DENVER—Qwest Communications International Inc. will inspect its wooden poles in Colorado for decay and other deterioration after a jury found the company liable for a 2004 accident that paralyzed a utility lineman.
The Denver-based telecommunications company said in recent court filings that it will replace or reinforce defective poles during the review starting this month. Qwest has about 157,000 poles across the state.
During the inspection, employees of Qwest and an outside firm will check its poles for lightning damage, cracks, woodpecker holes, broken wires and other warning signs.
In May, a Denver District Court jury awarded nearly $40 million to Xcel Energy Inc. lineman Andy Blood, who was injured when a Qwest-owned pole he was working on fell in suburban Adams County.
Bill Keating, Blood’s attorney, said Qwest failed to keep its poles safe and argued the company should establish a maintenance program for them. Qwest contended the accident was the fault of Minneapolis-based Xcel because it did not properly train Blood, and that Blood failed to check the pole for problems before he climbed it.
Denver District Judge Sheila Rappaport has increased damages against Qwest to about $84 million, ruling that the company put employees and the public at risk by failing to inspect the poles.
Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs said the company plans to appeal but declined to comment further.
———
Information from: Rocky Mountain News,
