Transmission Tower Collapses
3

Question

Transmission Tower Collapses

dik (Structural)

(OP)

21 Jun 17 12:55

from the CBC, "In the wake of a fatal transmission line tower collapse in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Manitoba Federation of Labour is calling on Manitoba Hydro to make sure workers doing similar work in this province are safe.

"I hope these things are being looked at seriously and I'm very fearful," said MFL president Kevin Rebeck, worried that the accident in Newfoundland could be repeated in Manitoba. 5 Manitoba Hydro transmission towers collapse during assembly.

Condolences pour in as Forbes Bros. confirms 2 employees killed in transmission tower collapse. Two workers died Monday when a steel transmission tower collapsed while being built near Come by Chance, N.L.

Manitoba Hydro has had five transmission towers collapse between February and May this year, although there were no injuries reported in the Manitoba incidents."

There have been large staff cut-backs at Manitoba Hydro of late.

Dik

HamburgerHelper (Electrical) · Answer 1 · 2017-06-21 14:03:40

What is the death rate for field utility workers?

Edit: Around 30 to 50 workers in every 100, 000 are killed on the job every year.

http://www.tdworld.com/transmission/utility-line-w...

oldestguy (Geotechnical) · Answer 2 · 2017-06-21 14:13:16

This brings up the subject of safety when working at high places. I have a general question about training for those up there. In my climbing of my tower for amateur radio the first experiences were such that I had to watch every step. As time went on I had to force myself to be careful or I would not have any fear of falling while up up there. I had no "white knuckle" experience that some have had. Getting used to heights probably has some physiological explanation but what can be done about it?

HamburgerHelper (Electrical) · Answer 3 · 2017-06-21 14:17:47

I believe that the Mohawk steel workers in NY had similar death rates even though they had a strong reputation of not showing fear.

dik (Structural) · Answer 4 · 2017-06-21 14:18:58

When I was young and healthy, I used to do a lot of rock climbing... heights are no issue... My 3 point climbing skills kept me from being killed or seriously injured about 10 years back.

I was climbing down a series of ladders to inspect the connections of a grating floor that had been damaged by a hydraulic ram. When I hit the landing, it wasn't there... I nearly choked from my heart going into my throat... the area was poorly lit, but, it was only my means of climbing that saved me from going down another 30 or 40 feet...

Added: Manitoba Hydro is an exceptionally safety conscious organisation... and these fatalities are the exception.

Dik

JAE (Structural) · Answer 5 · 2017-06-21 14:23:01

Hey - very comfortable up top. No worries mate!

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drawoh (Mechanical) · Answer 6 · 2017-06-21 14:49:10

JAE,

They are all harnessed to the platform, right?

--
JHG

JohnRBaker (Mechanical) · Answer 7 · 2017-06-21 15:07:30

Speaking of the perception of heights, I recently posted a reply in another thread on Eng-Tips that I can't even ride in one of those fancy hotel glass elevators without having to stand facing the door. Flying has never bothered me, but even standing next to a 'high curb' makes me uncomfortable

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TenPenny (Mechanical) · Answer 8 · 2017-06-21 17:32:32

It seems strange to me that Manitoba has had 5 towers collapse in 4 months, and Newfoundland has had one as well.

That suggests to me that there's a major problem with either the design or the materials, or the method of construction. These towers have been built for decades, what's the problem now?

That said, I know there was a component, an angle bracket or such like, that was sourced from India for the Newfoundland job, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them was being re-worked locally because of faulty workmanship. I wonder if there is a connection.

msquared48 (Structural) · Answer 9 · 2017-06-21 18:41:09

Chinese steel, or bracing issues?

Were the transmission lines being installed, or were the failures prior to that loading?

Lots of questions, but few answers.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

3DDave (Aerospace) · Answer 10 · 2017-06-21 19:52:03

JAE,

Is this what happens when one guy climbs up and can't figure out how to get down, so another goes up to help, and then also gets stuck? Judging from the relative lengths of the beards it seems to have taken a few days to convince the last couple of workers to climb up there.

Or is this a version of a time-out for playing practical jokes on the work site?

msquared48 (Structural) · Answer 11 · 2017-06-21 20:31:56

Photo musta been taken by the crane operator?

A heli would have blown them away...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

JAE (Structural) · Answer 12 · 2017-06-21 21:11:32

3DDave - Ha! that is a good thought!

Otherwise, by looking at the photo it appears that there is an end plate with bolt holes that they are standing upon - waiting for a further extension.
The all were waiting for the next pipe section to come but then realized that they had nowhere to stand while they placed the next section.

So they sent in a Request for Information (RFI) to the designers and are simply waiting the prescribed 3 days to get an answer back.
Might be a week until they get a construction engineer to design a temporary walkway around the flange plate for them to stand on - all OSHA approved.

So until then they might use some sleeping bag slings hanging off the top.

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dik (Structural) · Answer 13 · 2017-06-21 21:17:01

JAE... Hehehehehheehe great explanation.

Dik

JohnRBaker (Mechanical) · Answer 14 · 2017-06-21 23:47:01

Since that photo was taken in downtown Los Angeles, that would not have been good time for a 'seismic event' to have occurred. And for the record, in the last 24 hours, there have been FIVE magnitude 1 or larger 'events' in the greater Los Angeles area (and that was a slow day).

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
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dik (Structural) · Answer 15 · 2017-06-21 23:55:15

A magnitude 1 is like a bus driving down the street... if it weren't for machines, you couldn't measure it...

Dik

JStephen (Mechanical) · Answer 16 · 2017-06-22 01:54:20

RE: Transmission Tower Collapses

JStephen (Mechanical) 22 Jun 17 01:54

Likely a drone picture.

JohnRBaker (Mechanical) · Answer 17 · 2017-06-22 02:40:30

Trust me, even a magnitude 1 event would be noticed at the top of a structure/column as tall as the one shown in the photo, if the epicenter was in the downtown area.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
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Irvine, CA
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MacGyverS2000 (Electrical) · Answer 18 · 2017-06-22 11:41:43

The tower pic was taken by a journalist/pro photog in a basket hanging from a crane.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

JohnRBaker (Mechanical) · Answer 19 · 2017-06-22 14:15:54

Another place I wouldn't want to be during an earthquake

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
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HamburgerHelper (Electrical) · Answer 20 · 2017-06-22 14:45:05

I don't know what it is about some russians but there are a ton of videos on youtube of people screwing around on towers and buildings. I think these guys on top of the tower in LA would get the hibbie gibbies doing some of this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtg-PB_j33s

sandman21 (Structural) · Answer 21 · 2017-06-22 15:01:26

Quote (JohnRBaker)
Trust me, even a magnitude 1 event would be noticed at the top of a structure/column as tall as the one shown in the photo, if the epicenter was in the downtown area.

Photo is of Wilshire Grand spire, you would not feel a 1.0 earthquake at the top of the building.

canwesteng (Structural) · Answer 22 · 2017-06-22 15:22:50

Magnitude 3 happen around here, they can barely knock down patio furniture... Magnitude 1 is 100x less energy, I doubt anyone has ever noticed.

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Transmission Tower Collapses
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