Climbing cell tower fatalities

The most dangerous job in America, according to Department of Labor workplace fatality statistics, is climbing cell towers.

There were 10 fatalities in 2004 among a total of only 8,700 employees, for a fatality rate of 115 per 100,000 workers, much higher than logging workers, 47 fatalities per 100,000 workers, the second highest rate.

The majority of fatalities were the result of climbers not being tied off to a safe anchorage point at all times or relying on faulty PPE.

Employers must identify the specific fall hazards facing their climbers, select the appropriate safety equipment and develop a method for training the climbers. “Your climbers should understand your policies, the regulations and their individual responsibility,” reports MRT, the magazine for the mobile communications industry. “They must also understand the use, care, inspection and maintenance of all safety equipment they will be provided. Climbers should also understand the function of each component and its relationship to other components if they are to configure the fall protection equipment to their individual work and environment.”