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Submitted By -Pulled From Tower
On Friday May 26, 2000, a Hydro One Networks Inc. Line Crew was working on a transmission right of way west of Sentinel Drive, north of Finch Avenue in the City of Toronto. The crew was preparing to refurbish tower #998 on circuit C4R/C5R. Before the first employee began his ascent of the tower, his handline rope was laid out on the ground, in accordance with usual practice, at the base of the tower. At approximately 08:10 while the employee (who was utilizing fall arrest protection) was ascending the tower with the handline attached to his harness, a Hydro One Networks Inc. vehicle, operated by a member of another crew, traveled past the tower site on the right of way. The handline became entangled in the undercarriage of the vehicle and, as the vehicle continued to drive past the tower with the handline so entangled with it, the employee was pulled off the tower. The mechanics of the incident caused one of the karabiners in the fall arrest system that connected the employee to the tower to break and he fell approximately 18.3 metres (60’) to the ground. Crewmembers immediately administered first aid and Emergency Services arrived on site shortly after the fall.