US TOWER STRUCTURE RELATED FATALITIES 

If you are a representative of the company that had the fatality, or are knowledgeable of the incident, and  would like to provide additional information so that others can benefit by ensuring that the cause of the accident is not repeated, please contact us at: info@wirelessestimator.com
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*Only Full Year Data Plotted

2022 Fatalities Total: 3

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/15/22 Weatherford TX 32 Fort Worth, TX 200 Feet 190 Feet Guyed
Company: Naticom
OSHA Status: Open
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
It is possible that a hoisting grip that came pre-installed on a Huber+Suhner hybrid cable for a Verizon installation in Weatherford, TX failed, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old tower technician. The hoisting grip was secured and attached to the tower when it suddenly sheared in two. For details see article
 
9/2/22 Florien LA 29 Mexico 300 feet Unknown Guyed
Company: Lumina
OSHA Status: Open
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The deceased was installing a T-Mobile project when he fell. Lumina was a subcontractor of Omni-Tech Solutions, working for Nokia. The second crew member on site did not witness the fall. For details see article
 
7/6/22 Washington County AL 36 Deatsville AL Unknown Not on tower Unknown
Company: Alabama Forestry Commission
OSHA Status: Open
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower technician was on the ground when a tower that was being removed collapsed. For details see article
 

2021 Fatalities Total: 4

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/4/21 Arlington WA 24 Las Vegas, NV 140 feet 140 feet monopole
Company: Broken Arrow Communications (Bacom)
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tech fell while working on a monopole. It is unknown whether he was attached to the structure's safety climb or if there was an equipment or system failure. For details see article
 
11/17/21 Garrison TX 53 Conroe TX Unknown 160 feet Self Support
Company: Weiman Air Condition & Electrical, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower tech was assisting a three-man crew installing 5G antennas for Verizon when he fell. For details see article
 
9/3/21 Olympia Fields IL 21 St. Joseph, IL 105-feet 100-feet Monopine
Company: Windy City Tower
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower tech was on the structure working on a Verizon installation when he fell. For details see article
 
3/28/21 Leroy KS 45 Orfordville, WI Unknown 95-feet Unknown
Company: Blackhawk Tower Communications
OSHA Status:
OSHA Details
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Deceased was welding a modification on a U.S. Cellular site at about the 95-foot level when his safety equipment failed and he fell to the ground and died. For details see article
 

2020 Fatalities Total: 8

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/12/20 Fruitland WA 24 Houston, TX 280 Feet 260 Feet Unknown
Company: Quality Tower Services
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower tech fell from approximately 260 feet as his crew was topping out the tower. For details see article
 
11/2/20 Bethany Beach DE 22 Puerto Rico Unknown 120 Feet Water Tower
Company: Velex, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The men were approximately 120 feet off the ground when a strong wind caused the lift they were on to tip over and become tangled in the surrounding electrical wires as it fell to the ground. For details see article
 
11/2/20 Bethany Beach DE 23 Puerto Rico Unknown 120 Feet Water Tower
Company: Velex, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The men were approximately 120 feet off the ground when a strong wind caused the lift they were on to tip over and become tangled in the surrounding electrical wires as it fell to the ground. For details see article
 
10/20/20 Elsanor AL 33 Burleson, TX 1500 Feet 1300 Feet Guyed
Company: Broadcast Construction Solutions
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Multiple news reports said that the incident was caused by a rigging failure, but an individual knowledgeable of the fatality said that was incorrect. He said the accident occurred when the crew was installing the last wire of new guy wires. The 2-3/8” guy wire might have gotten away from the workers, severely striking Snider. For details see article
 
10/7/20 Breathitt County KY 61 Milan, IL None None None
Company: T.Steele Construction, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Deceased, who owned the turnkey tower construction company, fell from a bulldozer while construction a road to a new tower site. For details see article
 
9/25/20 Manchester CT 34 Brooklyn, CT 80 Feet Unknown Self Support
Company: Roadrunner Installation Services
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
A three-person crew was changing out a two-foot microwave dish and transmission line at the top of the self-supporting tower when the man fell. For details see article
 
5/28/20 South Lake Tahoe CA 76 Pleasant Hill, CA None Nne Drill Rig
Company: BullsEye Drilling
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The foundation drill rig operator died while in the process of completing a drilled pier foundation for a 115-foot Verizon monopole. Reportedly, a weld broke on his rig and he fell to the bottom of a 32 foot by 6 foot excavation. It appears that OSHA did not follow through with an investigation since the individual was a sole proprietor. For details see article
 
