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Tower industry braces for new regulations (RCR Mobile Minute)

Some providers of wireless infrastructure services could see higher costs in 2015 due to new regulations. The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) is reminding members that as of Jan. 1, many companies will have to start reporting work-related injuries and illnesses to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Mark Lies, partner at Seyfarth Shaw, told NATE that the new rules will “significantly expand the record-keeping rule’s reach to hundreds of thousands of new employers and place further burdens on employers to report additional workplace injuries and illnesses.” Even tower companies with fewer than 10 employees will need to file a report with OSHA in the event of a serious incident. The death of any employee as a result of a work-related incident must be reported within eight hours, and an in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees as a result of a work-related incident must be reported within 24 hours.

OSHA expects a 20%-25% increase in site visits prompted by accident and injury reports, according to Lies. He said the agency performs about 48,000 site inspections a year now, and expects almost 60,000 next year.

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Martha DeGrasse
Martha DeGrassehttp://www.nbreports.com
Martha DeGrasse is the publisher of Network Builder Reports (nbreports.com). At RCR, Martha authored more than 20 in-depth feature reports and more than 2,400 news articles. She also created the Mobile Minute and the 5 Things to Know Today series. Prior to joining RCR Wireless News, Martha produced business and technology news for CNN and Dow Jones in New York and managed the online editorial group at Hoover’s Online before taking a number of years off to be at home when her children were young. Martha is the board president of Austin's Trinity Center and is a member of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum.