Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column. We’ve gathered a group of visionaries and veterans in the mobile industry to give their insights into the marketplace.
In 2010, there were seven tower technician fatalities. The average age of the climber was about 36-years-old.
That is seven families who will have to face the fact that their loved one is never coming home again. These fatalities affect many significant others including spouses, children, parents, and their employer and fellow employees. And while nothing compares with the loss of life, these families must also deal with the loss of income, while employers face possible regulatory citations. At the same time, operators can also lose hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of dollars through a process which involves regulatory and civil actions that may yield fines, settlements and greatly diminished productivity. These results are even more staggering when realizing that all fatalities in 2010 were preventable.
A stop-motion look at a catastrophic accident
After a fatal accident occurs, the site is immediately frozen for investigation and all work will be suspended until witnesses and co-workers are questioned and information is documented. Plaintiff’s attorneys will issue subpoenas, funerals will be held, and investigators will sift through evidence and take statements. It can cost thousands of dollars in salaries, legal fees and antenna down time all while work is at a stand still. Later, depositions will be given under oath by all employee witnesses and within 12 to 18 months OSHA can issue a citation up to $70,000. The resulting lawsuits can cost millions. Lack of safety and training can affect companies to the point of bankruptcy while the families and friends of those involved will never be the same; all because of an accident which could have been easily prevented.
What tools are out there?
The National Association of Tower Erectors is committed to developing an industry-wide culture of safety through education, standards and best practices. As a non-profit trade association, NATE has continued to develop numerous tools to prevent casualties such as the NATE Tower Climber Fall Protection Training Standard, its Qualified Contractor Evaluation Checklist and program guides to educate and promote safety in the tower industry. All NATE resources are created to provide employers with tools for effectively supplementing their own training regimens. This information allows tower erectors to establish a consistent and effective means of safeguarding tower technicians by providing access to the training and tools which enhances safety on the tower site. One important opportunity to prevent the tragic loss of life is to ensure contractors provide necessary fall protection and hazard identification training to their employees while providing the essential equipment to do the job properly.
As our industry continues to grow and change with technological advances, so have NATE’s safety standards and guidelines. NATE recently updated its Accident Prevention, Safety and Health Program Guide, which contains suggested formats and procedures for fall prevention, hazard identification, education, training and much more. All referenced industry standards and OSHA regulations are current and include revisions based on the American National Standards Institute updated fall protection standards.
Another tool available to both members and non-members is NATE’s Tower Site Hazard Recognition Guide. This “first of its kind” resource is designed specifically for the on-site personnel of tower erectors, and carriers, broadcasters, owners, operators, general contractors and any other organizations responsible for activities on tower sites. The purpose of the Hazard Recognition Guide is to provide an online resource with insights on the most important aspects of safety and hazard recognition for broadcast and telecommunication tower sites while covering a broad range of potential hazard scenarios from ladder positioning to the proper use of a gin pole. NATE’s Hazard Recognition Guide has had over 800 users go through specific tutorials and safety scenarios to ensure their companies are taking the proper precautions and providing basic training requirements for all employees.
This information is available free to NATE members and non-members alike. Visit http://www.natehome.com for more details.
As a preview to what’s coming next, NATE will be announcing its most exciting safety initiative to-date. The program, the NATE STAR Initiative, will require participating tower erectors and service companies to adhere to specified levels of training for employees, follow established safety practices on tower sites, complete inspection audits to improve safety and measure improvements over the coming years of the program. The NATE STAR Initiative was developed as a replacement program for the NATE/OSHA Partnership and will use the same successful methods of improving tower climber safety as the expired program. Tower owners, carriers and general contractors can also participate in the program.
The STAR Initiative will officially launch at NATE 2011, the association’s annual conference and exposition specially organized for those involved in the construction and maintenance aspects of the broadcast and telecommunications tower industry. The NATE 2011 Conference & Exposition will be held Feb. 21-24 in Oklahoma City and will provide numerous educational sessions for tower technicians and management, an expo to preview new products and technology plus the opportunity to network with leaders and decision makers in the industry.
Patrick Howey is the Executive Director of the National Association of Tower Erectors. You may contact Howey directly at Patrick@natehome.com with any questions you may have about NATE.