2/7/20 Lumberton MS 59 Baxter, KY 225 feet 335 feet Self Support
Company: Wolverine Wireless, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
A Wolverine Wireless crew was lifting an AT&T sector in place with a square gin pole, possibly manufactured by PiRod, when the pole folded over the top of the tower, crushing the worker. For details see article
 

2019 Fatalities Total: 8

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
11/16/19 Longview MS 43 Mountain View, AR 348-feet 80-feet Self Support
Company: Pegasus Tower Co.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Multiple techs were erecting sections with a crane when the fatality occurred. The deceased fell from approximately 80 feet. The self-supporting tower's height was listed as being 348 feet. For details see article
 
7/30/19 Warrensburg MO 35 Gretna, LA 390 feet Unknown Guyed
Company: Midwest Underground Technology
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 11 / 2019
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower tech was performing routine maintenance on a guyed tower when he fell. He passed away on August 31, 2019 after succumbing from injuries sustained on the July 30, 2019 incident. For details see article
 
7/11/19 Patrick NV 41 Pittsburgh, CA 253-feet 80-feet Self Support
Company: Broken Arrow Communications
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 16 / 2019
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The tower tech was transitioning from a safety climb to a rest station when he fell. For details see article
 
6/28/19 West Creek NJ 18 Jamaica, NY 150 feet 140 feet Self Support
Company: Rise & Rise Wireless, Inc.
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
Tech fell while transitioning from a man basket to to a antenna mounting frame. He For details see article
 
5/22/19 Alleman Iowa 47 Evansville, IN 2,000 feet 1,000 feet Guyed
Company: Precision Communications, Inc.
OSHA Status: Contested : 7 / 25 / 2019
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100140 C19 - $7,760
Serious - 19100268 N08 - $7,760
Incident Description:
Technician was reportedly transitioning and had his position lanyard attached when he fell. For details see article
 
5/16/19 Brookhaven MS 34 Caraway, AR 300 Feet 300 Feet Guyed
Company: Independent Contractor
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tower tech was installing a lightning system upgrade when the reported transitioned to another face without being tied off and slipped. For details see article
 
3/21/19 Norcross GA 29 Little Egg Harbor, NJ 100 feet 100 feet Monopole
Company: Superior Broadband Towers LLC
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
Tower technician fell from a Crown Castle monopole. He was reportedly transitioning from a crane’s man basket when he slipped and fell from the top of the tower at approximately 100 feet. Company was working on an AT&T upgrade. For details see article
 
1/10/19 Caputa ND 23 CA 190 feet 150 feet Self Support
Company: True North Tower
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 15 / 2019
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $13,260
Serious - 19100140 D02 II - $0
Other - 19100268 B08 - $7,000
Other - 19100268 E - $4,740
Incident Description:
According to two individuals that are familiar with Andrew Psomas’ fall from a tower on Jan. 10 that took his life, the three-man tower crew he was assigned to was performing tiger team warranty work for AT&T on the 190-foot self-supporting tower. Psomas was reportedly at the 150-foot level when he fell. It is not known whether he was tied off or if there was a harness or safety climb failure. Psomas’ harness and the structure is being investigated by OSHA. For details see article
 

2018 Fatalities Total: 5

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
11/2/18 Cedar Crest NM 28 Las Cruces, NM 40-feet 40-feet Water Tower
Company: Enertech
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tech was in an all-terrain man lift when he fell with an antenna mount that had been previously attached to the water tower. For details see article
 
9/29/18 Cookeville TN Crossville,TN 70 feet 70 feet Guyed
Company: Ken Waddell
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Waddell was assisting another individual in erection of a 70-foot ham radio tower. When he was installing the top set of guy wires the structure collapsed. Waddell, employed by MasTec, was doing a side job. The individual that Waddell was working with, Dale Darling, said that Waddell was doing the work voluntarily. However, there may be a dispute as to whether or not he was being paid for his services. For details see article
 
4/19/18 Webster County MO 56 Lynden, WA 1892 feet 105 feet Guyed
Company: Steve Lemay LLC
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 22 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Lemay was killed when the tower collapsed. At least two other workers were injured. Reportedly, the men were retrofitting the tower as part of the repack project when the three workers heard something pop. The two men went down and Lemay went to investigate what the problem was when the tower collapsed. For details see article
 
