Western Power Distribution worker Ryan Thomas was married to wife Zara and had a daughter Maisy
A man died when a "suspect" electricity pole he was climbing snapped at ground level, an inquest has heard.
Western Power Distribution (WPD) engineer Ryan Thomas, 28, died in 2013 while working near Cawsand in Cornwall.
The wooden pole had been classified as suspect by the utility company, but not marked as such, Georgina Speake from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the hearing.
Another WPD employee told the hearing no risk assessment was carried out.
Strapped to pole
The inquest heard Mr Thomas, from Grampound Road near Truro, was using a harness to climb the pole when working at night on a hillside to replace an overhead line.
He was still strapped to the pole when it fell on 16 January 2013. He died from multiple internal injuries, according to a post-mortem examination.
WPD linesman Robert Hambly told Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon that "nobody carried out a risk assessment" ahead of the work.
Mr Thomas, lived with his wife, Zara, and their baby, Maisy, who was eight-months-old at the time.
The inquest in Truro, which is expected to last up to two weeks, continues.
- Published18 January 2013
