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03/01/2007
Safety & Education Committee Update
Access or Emergency Recovery?
What is the definition of the “middle of nowhere?” It seems as though half of a tower crew’s life is spent with someone saying they are in the “middle of nowhere”. The issue of being “up in the air” is something we all deal with on a daily basis. Training, time, and money are all invested constantly on this. But what about being up in the air, in the middle of nowhere? How many times have your people been working when the job consisted of over half the time spent just accessing the site?
When bidding work, all conscious effort is given to finding out how much it will cost to get people, tools, and materials to places that are not located near major interstate highways. This cost is then passed on to the customer who is sometimes pleased that the work can be done or aghast at the price of the job when it was done in an urban setting for much less. The customer then wants to know why an antenna swap done on a 300’ guyed tower in the city is less expensive than a remote site on a 100’ self support. This can easily be explained and justified, but how much risk is embedded in putting your crew to work where help is literally 5 hours out?
When you have been working in these isolated locations for most of your career, the tools and knowledge of what to do in many situations become second nature. Although, in a thriving industry not every hand has the awareness or experience to appropriately deal with remote environments. People can be trained for these circumstances, but will your crews be ready to deal with them? Here is a list of questions to ask yourself before taking on projects in “the middle of nowhere”.
• While on site someone is injured. How long would it take to get further medical care than the crew can provide?
CFR 29 part 1926.50 (b) – Provisions shall be made for prior to commencement of the project for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury.
• What means of communication does the crew have to get help and is it reliable?
CFR 29 part 1926.50 (e) – Proper equipment for prompt transportation of the injured person to a physician or hospital, or a communication system for contacting necessary ambulance service, shall be provided.
• How much care can the crew people provide each other? Are they properly trained to provide this care?
CFR 29 part 1926.50 (c) … a person who has a valid certificate in first aid training from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.
• Is the crew trained to use the tools needed to access the site, i.e. chainsaws, dozers, snow cats, snowmobiles, ATVs, winches, tire chains, etc?
CFR 29 part 1926.20 (b) (4) – The employer shall permit only those employees qualified by training or experience to operate equipment and machinery.
• If conditions worsen will the crew be able to get out?
CFR 29 part 1926.21 (b) (2) – The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.
• When or if the crew cannot get to a safe area because of some unknown factor will they be prepared?
Let’s all ask these hard questions beforehand rather than have them be the questions that run through the minds of those who have regrets because of an unfortunate experience. Aim high and work safe.
Ryan Tracy is a member of the NATE Safety & Education Committee and is the Vice President of Legacy Telecommunications, Inc. of Gig Harbor, Washington. He can be reached at 253-858-0214 or ryant@legacytowers.com
Ryan Tracy
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