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07/01/2006
OSHA Relations Committee Update
Unfortunately, we as an association have experienced several great losses due to falls in the past six months. I would encourage everyone to review the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) reports. The common cause of death to many of these climbers appears to have been the lack of proper use of fall protection equipment.
Diligent, safety-conscious tower companies provide training needed to work safely on towers and then establish safety policies requiring appropriate use of personal protection equipment (PPE), but some tower technicians do not use their equipment properly.
If only the tower technicians who have fallen to their deaths had taken 10 extra seconds to attach their fall arrest systems back to the tower for 100% tie off, they would still be alive, and we as an industry and their families would not be experiencing these awful losses.
Many owners of tower companies spend countless hours implementing policies, training, conducting toolbox meetings and paying for outside educational courses to express and reinforce the importance of properly using full body harnesses and safety lanyards. Unfortunately, some employees will not follow these vital policies on a regular basis. I personally have experienced anger, frustration, and sadness due to employees not following these essential rules.
Experiencing a fallen comrade is heart breaking and leaves an individual wondering “why”? Using your fall arrest safety lanyard is an easy and smart practice; a practice which should be done without thinking, like buckling a safety belt in your motor vehicle, or wearing a belt to keep your pants from falling down in public.
I have heard in the past, “Well, I was only going up the tower 10 feet. I didn’t feel fall protection was necessary.” I learned from a couple of accidents that a safety belt and lanyard are necessary. One fall from less than 12 feet was severe enough for a tower technician to receive a hospital stay and months of lost time. After the incident, this tower technician’s co-workers were very particular about wearing their belts and using them properly for a while. Then old lazy habits started emerging once again, even though daily toolbox meetings addressed the issue.
How can we stop this? Is there a clear answer? A needed law or policy change? If we make the employee more accountable will this help? Can we accomplish an answer to a never-ending problem? Please everyone, use your safety belt and fall arrest safety lanyard every second of the working day. Make 100% tie off your best friend.
I have a wish list I would like to share with all of you:
• I wish all tower technicians would follow 100% tie off practices in their daily work;
• I wish for all companies to follow 100% tie off policies;
• I wish for all companies to provide the proper safety equipment that is in excellent working order;
• I wish for 10 more seconds of safety thinking;
• I wish for the mindset of “It’s good enough” and “That’s not necessary” would disappear from work sites;
• I wish for the hearts of the affected families to heal; and
• Most of all, I wish no one in the tower industry would ever fall to their deaths again!
Respectfully,
Barbara Houdek
In fond memory of Leo Deters and all of our Tower Guys.
Barbara Houdek is a member of the NATE OSHA Relations Committee. She is the Manager of Diamond Tower Services, Inc. in St. Cloud, Minnesota and can be reached at 320-761-2927 or diamondtelcom@aol.com
Barbara Houdek
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