pole, which forms part of an ABC strain assembly was also supported by a stay wire which assembly was also supported by a stay wire which sheared at a weak point. The electrician worked on sheared at a weak point. The electrician worked on the same pole a week prior to the incident and the same pole a week prior to the incident and therefore misjudged the integrity of the wooden pole therefore misjudged the integrity of the wooden pole and stay wire which are erected on an island where and stay wire which are erected on an island where the water table is high.the water table is high.

Great Brak River- Mossel BayGreat Brak River- Mossel Bay

An investigation has revealed as follows:An investigation has revealed as follows:

A week prior to the incident the electrician A week prior to the incident the electrician worked on the same pole and tapped the pole worked on the same pole and tapped the pole with a mallet to ascertain whether the inner core with a mallet to ascertain whether the inner core of the pole had decayed. As he did not hear a of the pole had decayed. As he did not hear a hollow sound from the pole, he assumed that the hollow sound from the pole, he assumed that the pole was healthy.pole was healthy.

The electrician neglected to examine the The electrician neglected to examine the condition of the stay wire as it was covered with condition of the stay wire as it was covered with creepers. It was discovered that the stay wire creepers. It was discovered that the stay wire had deteriorated extensively and was on the had deteriorated extensively and was on the brink of failure.brink of failure.

Corroded Stay WireCorroded Stay Wire

Decayed Wooden PoleDecayed Wooden Pole

Lessons from this incident Lessons from this incident

A decayed pole in a water logged environment may A decayed pole in a water logged environment may not give off a hollow sound when tapped with a not give off a hollow sound when tapped with a mallet.mallet.

Employees should be constantly alert of hidden Employees should be constantly alert of hidden defects. A corroded stay wire amongst vegetation is defects. A corroded stay wire amongst vegetation is a potentially dangerous condition.a potentially dangerous condition.

Thank You!Thank You!