4/7/18 Guaynabo PR 28 Unknown Unknown Residence
Company: FM Technology Group
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The tower technician died after he was electrocuted while working on an AT&T LTE installation in Puerto Rico. According to sources the technician was working on a residential rooftop when he came into contact with a 13kv power line. For details see article
 
4/2/18 Utica MS 34 Foley, AL Unknown Unknown Self Support
Company: Midway Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 8 / 2019
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $1,500
Serious - 19260251 A01 - $250
Serious - 19260251 A02 III - $0
Serious - 19260701 B - $250
Incident Description:
According to an individual knowledgeable of the incident, there were three people on the tower and two on the ground in addition to a crane operator. Deceased was reportedly tied off twice to an installed waveguide ladder when the ladder failed and detached from the structure. The self-supporting tower was provided by Verizon, according to source information. For details see article
 

2017 Fatalities Total: 8

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/29/17 Manitowoc WI 31 Manitowoc, WI 35 Feet Guyed
Company: Mercury Network
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 14 / 2019
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 B06 - $1,864
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $9,000
Incident Description:
Deceased was installing broadband equipment on a tower of a subscriber when he fell. OSHA is investigating the workplace fatality. Authorities have not provided any additional details. For details see article
 
12/9/17 Ransom KS 39 Grayson, LA 420 feet 320 feet Guyed
Company: Worldwide Communications Consultant, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 7 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100132 D02 - $5,174
Other - 19040039 A01 - $2,588
Incident Description:
Based on reports by the Trego County Sheriff’s Office, a coworker on the tower with the deceased heard the deceased “click” his safety harness on, then the deceased leaned back and started to fall to the ground. Another co-worker on the ground, reported that the deceased hit three guy wires as he fell to the ground. For details see article
 
11/2/17 Wheeler AR 48 West Fork, AR Ground Ground Monopole
Company: Multi-Craft Contractors
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 2 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $12,934
Incident Description:
Worker was pinned to the ground when equipment fell off the crane that was being set up to work on the tower. For details see article
 
9/27/17 Miami FL 31 Sidney, OH 1032 feet 1000 feet Guyed
Company: Tower King ll, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 31 / 2020
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Three tower technicians were on a gin pole near the top of the tower when it became detached from its rigging and fell to the ground. For details see article
 
9/27/17 Miami FL 23 Longwood, FL 1032 feet 1000 feet Guyed
Company: Tower King ll, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 31 / 2020
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Three tower technicians were on a gin pole near the top of the tower when it became detached from its rigging and fell to the ground. For details see article
 
9/27/17 Miami FL 35 Tampa, FL 1032 feet 1000 feet Guyed
Company: Tower King ll, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 31 / 2020
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Three tower technicians were on a gin pole near the top of the tower when it became detached from its rigging and fell to the ground. For details see article
 
5/2/17 Meridian MS 39 Portsmouth, OH 220 feet 150 feet Guyed
Company: D&K Communications Inc.
OSHA Status:
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Tech was finishing up taking closeout photographs when he fell from the Crown Castle Structure while doing an AT&T LTE upgrade. Second crew member on the structure did not see him fall For details see article
 
4/24/17 Dallas TX 51 TX Ground Monopole
Company: RMCI Construction
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 11 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19261417 A - $8,873
Incident Description:
Company-owned crane tipped over killing the worker in the site's compound. For details see article
 

2016 Fatalities Total: 7

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
11/23/16 Chula Vista CA 38 Corona, CA 35 feet 35 feet Rooftop
Company: Motive Energy Telecommunications
OSHA Status: Contested : 5 / 22 / 2017
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 1670(A) - $18,000
Incident Description:
Accident Investigation Summary CAL OSHA Summary Nr: 90857.015 Event: 11/23/2016 Employee Falls From Roof And Is Killed At 12:30 p.m. on November 23, 2016, an employee was on a roof lowering tools to a foreman. The employee told the foreman he was going to check something. The employee fell from the roof and suffered multiple internal injuries and died. For details see article
 
11/2/16 Tulsa OK 44 Chandler, OK 160 feet 160 feet Monopole
Company: Manns Tower Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 9 / 2017
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Under investigation. Another crew member was on site. Case closed 3/9/17. No citations issued. For details see article
 
