The FCC and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration have released new guidance to improve the safety conditions of tower workers. The Communications Tower Best Practices Guide is a result of a series of workshops and input from industry stakeholders to establish best practices to ensure work safety for communication towers workers.
Tower Marking Provision Could Use Tweaks
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly: “Having worked on numerous legislative efforts over the years, I have seen that it is not uncommon for very well-intentioned provisions contained within larger bills passed by Congress and enacted into law to lead to unintended negative consequences. One such provision recently enacted in an FAA Authorization statute is causing a considerable level of unrest within affected communications industries.”
OSHA Eyeing Tower Worker Safety Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering whether it can, and should, take regulatory steps aimed at preventing injuries or deaths during tower work. In a formal Request for Information, OSHA has requested input that will help it figure out “what steps, if any, it can take to prevent injuries and fatalities during tower work.”
