Cell Tower News: Stalker towers; OSHA Safety Stand-Down

Cell towers that stalk?

Anyone who reads this weekly segment with regularity knows how contentious an issue tower placement is. This week Verizon is back at it again causing a family in Tarzana, Calif., grief over tower placement. But what makes this one stand out amongst the dozens that are going on across the country is that NBC Los Angeles reported it as a cell tower “stalking” the family, which conjured mental images like the one you see featured prominently above this story. The other is Verizon’s “nanny-nanny-boo-boo” response to the complaint.

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The tower is mere feet away from the family’s bedroom window. They claim one can hear a constant humming coming from the tower, with increased noise from cooling fans in the summer, going as far as to say it makes them unable to open their windows. Up until three years ago, the spot was only occupied by a utility pole, but then was upgraded to a full-blown tower with no notice to the family. In addition to noise complaints, they also have safety concerns: RF radiation and potential house destruction in the event of all-too-often California earthquakes. The whole situation has been described by the family as a “nightmare.”

Verizon sees the situation completely differently. In a statement written in response the media coverage and complaints from the family and 60-plus neighbors, the carrier had this to say:

“The Verizon Wireless site in Tarzana has been providing wireless coverage and data capacity to customers throughout the neighborhood since September, 2009. It complies with federal, state and local requirements. In fact, Verizon conducted a scientific noise test earlier this week and the data showed that the site’s loudest noises were within the legal requirements.”

It’s that last “in fact,” bit that just twists the knife of how they are completely legal in what they’re doing. It may be legal, but what about much more subtle considerations, such as neighborly behavior? Whether you agree or disagree with Verizon’s position, cell tower placement is an issue that has strong proponents on either side with valid points.

OSHA Safety Stand-Down 2015

Today concludes OSHA’s two-week-long 2015 National Fall Prevention Stand-Down. What is a safety stand-down you ask? It is an effort to raise awareness of the ways we can all prevent fall hazards in construction, which includes the cell tower/infrastructure industry. The event gives employers the opportunity to discuss fall hazards and fall prevention directly with employees and stress the importance of these issues. According to OSHA’s website:

“Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace.”

This issue is of the utmost importance because not only are falls one of the biggest hot-button issues in the tower industry, according to OSHA’s website it is the leading cause of death in construction. Click here to download a document from OSHA on fall protection in construction.

Here’s Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez talking about the event.

https://youtu.be/3PC8X2fRiKY