6/9/16 Pima County AZ 73 Virden, N.M. 55 feet 55 feet
Company: Self-Employed
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
OSHA Details
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Jensen, a veteran tower climber, was dressing cabling when he fell off of a amateur radio club's tower. OSHA will not investigate the incident because Jensen was volunteering his services and is a sole proprietor. For details see article
 
5/24/16 Morgan County KY 19 Charleston 310 Ft. Unknown
Company: S & S Tower Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 23 / 2016
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260021 B02 - $3,500
Incident Description:
Structure was being erected with a gin pole and was reportedly completed, according to an FCC filing. If the deceased was wearing the same PPE he was pictured in on a Facebook page on March 16, 2016, it was not in compliance. OSHA REPORT: On May 24, 2016, an employee was killed in a fall from a 300 ft. cellular tower . While engaged in the construction and assembly of the tower, the employee rea ched for a bolt bag hanging mid-way between the legs of the tower. The employee slipped and fell 105 ft. For details see article
 
5/16/16 Damascus MD 25 Indianapolis, Ind. 212 feet Unknown Self Supporter
Company: Marali Telecomm Systems, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 12 / 2017
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,400
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260502 D15 - $1,400
 
5/16/16 Wadesboro NC 37 Purvis, Ms. None None None
Company: RH Construction
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 16 / 2016
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
OSHA Report: At approximately 1:10 p.m. on May 16, 2016, an employee was working for a firm of specialty trade contractors. He and some coworkers were working at a site wh ere an old cellular tower had been dismantled on Sunday, May 15, 2016, the day before. The tower had already been removed and hauled away for scrap at the tim e of the incident. The workers were pulling up 2.4-meter by 4.9-meter (8-foot b y 16-foot) wooden mats, similar to pallets. The mats had been used as a makeshi ft road to let a Mantex 30100 boom truck to access a fenced-in area. The worker s had initially dragged the mats into place using a pickup truck. The workers e lected to use the boom truck to remove the mats. There was an overhead power li ne some 5.5 to 6.1 meters (18 to 20 feet) above them. It was energized at 13.2 kV. The truck's boom was raised and near the overhead power line. Extending fro m the boom was a cable with a hook. The employee was holding the hook. He moved it a few meters or feet laterally. It came into contact with a phase conductor . The employee was electrocuted. A coworker was standing a few meters or feet away ready to place a sling on the hook. He was not injured. For details see article
 
2/17/16 Hamilton County IA 28 Anamosa, Ia. Unknown Unknown
Company: Tri-State Tower
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 21 / 2016
OSHA Details
 

2015 Fatalities Total: 4

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
10/21/15 Oklahoma City OK 64 Lynnville, IN 1500 1350 Guyed
Company: Consolidated Engineering, Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 26 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Elevator Incident For details see article
 
9/25/15 Lamar Twp. PA 37 Hollidaysburg, PA 90-feet
Company: Hilltop Tower Leasing
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 10 / 2016
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Details are media speculation as of 9.29.15 For details see article
 
8/31/15 Brownsville TX 21 Brownsville, TX 50-feet Water Tower
Company: Orbit Broadband
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 19 / 2016
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100132 D01 I - $4,900
Incident Description:
A witness saw worker fall from approximately 50 feet. It is not known if the technician was wearing PPE and properly tied off. For details see article
 
3/28/15 Eden TX 28 San Angelo, TX 500 40 Guyed
Company: Jostan Communications
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 29 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Deceased was being evaluated by the owner of Jostan Communnications on a Saturday morning to see if she would be capable of becoming a tower technician when she fell from approximately 40 feet. Jostans owner said that he had permission to be on the SBA guyed tower, but SBA said no company was authorized to be on site on that date. OSHA Report: Employee Falls 500 Feet From Cellular Tower And Is Killed At 11:15 a.m. on March 28, 2015, an employee was climbing down from the 500 foot mark of a cellular tower. The employee unhooked the climbing belt from the safety grab, fell and was killed. For details see article
 

2014 Fatalities Total: 10

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/18/14 Greeneville TN 44 Sumter, SC 197 100 Monopole
Company: Central USA Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 24 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $3,000
Incident Description:
Tech was wearing safety equipment, but it is unknown if he was tied off when he fell. A co-worker was working opposite him on the monopole, but did not see the man fall. For details see article
 
8/10/14 Stockton IL Toledo, IL 520 90 Guyed
Company: Sherwood Tower Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 8 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Willful - 19260501 B01 - $70,000
Incident Description:
While painting the tower the worker slipped and fell. Although he was wearing a harness, he may not have been tied off.
 
