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DOL/OSHA

RIN: 1218-AC90

Publication ID: Fall 2014

Title: Communication Towers
Abstract: During the 1990s, the growing demand for wireless and broadcast communications spurred a dramatic increase in the number of communication towers being erected, maintained and serviced. While the number of employees engaged in the communication tower industry remains small, the fatality rate is very high. Over the past 20 years, this industry has experienced an average fatality rate that greatly exceeds that of the construction industry, for example. In 2013, the industry experienced a dramatic increase in the number of fatalities occurring during communication tower work, with 13 total fatalities. Falls are the leading cause of death in tower work. Fall protection is used either improperly or inconsistently. Several communication towers have recently collapsed while employees worked on structural modifications. Employees are often hoisted to working levels on small base-mounted drum hoists that have been mounted to a truck chassis, and these may not be rated to hoist personnel. Communication tower construction and maintenance activities are not adequately covered by current OSHA fall protection and personnel hoisting standards.
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)	Priority: Other Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Prerule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1926 29 CFR 1910
Legal Authority: 29 USC 655

Legal Deadline:

Action	Source	Description	Date
Other	Statutory	Request for Information	06/30/2014

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Request For Information	11/00/2014

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: Dean McKenzie Director, Directorate of Construction Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N-3468, Washington, DC 20210 Phone:202 693-2020 Fax:202 693-1689 Email: mckenzie.dean@dol.gov