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7 Tower Deaths In 5 Weeks
Three of which were on AT&T projects...
Tower climbing is one of the world's most dangerous professions (in terms of death rate per 100,000 employees), something a recent body count spike only highlights. Last month I noted that five climbers died in a one week period. Two more deaths this month brings the total to seven deaths within five weeks and has brought even greater attention to industry safety practices. Three of the accidents occurred on AT&T projects, but AT&T is quick to claim it's not because of their HSUPA upgrades:
quote:
Click for full size
A spokesman for AT&T Mobile confirms that Jonathan Guilford was working on a tower for an AT&T 3G network, but denies that his death or the others had anything to do with the June deadline. "That is a software upgrade," says William Marks. "You go to each tower and use a laptop to perform the upgrade at the base station at the bottom of the tower. There is no need to climb towers."
Of course while the HSUPA upgrades are software, upgrading a market from EDGE to HSDPA does involve hardware work. After the first two deaths last month, AT&T sent this notice to its tower construction subcontractors:
quote:
AT&T … requires you to hold, at a minimum, a half-day safety refresher training course this week with all of your construction employees and subcontractors providing services for AT&T. Upon completion of the safety refresher training this week, AT&T expects that you will reinforce this training with additional random safety checks at the construction sites to ensure that appropriate safety measures are being used.”
Wireless Estimator has more on the seventh death, a TV tower worker in South Florida. While accidental deaths from elevated structures aren't exactly rare (there were 18 in 2006), the concentrated number of cell tower fatalities are. The industry was fatality free between December 2007 and April 2008.
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nklb
Premium Member
join:2000-11-17
Ann Arbor, MI

nklb

Premium Member

It may be dangerous

It may be dangerous, but it sure does look like fun once you get up there.

Of course the climb itself isn't fun :-P

And I can only imagine how bad it is in the winter with those cold gusts of wind.

It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea.

Rax
Premium Member
join:2003-11-13
Floral Park, NY

Rax

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

I think I would $h*t myself climbing that tower in the picture

PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

Imagine being the guy who took the photo! I look at that picture and get sick.

Rax
Premium Member
join:2003-11-13
Floral Park, NY

Rax

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

Gives me the shakes looking at it
stunod2002
join:2003-11-07
Carol Stream, IL

stunod2002

Member

Re: It may be dangerous

I would love that job!!! (Except for the cold that is)..

I hear it pays pretty good to!

neonhomer
Dearborn 5-2750
Premium Member
join:2004-01-27
Edgewater, FL

neonhomer to Rax

Premium Member

to Rax
I don't even climb on 14' ladders... Climbing a cell tower would probably give me a stroke!

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to PhoenixDown

Premium Member

to PhoenixDown
said by PhoenixDown:

Imagine being the guy who took the photo! I look at that picture and get sick.
Probably taken from a helicopter.

yock
TFTC
Premium Member
join:2000-11-21
Miamisburg, OH

yock

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by dvd536:

said by PhoenixDown:

Imagine being the guy who took the photo! I look at that picture and get sick.
Probably taken from a helicopter.
No way. The rotor wash would blow those men right off the tower.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by yock:
said by dvd536:
said by PhoenixDown:

Imagine being the guy who took the photo! I look at that picture and get sick.
Probably taken from a helicopter.
No way. The rotor wash would blow those men right off the tower.
Ever hear of telephoto lenses?

yock
TFTC
Premium Member
join:2000-11-21
Miamisburg, OH

yock

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by FFH5:

Ever hear of telephoto lenses?
Just how far away do you think they were to get a shot so well composed as that? On a moving platform no less? Was the photographer leaning out the side of the chopper or did the pilot hover on the tail rotor while the photographer set up his shot?

That show was taken from the tower. I have absolutely no doubt.

Jon5
Premium Member
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL

1 edit

Jon5

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by yock:

said by FFH5:

Ever hear of telephoto lenses?
Just how far away do you think they were to get a shot so well composed as that? On a moving platform no less? Was the photographer leaning out the side of the chopper or did the pilot hover on the tail rotor while the photographer set up his shot?

