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DOL/OSHA RIN: 1218-AC90 Publication ID: Spring 2024 
Title: Communication Tower Safety 
Abstract:

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. Due to recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectrum auctions and innovations in cellular technology, there will be a very high level of construction activity taking place on communication towers over the next few years. A similar increase in the number of construction projects needed to support cellular phone coverage triggered a spike in fatality and injury rates years ago. Based on information collected from an April 2015 Request for Information (RFI), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded that current OSHA requirements such as those for fall protection and personnel hoisting, may not adequately cover all hazards of communication tower construction and maintenance activities. OSHA will use information collected from a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel to identify effective work practices and advances in engineering technology that would best address industry safety and health concerns. The Panel carefully considered the issue of the expansion of the rule beyond just communication towers. OSHA will continue to consider also covering structures that have telecommunications equipment on or attached to them (e.g., buildings, rooftops, water towers, billboards).

 
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined 
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1926    29 CFR 1910   
Legal Authority: 29 U.S.C. 655(b)    5 U.S.C. 609   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
Other  Statutory  Request for Information  06/30/2014 
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Request for Information (RFI)  04/15/2015  80 FR 20185   
RFI Comment Period End  06/15/2015 
Initiate SBREFA  01/04/2017 
Initiate SBREFA  05/31/2018 
Complete SBREFA  10/11/2018 
NPRM  02/00/2025 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: YES  Government Levels Affected: Local, State 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Scott Ketcham
Director, Directorate of Construction
Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-3468, FP Building,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-2020
Fax:202 693-1689
Email: ketcham.scott@dol.gov