7/2/14 Cynthiana KY 28 Indiana 260 240 Self Support
Company: Fortune Wireless, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 21 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 338003101 A - $4,900
Incident Description:
Worker was below a mounting frame with attached antennas that was being hoisted into place when rigging failed and the structure reportedly hit him and severed his head and arm.
 
6/17/14 San Angelo TX 28 The Colony, TX Unknown 140 Self Support
Company: Microwave Transmission Systems, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 18 / 2016
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260501 B01 - $7,000
Incident Description:
Worker reportedly had problems with his safety equipment
 
3/25/14 Blaine KS 25 St. Peters, MO 257' 250' Guyed Tower
Company: Wireless Horizon, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 11 / 2018
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
A tower was being decommissioned next to a newly built guyed tower. Although it is not known how the accident occurred until there is an OSHA investigation, initial accident site photographs appear to indicate that it was caused by a gin pole system failure.
 
3/25/14 Blaine KS 37 St. Charles, MO 257' 250' Guyed
Company: Wireless Horizon, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 11 / 2018
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
A tower was being decommissioned next to a newly built guyed tower. Although it is not known how the accident occurred until there is an OSHA investigation, initial accident site photographs appear to indicate that it was caused by a gin pole system failure.
 
3/19/14 Pasadena Md. 21 Sevensville, Md. 180' 180' Water tower
Company: Redwing Electric
OSHA Status: Open
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Technician was reportedly not tied off 100% when he fell off the water tower in Pasadena, Md. He was employed by Redwing Electric of Fairfield, N.J.
 
2/1/14 Clarksburg W. Va. 32 Hulbert, Okla. 270' 60' Self Support
Company: S & S Communications Specialist, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 20 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $11,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $5950
Serious - 19260502 D15 - $5950
Incident Description:
Deceased was working with another technician replacing horizontal braces when the tower collapsed, killing both men. A firefighter trying to rescue other injured workers was killed when a second tower fell after the first structure hit its guyed wires.
 
2/1/14 Clarksburg W. Va. 27 Bokoshe, Okla. 270' 20' Self Support
Company: S & S Communications Specialist, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 20 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $11,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $5950
Serious - 19260502 D15 - $5950
Incident Description:
Deceased was working with another technician replacing horizontal braces when the tower collapsed, killing both men. A firefighter trying to rescue other injured workers was killed when a second tower fell after the first structure hit its guyed wires.
 
1/31/14 La Feria TX 62 Unknown 1,000 ft. Unknown Guyed
Company: Tower Smith
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
The decedent was working alone on the tower and fell to his death from an unknown height. OSHA may not investigate since it appears that the owner was a sole proprietor which OSHA has no jurisdiction over.
 

2013 Fatalities Total: 14

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
11/23/13 Wichita KS 27 NJ 340' 60' Self Support
Company: PinPoint Towers
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 22 / 2015
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $14,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19100132 D01 - $7000
Other - 19100132 F01 - $7000
Incident Description:
It is not known if Klein's equipment failed or if he disconnected to get past an intermediate cable guide, but a co-worker said that he was attached to the safety climb during his initial descent
 
9/27/13 Indianapolis IN 25 Indianapolis, IN N/A N/A N/A
Company: B-MAC Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 14 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,250
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100180 H03IX - $1250
Incident Description:
The tower technician was using a boom truck to lift a 5,000-pound generator on his employer's property which was to be delivered to a job site. He did not use the outriggers, although cautioned to do so, and the crane flipped over.
 
8/23/13 Eugene OR 31 Gresham, OR Not Available Not Available Wood Pole
Company: North American Power Line Construction Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 24 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 703007301 - $2800
Serious - 19260502 D15 - $1400
Serious - 703007302 - $2800
Incident Description:
The supervisor was using a man lift when it overturned and crushed him. The employer, North American Power Line Construction Services had been previously cited with six violations by Oregon OSHA in April for violating workplace practices on a cell site
 
8/17/13 Louise MS 44 Scott, La. 357' 125' Guyed
Company: Custom Tower LLC
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 1 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $7000
Incident Description:
OSHA and the employer are not providing details until the investigation is complete
 
8/12/13 Coats NC 49 Silvester, GA 225' 200' Monopole
Company: Transmit PM LLC
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 25 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Worker was reportedly transitioning and was not 100% tied off.
 