That show was taken from the tower. I have absolutely no doubt.
Agree,Probably the photogs foot.

clickie8
join:2005-05-22
Monroe, MI

clickie8 to FFH5

Member

to FFH5

No way, that is shot by a guy strapped to the (probable Alan-Dick panel) antenna just like the two guys doing the work.

FiL25
Premium Member
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD

FiL25 to dvd536

Premium Member

to dvd536
Yea man, you can see the photog's foot in the pic... he was above the guys working the tower. Hell, all 3 of 'em were working the tower of hell, if u ask me. Crazy!
jwvo
join:2001-07-27
Seattle, WA

jwvo

Member

Re: It may be dangerous

that looks like either one of the VHF TV or FM antennas on empire state...

The photo was taken by another climber, it was in some periodical a while back with the citation.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

1 edit

bobjohnson to nklb

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to nklb
double post oops
bobjohnson

bobjohnson to nklb

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to nklb
said by nklb:

It may be dangerous, but it sure does look like fun once you get up there.

Of course the climb itself isn't fun :-P

And I can only imagine how bad it is in the winter with those cold gusts of wind.

It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
I would definitely do it given the opportunity... I just don't see how if they're following proper safety protocols and such, how so many are going down... It seems that safety hasn't been a priority in the tower industry as of late
rahvin112
join:2002-05-24
Sandy, UT

3 recommendations

rahvin112 to nklb

Member

to nklb
Most workers will tell you the safety lashings are a pain in the ass. The restraining cable is less than 6' long (much longer than that and the abrupt deceleration will physically harm you, but having known people who have dropped while wearing the safety cables even a 6' drop can mess your back up really bad) so if you are moving around the structure a lot you are constantly having to move the restraint cable and for a task where you are moving constantly and making minor adjustments most workers simply drop the safety cable.

It's a real hassle to get workers to use the safety gear they are provided, in most cases you have to threaten to terminate them as most think they are invincible. The deaths in the industry are likely for the same reasons. It's not that the workers aren't being provided the safety gear, instructed to use it and taught the consequences of not using it, it's that they simply don't like the inconvenience and don't think they will fall. How do you change human nature? This has really nothing to do with any company in particular, it's endemic in the entire work area regardless of the high work being performed, whether it's tieing steel, welding, forming, concrete pouring, communication work or any other type of construction work. OSHA has worked for 30 years to educate people and enforce rules that make the companies provide the safety gear, but they can't force workers to use it when they aren't being directly supervised.

David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

David

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by rahvin112:

Most workers will tell you the safety lashings are a pain in the ass. The restraining cable is less than 6' long (much longer than that and the abrupt deceleration will physically harm you, but having known people who have dropped while wearing the safety cables even a 6' drop can mess your back up really bad) so if you are moving around the structure a lot you are constantly having to move the restraint cable and for a task where you are moving constantly and making minor adjustments most workers simply drop the safety cable.

It's a real hassle to get workers to use the safety gear they are provided, in most cases you have to threaten to terminate them as most think they are invincible. The deaths in the industry are likely for the same reasons. It's not that the workers aren't being provided the safety gear, instructed to use it and taught the consequences of not using it, it's that they simply don't like the inconvenience and don't think they will fall. How do you change human nature? This has really nothing to do with any company in particular, it's endemic in the entire work area regardless of the high work being performed, whether it's tieing steel, welding, forming, concrete pouring, communication work or any other type of construction work. OSHA has worked for 30 years to educate people and enforce rules that make the companies provide the safety gear, but they can't force workers to use it when they aren't being directly supervised.
I have a feeling you are spot on, and it's just plain taking a chance. To highlight your point exactly, just because OSHA enforces it doesn't mean they can force the workers to use it when they are not being watched, or too far out of harm's way. Ironically, back in the days of Ranken Tech when you dropped a conduit bender off the 2nd floor and if it hit the ground that's fine, but that still didn't get the student suspended from lab class for a day, and an F for that day's work ethic grade.

Second time, you were talking to the Dean of Employers (I think that's what they called him).

