FACTS:
The injured employee was an experienced cell phone tower mechanic/technician who suffered injuries to his ribs, chest, neck, and right shoulder in a fall while working about 100 feet above the ground.
Fortunately, the employee had properly secured himself with the proper safety equipment, as was his practice. The circumstances of this accident underscore the inherent danger of this type of work. A properly equipped, safety-conscious cell tower mechanic is at great risk for serious injuries to his core, even while exercising all due care and caution.
In this case, the injured employee had a history of a prior costal cartilage and rib fractures, associated with prior falls while working on different cell towers more than 100 feet above the ground. These prior injuries set the stage for the disabling effects of the fall that lead to the workers’ compensation lump sum settlement in this case.
