Appalachian Power Company North Charleston Service Center
Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified - Fractures - ELKVIEW, West Virginia
| Employer | Appalachian Power Company North Charleston Service Center |
| Address | 1107 Canterbury Drive |
| City, State ZIP | ELKVIEW, West Virginia 25071 |
| Report ID | 20241110749 |
| Event Date | November 18, 2024 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Fractures |
| Body Part | Multiple trunk locations |
| Event Type | Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified |
| Source of Injury | Utility poles |
| Secondary Source | Ground, travel, and support surfaces unspecified |
| Industry (NAICS) | 926130 |
| GPS Coordinates | 38.52000, -81.50000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee and two crewmembers were dispatched to repair downed utility conductors after a tree fell onto the facilities and caused a power outage. The injured employee climbed the utility pole to untie the conductor so the team could pull the conductor up into position from the ground. The employee attached a web hoist to the conductor and needed to reposition the hoist to continue removing slack. As he resumed pulling slack with the web hoist, the pole made a cracking sound and subsequently fell in the direction he was working. The pole then fell to the ground with the injured employee still attached, resulting in fractured ribs, a compression fracture of their vertebrae, and a laceration to the chin.
Incident Summary
On November 18, 2024, a worker at Appalachian Power Company North Charleston Service Center in ELKVIEW, West Virginia suffered fractures to the multiple trunk locations. The incident was classified as fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified, with utility poles identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 190 severe injury reports involving "Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified" incidents in our database. Browse all Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified injuries.
See all reports for Appalachian Power Company North Charleston Service Center.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment unspecified events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. | PASCAGOULA, Mississippi | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Aug 2, 2024 | G & C CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, INC. | BOSTON, Massachusetts | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Waggoner's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. | OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma | Fractures and soft tissue injuries | Hosp. |
| Aug 8, 2025 | Vergara Perez Construction LLC | JACKSONVILLE, Florida | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Karcher Group Inc | CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Virginia | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Aug 4, 2025 | Perry Homes, LLC | CYPRESS, Texas | Closed trauma involving internal organs, major blood vessels | Hosp. |
| Sep 19, 2024 | Tinker & Tinker Masonry Inc. | TALLAHASSEE, Florida | Traumatic injuries or exposures unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jun 5, 2025 | Applied Mechanical Systems, Inc. | COLUMBUS, Ohio | Fractures | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately, they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.