OSHA gives 6 citations, company contests
This past March saw the tragic loss of two tower workers in Kansas when two towers they were working on collapsed. Inevitably and rightfully, OSHA has now formally issued six citations to the offending company, Wireless Horizon. This included two willful and four serious safety violations. In addition to these citations, OSHA has also proposed a penalty of $134,400 for this Missouri company.
Normally, that is where the story would end. The company takes its lumps and we all move on. However, in a brassy move, Wireless Horizon’s company president, Rick Heisler, has said that his company “respectfully disagrees with the citations and will vigorously contest them.” Really? Two people lost their lives in what OSHA’s investigation has deemed a preventable situation! It’s not like they’re first time offenders, either. OSHA also reports that the two previous times the company was inspected since 2005, multiple serious violations were found. That makes it incredibly hard not to laugh at the guy’s attempt to contest the citations.
A future without cell towers?
Could cell towers become a relic of the past? Experimental research suggests so, with new technology funded by Qualcomm and tested by Facebook and others. The technology is called ‘LTE Direct’ and instead of smartphones connecting to towers to get a signal they connect with other smartphones and beacons located in shops and businesses. The technology will connect as far away as 500 feet, making it much more powerful than either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It’s actually included in the LTE standards update submitted for next year, which means we could start seeing devices capable of LTE Direct as soon as the end of 2015.
It’s certainly an exciting new possibility, but so far it seems like most tests by companies have it in mind for ads and targeted promotions, so maybe it isn’t time to hang up the tower climbing harness and call it quits just yet.
Robots Could Aid Cell Sites
This week is filled with news of the future! This time it involves robots that help with electrical issues. A team of engineers at the Michigan Technological University are developing autonomous robots that could restore electricity to cell tower sites during natural disasters that resulted in outages. These powerful robots wouldn’t just be used for electricity either.
“The aim is to study the use of the autonomous mobile power-grid systems after disasters to accelerate search, rescue, and recovery efforts,” said the Michigan team. So far they’ve been able to program the robots to restore power in small electrical networks, link up power cords and batteries to light a small lamp or set a flag waving with a small electrical motor.
Would you like to have a robot buddy to help out during difficult situations? Hey, at least it’s far less scary the using drones…
Tower news quickies
- How to be a tower climber: pay, benefits, & schedule
- White House funds wireless training programs
- Potential impact of new SEC rules on cell tower securitizations
- LTE drives DAS upgrades
- My company won’t pay me! Now what?
- LBAU names ‘RF Safety Awareness Trainer’ for cell tower conference
- Have you ever heard of a Safety One training eVoucher?
Regional / local tower news
- Homerville family trying to increase safety for cell tower climbers
- Solana Beach, CA city council approves modified cell tower structure on top of local pharmacy
- Davenport, IA officials approve cell tower at park
- Juneau, AK assembly passes cell tower ordinance
- Public to be heard on possible cell tower in Glastonbury, CT
- Hearing fee thwarts Meriden, CT cell tower opponents
- West Deptford, NJ resident: T-Mobile cell tower will be ‘nightmare’ for neighbors
- Prescott Lakes-area cell tower gets nod of approval from P&Z in AZ
- Copland seeks court ruling on Graham, NC cell tower request
- Northern Palm Springs, CA residents petition for cell tower
- Solana Beach, CA OKs smaller cell tower for AT&T
- Residents oppose new cell tower on Hodges in Lake Charles, LA
- Gulf Road AT&T cell tower hearing postponed to Nov. 5 in Dartmouth, NY
- Cell tower offers Chester, NY connectivity and cash
- Despite objections, commission approves cell tower permit in Harrisburg, MO
- Panel to weigh decisions on subdivision, cell tower in Oakville, MO
- Brevard, FL cell-tower rules up for vote on Thursday
- Proposed cell tower on Dover-Sherborn, MA campus draws health concerns
- Dane County, WI budget proposes spending $4.5M on radio towers to aid in emergency aid and rescue
This week’s edition of cell tower industry news is brought to you by Towercrews.net.
Featured Image Copyright: kanvag / 123RF Stock Photo
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