JRW2
R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Gary, Ziggy, Max.
Premium Member
join:2004-12-20
La La Land

JRW2

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by David:
said by rahvin112:
OSHA has worked for 30 years to educate people and enforce rules that make the companies provide the safety gear, but they can't force workers to use it when they aren't being directly supervised.
I have a feeling you are spot on, and it's just plain taking a chance. To highlight your point exactly, just because OSHA enforces it doesn't mean they can force the workers to use it when they are not being watched, or too far out of harm's way. Ironically, back in the days of Ranken Tech when you dropped a conduit bender off the 2nd floor and if it hit the ground that's fine, but that still didn't get the student suspended from lab class for a day, and an F for that day's work ethic grade.

Second time, you were talking to the Dean of Employers (I think that's what they called him).
OSHA has been systematically NEUTERED for OVER 30 years due to employer pressures, and complaints to federal, state and local governments...

Most workers are "instructed" in proper safety and then pressured to forgo safety to speed up "the job", those who refuse to abide by company wishes, usually find themselves without work...
cmaenginsb1
Premium Member
join:2001-03-19
Palmdale, CA

cmaenginsb1

Premium Member

Re: It may be dangerous

said by MySay:

I constructed, painted, and replaced bulbs on towers for 8 years. It's not that bad... as many people think, always telling me how crazy I was for doing it!

As long as you're moving, you have the harness and security clips on you... but they're not connected (of course, since you're on the move). You can only latch while at a stand-still. Also, you never want to forget your gloves... as you won't make it far. Even with gloves on, the blisters are hell (especially on 1+Kers). Looking down is also alright... (if you got the nerves to do the climbing, the heights isn't a big deal). Look UP... that's the problem. With clouds rolling by, it gives the illusion the tower is falling sideways... a feeling that is still bothersome, after many years of climbing!

Then, you have to worry about obsticles attached to the tower... some which will literally blow a body part off, if it moved infront of (microwave). Some towers, you had to make a running jump onto... as if you were touching the ground while the tower at the same time, it would kill you.

Not a profession for the faint of heart... but, you can't beat the pay! $500+ for an hour or two of work.

NOTE: Referring to a post earlier in the thread... you DO NOT climb in adverse weather. That's just common sense!

BTW, replaced a bulb at 1.2K ft... and tossed it. The bulb bounced on the ground below 3 times, and NEVER busted! I have it in my room, signed and dated w/ the location on it!
Umm, current requirements is 100% connection and with modern Y fall arrest gear it is entirely possible even when on the move. Although a major PITA when climbing a ladder unless you have a cable arrest system because every rung you have to clip and unclip
cmaenginsb1

cmaenginsb1 to JRW2

Premium Member

to JRW2
said by JRW2:

said by David:
said by rahvin112:
OSHA has worked for 30 years to educate people and enforce rules that make the companies provide the safety gear, but they can't force workers to use it when they aren't being directly supervised.
I have a feeling you are spot on, and it's just plain taking a chance. To highlight your point exactly, just because OSHA enforces it doesn't mean they can force the workers to use it when they are not being watched, or too far out of harm's way. Ironically, back in the days of Ranken Tech when you dropped a conduit bender off the 2nd floor and if it hit the ground that's fine, but that still didn't get the student suspended from lab class for a day, and an F for that day's work ethic grade.

Second time, you were talking to the Dean of Employers (I think that's what they called him).
OSHA has been systematically NEUTERED for OVER 30 years due to employer pressures, and complaints to federal, state and local governments...

Most workers are "instructed" in proper safety and then pressured to forgo safety to speed up "the job", those who refuse to abide by company wishes, usually find themselves without work...
Funny after doing a lot of major jobs in the communications and electrical industries I don't find that to be true. I do find a lot of workers blaming the companies for "pressuring" them when in reality they made a bad call that got someone injured.

In death #7 the person died while supposedly rappelling down the load line which is a huge no no. Also from reading the description the block assembly was not secured with a self-locking carabiner another no no for this industry when using a line for life safety.

I see a lot of guys who like to do this because it's cool, not for any real speed reason.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to rahvin112

Premium Member

to rahvin112
said by rahvin112:

Most workers will tell you the safety lashings are a pain in the ass.