8/7/13 Waynesboro Va. 37 Iran 200' 160' Monopole
Company: Summit Tower Construction
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 6 / 2017
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tech was working on an nTelos tower on the carrier's corporate complex when he fell.
 
7/25/13 Vienna MD 41 Morovis, PR 355' 200' Guyed
Company: Konet Corporation
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 12 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Two employees were at the job site, one on the structure, the other on the ground. The ground man said he heard a thump and saw his co-worker on the ground.
 
7/8/13 Mountrail County ND 42 Chattanooga, TN 315' 250' Guyed
Company: Monarch Towers, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 15 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,600
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $5600
Incident Description:
One tech who died was transitioning on the tower and reportedly was not tied off. He fell and caused the technician below him to fall as well.
 
7/8/13 Mountrail County ND 25 Homerville, GA 315' 250' Guyed
Company: Monarch Towers, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 15 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,600
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $5600
Incident Description:
One tech who died was transitioning on the tower and reportedly was not tied off. He fell and caused the technician below him to fall as well.
 
5/28/13 Georgetown MS 42 Baton Rouge, LA 300' 150' Guyed
Company: Byrd Telecom
OSHA Status: Contested : 10 / 28 / 2013
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $7,000
Incident Description:
Gin pole was being raised to the top of the structure and suddenly plummeted. When it fell it struck the technician who fell to the ground.
 
5/28/13 Georgetown MS 32 Taylorsville, Miss. 300' 150' Guyed
Company: Byrd Telecom
OSHA Status: Contested : 10 / 28 / 2013
OSHA Details
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $7,000
Incident Description:
Gin pole was being raised to the top of the structure and suddenly plummeted. When it fell it struck the technician who fell to the ground.
 
3/19/13 Laredo TX TX 90' 80' Unknown
Company: Eduardo Corona - Private Contractor
OSHA Status: Open
*PROPOSED Violations only
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
OSHA Accident Investigation Description: While installing the last 10-foot section of a 90 foot tower, the bottom section collapsed, causing one employee to fall to the ground and die.
 
1/30/13 Brockton MA 54 East Bridgewater, MA 70' 50' Guyed
Company: Bay State Erection, Inc.
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Owner of a small tower company was disassembling the guyed tower when a strong gust of wind toppled the structure. The technician was tied to the tower and it partially ended up on top of him. The technician died two weeks later of complications from his injuries. It is expected that OSHA will not open an investigation since following his death the company is no longer in existence.
 
1/4/13 Mount Vernon WA 32 Maple Valley, WA 120' 120' Monopole
Company: W S Consulting and Construction
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 27 / 2014
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $450
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 0320022009 A - $450
Incident Description:
A Google map search shows two monopoles constructed to the west of the fire station. Although the Federal Communication Commission's database does not show any structures at that location, T-Mobile's database shows they have a 120-foot monopole at the fire station. Late last year, Crown Castle International bought the majority of T-Mobile's towers. Neither American Tower Corp., ATT-Towers, SBA Communications, nor Global Tower Partners identify a company-owned tower on N. LaVenture Rd. OSHA Accident Investigation Summary: A communications worker was on a cellular communications tower, at a position more than 25 meters above the ground, when he fell. Although he was using personal fall protection equipment, the anchorage he was using failed. (The anchor point was undetermined at the time of the inspection.) He was treated at the scene by emergency medical services, which transported him to a hospital. He died from his injuries.
 

2012 Fatalities Total: 1

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
6/26/12 Solway MN 19 Lisbon, ND 300' 153' Guyed
Company: Midwest Steeplejacks Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 20 / 2018
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19100268 C - $0
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $5,000
Incident Description:
From OSHA Accident Investigation Summary: At approximately 5:50 p.m. on June 26, 2012, Employee #1, of Midwest Steeplejacks, Inc., Fargo, ND, was working with Coworker #1 on a 300-foot telecommunication tower in Solway, MN. They were pathing the tower's communication dish with another communication dish located on a telecommunication tower in Bagley, MN, where Coworkers #2 and #3 were working. The task of pathing involved the sending and receiving of microwave signals between the two dishes to align and adjust them so they communicated more effectively. Both dishes had been installed previously. Employee #1 was wearing an ExoFit XP Tower Climbing Harness equipped with a positioning device and twin lanyards. Witness interviews obtained from the Beltrami County Sheriff's Department indicated that Employee #1 was using only one tie-off point when he unhooked his positioning device to reposition himself at a different location on the tower. He fell feet first approximately 153 feet. Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene.
 

