Protecting the safety and health of communication tower workers
November 8, 2013 letter from OSHA HQ to OSHA regional administrators
In the past few months, the communication tower industry has experienced an alarming increase in the number of injuries and fatalities occurring at communication tower worksites. As of September 3, 2013, there have been a total of 14 incidents, which is more than the last two years combined. OSHA is aware that there has been an acceleration in communication tower work during the past year due to cellular infrastructure upgrades, and the Agency is concerned about the possibility of future incidents.
OSHA is addressing this sharp rise in incidents through outreach and enforcement efforts. Whenever Area Offices or Compliance Officers become aware of communication tower work being done in the area, please instruct your Compliance Officers to inspect these worksites to ensure that employers are taking responsibility for protecting their workers' safety and health.