It's not that the workers aren't being provided the safety gear, instructed to use it and taught the consequences of not using it, it's that they simply don't like the inconvenience and don't think they will fall. How do you change human nature?
I think you hit on the major problem. And no amount of further regulation is going to change this problem 1 little bit.

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH to nklb

Premium Member

to nklb
Three words.

No.....F*&KING Way........

God bless 'em, man. I could never do it.

Of course, I have people tell me all they time they wouldn't want my job, but no way. I couldn't do it.

PhoenixDown
FIOS is Awesome
Premium Member
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY

PhoenixDown to nklb

Premium Member

to nklb
I think this is appropriate

N3OGH
Yo Soy Col. "Bat" Guano
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs

N3OGH

Premium Member

Re: Its Dangerous to Go Alone

Kittens are soooooooo cute!

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

Intresting.

Tho without these guys climbing the towers there wouldnt be alot of service like cell phones,pagers, UHF,vhf, all kinds of stuff.

In front of where im living now but moving there is a big tower in front on my house, and watching those guys go up is a sight to see, and yes to change a light bulb.

Captain Sig your comments on most dangerous professions?

netwire
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Dallas, NC

netwire

Premium Member

My thoughts go out...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who where killed or injured from tower climbing accidents.

I do wonder if proper safety guidelines where followed or if those recent deaths where because they where rushing to get the job done and ignored basic protocols. I must admit even in my job that sometimes I get in a hurry and cut corners that I most likely should not - everyone does once in awhile I think.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

bobjohnson

Premium Member

Re: My thoughts go out...

yeah, we all are hit or miss on safety under deadline.. As a cable contractor 20' up on a line installing a drop.. im probably not wearing a harness, but 400'+ you think would be common sense compared to protocol

burner50
Proud Union THUG
Premium Member
join:2002-06-05
Iowa

burner50

Premium Member

Re: My thoughts go out...

said by bobjohnson:

As a cable contractor 20' up on a line installing a drop.. im probably not wearing a harness,
Idiot... At least wear the belt... its so much easier (and faster) to work witha body belt on...

newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

newview

Premium Member

You don't have enough money . . .

to pay me to do THAT job.

I get the heebie-jeebies just looking at the photo.

I climbed a 50' telephone pole once to replace a sodium light bulb years ago when I was young. When I got back down, I swore I'd never climb anything higher than a rooftop ever again.
90115534 (banned)
Someone is sabotaging me.Finding out who
join:2001-06-03
Kenner, LA

90115534 (banned)

Member

Have they ever hit a person walking by?

The ones that fell and died. I can't see how they couldn't have or at least went through a window.

•••

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Safety is everything

I climb my tower, big deal 50 feet, to service my ham-radio antennas I have a proper climbing belt and all of that. It isn't the height I worry about it is the tower and all that I don't trust. Whenever I am on it if I am not careful I will start thinking stuff like "if that bolt goes I am dead", "should I have three more safety ropes hooked to the tower in cause the other 5 break." However there is no way in hell you would get me on a tower like I see the photo. I am surprised the guys that do it can climb these towers they must have cojones as big as watermelons.

••••

furlonium
join:2002-05-08
Allentown, PA

furlonium

Member

Skyscrapers!

Does that picture remind anybody else of those old-time photographs where the construction works who you were building skyscrapers would just sit on the I-beams, and eat their pail-lunches, carefree?

Yeah I don't think so. I'd be moving that carabeaner every 10 seconds if I had to. Hey - you're paid hourly, not by how fast you climb, right?

••••

james16
join:2001-02-26

james16

Member

Danger

I wonder if any of the accidents were caused by Comcast vans having a drag race and crashing into the towers.
Desdinova
Premium Member
join:2003-01-26
Gaithersburg, MD

Desdinova

Premium Member

Re: Danger

They could just have the AT&T employees in the cherry pickers put down the oranges and try and catch them!

xpkranger
Premium Member
join:2000-10-27
Tucker, GA

1 recommendation

xpkranger

Premium Member

Broadcast tower collapse topples sister structure in Georgia

»www.wirelessestimator.co ··· molition

»www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· wJ3w3OL0

disconnected
@snet.net

disconnected

Anon

Re: Broadcast tower collapse topples sister structure in Georgia

said by xpkranger:

(youtube clip)
This was a good example of the dangers of using explosives to drop a structure that has a likelihood of falling on part of the supporting structure (guy wires) of another nearby structure.
The proper way to down this structure is with a jin pole and a crane, section by section.
I hope the contractor has good liability insurance. He's going to need it.
MySay
join:2008-04-08
Mansfield, TX

2 edits

MySay

Member

Done this for 8 years...

