Hidden Utility Box Hazard Avoided During Roadside Fiber Pull Operation

Customer

AEP

Location

Virginia

Highlights

  • Injury Averted by Situational Awareness in Dense Terrain
  • Immediate Escalation and Hazard Marking Protected the Team
  • Field Practices Updated to Include Vegetation Risk Sweeps

Hidden in Plain Sight: How Quick Thinking Prevented Injury During a Fiber Pull Operation

The Challenge

While performing a fiber pull between spans along a roadside, the crew had to navigate through an area of dense overgrowth. Vegetation was heavy and unmaintained, reducing visibility and limiting the crew’s ability to clearly assess their immediate work path. Concealed within the overgrowth was an uncovered water meter box, approximately three feet deep. A crew member leading the fiber pull was just steps away from unknowingly stepping into the hazard—an action that could have resulted in a twisted ankle, knee injury, or even a broken leg.

The Solution

Fortunately, the crew member:
  1. Maintained Situational Awareness Observed the depression in time and halted his step mid-motion.
  2. Escalated the Hazard Immediately Alerted the rest of the team to avoid the area and marked the hazard clearly for visibility.
  3. Recommended Path Inspection Going Forward Initiated discussion with the site lead to incorporate clearing or inspecting fiber pull paths during job setup and task briefings.

Key Benefits

  • Injury Prevention: What could have been a serious incident was avoided due to alertness and timely reaction.
  • Crew-Wide Hazard Awareness: By marking the hazard and communicating quickly, the team ensured everyone stayed safe.
  • Improved Pre-Task Planning: Reinforced the importance of scouting and clearing work paths—especially in vegetated or off-road areas.
  • Demonstrated HPI in Action: Highlighted how human performance behaviors (situational awareness, peer communication) contribute to real-time risk mitigation.

The Results

  • No injuries occurred.
  • The hazard was neutralized by marking and flagging.
  • The crew now incorporates visual sweep practices before fiber pulls in vegetated or off-road ROW areas.
  • The event is being shared as a lesson in hidden hazard detection and reaction-based injury prevention.

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