Tower Safety

ILLINOIS STATE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION

EDUCATIONAL LUNCHEON

ILSWA.orgMarch 25th 2015

How many Towers are there ?

87 of America’s Top Tower companies make up 101,763 of the estimated over 205,000 Communication Towers in our country according to national statistics as of March 17, 2015.

How many Climbers are there ? OVER 29,000 TOWER CLIMBERS IDENTIFIED IN EXTENSIVE WIRELESS WORKFORCE SURVEY

February 17, 2015

According to a comprehensive study by WirelessEstimator.com identifying how many wireless technicians routinely work on elevated structures in the course of their employment, the number of tower climbers has dramatically increased to over 29,000 workers, almost triple from the last available analysis undertaken in 2006 which put the total of tower technicians at approximately 9,800.

wirelessestimator.com

Tower Safety

Exactly what would make working at Tower sites safe enough to prevent injuries including fatal injures, depends on whom you ask.

For some, its better education and training or more Supervision. For others better equipment and required maintenance, or having Top leadership from the Carriers, Turf vendors and Tower owners making safety an even greater requirement….

One of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America

wirelessestimator.com

Tower Fatalities Index

2015 0

2014 11

2013 14

2012 1

2011 7

2010 7

2009 5

2008 12

2007 11

2006 19

87 Fatalities in the past 9 years

OSHA's chief administrator has insisted that carriers and tower owners must take more responsibility for safety.

"It's really incumbent on them that safety provisions are absolutely implemented," OSHA director David Michaels said in an interview. "Safety can't just be pawned off on the final contractor."

osha.gov/doc/topics/communicationtower

So many areas: Training, Certifications, laws, compliance code, governmental requirements, special equipment etc.

Today’s session is more about feeling and experiencing the individual equipment a Tower climber uses day in and day out to get the job done.

We start with the simple understanding of why we are driven around our shared practice and requirement of 100% tie-off

Where do We start ?

YEAR OF THE

CLIMBER

aglmediagroup.com

OUR focus on being Safe starts with the commitment to 100% Tie-Off

Maintain 100 Percent Tie-Off

The Climber is always connected to a restraint or Fall-arrest System, and is always connected to the tower.

One of the most common and most dangerous misuses in tower climbing among both veterans and new workers is Free climbing without and connection to the tower.

2015 Workers’ at Heights Safety & Health Initiative

What was used in the Past

What is used Today

Safety & Rigging Equipment Costs

Crew Equipment to Climb Qty Total

Load Rope 5/8- 1200 1 $ 1,200.00

Load Rope 5/8- 600 1 $ 800.00

Safety Rescue Bag 1 $ 1,400.00

300 foot Rope Lifeline 5/8 2 $ 240.00

Capstan 1 $ 3,500.00

Rigging Slings 6 $ 360.00

3" Aluminum Hand Line Block 2 $ 300.00

Picking Straps 9 $ 270.00

Tool Lanyards 3 $ 60.00

$ 8,130.00 Crew Equipment to Climb Tower

$ 14,930.00 COSTS FOR 2 MAN TOWER TEAM

Single Climber Gear Qty Total

ExoFit Harness 1 $ 500.00

Tool Pouches 2 $ 60.00

Rope Grab 1 $ 150.00

Y lanyard 1 $ 100.00

Positioning Lanyard 1 $ 200.00

Gloves 1 $ 40.00

Carabiners 15 $ 450.00

Spreader Bar 1 $ 40.00

Gear Bag 1 $ 60.00

Helmet 1 $ 115.00

Safety Glasses 1 $ 10.00

Hard Hat 1 $ 40.00

Boots 1 $ 250.00

Fisk 1 $ 200.00

Cable Grab 1 $ 100.00

Anchor Strap w/ D-Rings 1 $ 25.00

Loop Slings 4 $ 40.00

$ 2,380.00 Single Man Tower Gear Total

x2 2 Climber Minimum to Work

$ 4,760.00 2 Man Team GEAR TOTAL

Training & Education - Investment

Training & Education more costs to grow

Don’t Rely on Experience to Be Your Fall Protection

Bring out the GEAR !

Welcome Our supporting member GC’s who are here to help you touch, feel and wear a full body harnesses !

Ropes, blocks, slings, straps, nose and bolt bags, helmet, tools = What a Tower tech carries everyday

(1) Out and set up at each table - Safe & Sound – Capital Cities

(2) Demo at each table – Wake me Up - Avicil

natehome.com/100-tie-off-24-7

The Wireless Industry Safety Task Force consists of top safety and operations executives representing wireless carriers, tower owners, OEM's, turnkey/construction management firms and National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). The Task Force has been established in order to collaborate on best practice solutions to achieve sustainable safety improvements in the industry.

Zero-Tolerance Policy Mandates

100% Tie-Off 24/7

Wireless Industry Safety Task Force

natehome.com

Safety Programsand Resources

natehome.com

Clip from -NATE 2015 Unite Today Video

natehome.com

Recommended Reading

• Year of the Climber - page 32

• Don’t Rely on Experience to be Your Fall Protection – page 34

• It Must Stop – page 38

• Incident Investigations – Communications Towers – page 40

• What to Expect from OSHA in 2015 and Beyond – page 42

aglmediagroup.com

Thank You

GC’s march out to ACDC – Thunderstruck