Ball and socket connectors are used to attach conductor stringing blocks to
insulators on the arms of 90 foot metal towers of electrical transmission lines.
Normally stainless steel cotter keys secure the ball and socket connector in
place. In this case, however, black electrical tape was wrapped around the
socket to keep the ball in place rather than a cotter key. The tape apparently
stretched and the ball came loose, dropping the stringing block approximately
90 feet onto the head of an employee below, one of a four-man erection crew.
What should be recommended to prevent this accident from happening again?