I constructed, painted, and replaced bulbs on towers for 8 years. It's not that bad... as many people think, always telling me how crazy I was for doing it!

As long as you're moving, you have the harness and security clips on you... but they're not connected (of course, since you're on the move). You can only latch while at a stand-still. Also, you never want to forget your gloves... as you won't make it far. Even with gloves on, the blisters are hell (especially on 1+Kers). Looking down is also alright... (if you got the nerves to do the climbing, the heights isn't a big deal). Look UP... that's the problem. With clouds rolling by, it gives the illusion the tower is falling sideways... a feeling that is still bothersome, after many years of climbing!

Then, you have to worry about obsticles attached to the tower... some which will literally blow a body part off, if it moved infront of (microwave). Some towers, you had to make a running jump onto... as if you were touching the ground while the tower at the same time, it would kill you.

Not a profession for the faint of heart... but, you can't beat the pay! $500+ for an hour or two of work.

NOTE: Referring to a post earlier in the thread... you DO NOT climb in adverse weather. That's just common sense!

BTW, replaced a bulb at 1.2K ft... and tossed it. The bulb bounced on the ground below 3 times, and NEVER busted! I have it in my room, signed and dated w/ the location on it!

•••
Hahausuck
Premium Member
join:2003-12-14

Hahausuck

Premium Member

Dangerous indeed

It is indeed a dangerous job. At my shop we are all trained, and aware of the danger. The fall is not what kills, it's the sudden stop....

I fear the fall into the harness more than I do just falling off. The pain and suffering that must be endured from the fall into the restraints is more than I think I can bear. I actually enjoy climbing though. It can be relaxing, even though it is very rough on the body it always pays off.
MindBender
join:2001-06-26
House Springs, MO

MindBender

Member

Saftey is the 1st Priority

From what I've read here, safety was not enforced.
Just think if your the company that holds the $2M+
insurance policy what your rates will be hiked to after an
accident ewh? You would price yourself out of business
just paying the premiums. Send a Supervisor to every
climb. Send your climbers to safety class at least every
2 years (If nothing else to keep them on their toes).

For instance, this climber is an idiot and if a supervisor
would have inspected the job this job would have been
denied. Might I add the engineer would have been terminated
for not adding the safety floor. The tower owner never should
have allowed the install without the service floor.

WHAT NOT TO DO

God Bless the Families of the departed climbers.

God Accuracy to all current & future climbers.

•••••

wonko3fc
Verbum sat sapienti
join:2001-06-02
UK

wonko3fc

Member

Madness

Having worked in the industry for a couple of decades, done some roof top work myself, although nothing as dramatic as the picture shown, I've always maintained that; No one should die, so that someone else can make a phone call.

Sadly, not everyone I've come across shares that view with profit overriding common sense so that undue pressure is applied on those risking their lives.

I've witnessed on to many occasions pressure with comments such as "We must get it built on time" and "I don't care - do whatever it takes"

Fortunately in my personal experience, no one has ever been seriously hurt as a result. However, I hear when they do, the pressurisers say things along the lines of "Well, I never told them to do x or y" and "They were fully trained and equipped for safety"

How these people sleep at night is beyond me.
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
Aptos, CA

Ulmo

Member

Suspicious

I think there are mass murderers and genocidal types that occasionally stumble upon new ways to kill people, and there is a strong enough possibility that they found a way to do it with towers and therefore might be behind this type of thing. I don't know how high the possibility is, but I'm always suspicious of it in "accidents" and "suicides". Such suspicions are very often confirmed.

However, none of that takes away from the seriousness of how dangerous it is. It is more important to be safe about it than worry about those weird suspicions, at least for now, unless you're some target group or something.