

Customer
American Electric Power
Location
Ohio
How AEP Leveraged Rapid Field Response to Prevent Pole Failure in Unstable Soil
The Challenge
The Solution
Key Benefits
- Rapid Risk Containment: Early identification and swift communication prevented a potentially catastrophic pole failure.
- Structural Stabilization: Strategic installation of a secondary pole anchor mitigated ongoing soil movement and ensured structural integrity.
- Field-Centric Decision-Making: Demonstrated effective escalation protocols and field judgment under changing site conditions.
- Improved Safety Culture: Reinforced the practice of stopping work at the first sign of instability and prioritizing crew safety over schedule pressure.
The Results
- Zero injuries and no equipment damage, despite deteriorating site conditions.
- No service interruption occurred, and conduit installation resumed with reinforced site safety measures.
- This incident now serves as a reference case for dynamic excavation response planning in poor soil environments.
- The response validated Think Power Solutions’ emphasis on real-time monitoring and field-level safety decision-making protocols.