2011 Fatalities Total: 7

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/26/11 Bonita Springs FL 61 Cape Coral, FL 733' 733' Guyed
Company: Broadcast Services Tower and Antenna, Inc.
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
OSHA identified that he was electrocuted and the agency is reportedly still investigating as of March 22, 2012. The 61-year-old man had heart problems that probably caused him to have a heart attack that either killed him or rendered him unconscious, said Dr. Robert Pfalzgraf, deputy chief medical examiner. That event might have been caused because of the physical condition of Rouskey or triggered by an electrical current to a light fixture on top of the tower that he tried to reach to change the bulb, or by radio waves, Pfalzgraf said. There were no obvious markings on his body to suggest that he had electrical or RF burns, Pfalzgraf said, according to The News-Press. However, callouses on his hands and tattoos may have covered up small markings. For details see article
 
10/12/11 Newton MA 30 Fort Dodge, IA 1,253' 1,000' Guyed
Company: Ultimate Tower Service Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 10 / 2012
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
No details provided until OSHA completes its investigation. For details see article
 
8/11/11 Brookfield MO 21 Topeka, KS 100' 80'
Company: Hayden Tower Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 29 / 2012
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
OSHA Accident Investigation Summary: At approximately 10:00 a.m. on August 11, 2011, several employees were tasked with dismantling an Anderson M-46 100-ft cellular tower that was no longer needed. This tower was located on the south side of Image Road, between Highway 11 and Inman Road. The tower was assembled using five 20-ft triangular sections with saddles bolted to the legs to attach one section to the next, making the tower progressively taller. There was a triangular platform on top of the tower, housing the cellular antennas. After the antenna platform had been removed, three of the employees climbed the faces of the tower to approximately 80 feet to unbolt the top section of the tower for removal by a truck mounted crane. Employee #1 fell from the tower, 80 feet to the ground below. Emergency medical services were notified and arrived within minutes. Employee #1 was alive, but unresponsive. He was transported by air ambulance to University Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival. For details see article
 
8/3/11 Hollister NC 18 Pinnacle, NC 300' 50' Self Supporter
Company: Sink Tower Erection Co
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 5 / 2013
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,400
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 7F0605 E - $2100
Other - 19040039 A - $300
Incident Description:
Fell from 50' level while working on the structure For details see article
 
4/13/11 Tippecanoe County IN 29 Laredo, TX 340' 340' Guyed
Company: ERI
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 9 / 2012
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
Fell with gin pole as they were constructing a 500' tower. $91,500 in fines. Click Here For details see article
 
4/13/11 Tippecanoe County IN 32 Mesquite, TX 340' 340' Guyed
Company: ERI
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 9 / 2012
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
Fell with gin pole as they were constructing a 500' tower. $91,500 in fines. Click Here For details see article
 
2/20/11 Okeechobee FL 43 Hazlehurst, GA 300' 115' Self Supporter
Company: Davis Specialty Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 7 / 2011
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,913
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260095 B - $1913
Other - 19101200 E01 - $0
Incident Description:
Fell while installing antenna transmission lines for South Florida Water Management For details see article
 

2010 Fatalities Total: 7

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
8/21/10 Wyanett Township MN 40 Braham, MN 40' Guyed
Company: Genesis Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 27 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Aerial lift tipped over while tower tech was on it boomed out to the 40' elevation. For details see article
 
7/22/10 Anniston AL 37 Albertville, AL 200' 40' Guyed
Company: McCord Communication Service, Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 9 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Truck clipped guy wire and toppled the tower For details see article
 
7/22/10 Anniston AL 41 Albertville, AL 200' 40' Guyed
Company: McCord Communication Service, Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 9 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Truck clipped guy wire and toppled the tower For details see article
 
6/24/10 Philadelphia PA 32 Deptford, NJ Building 120' Building
Company: Champion Communications
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 12 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,850
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 E - $1850
Incident Description:
Fell over the side of the building For details see article
 
5/28/10 Mountain Home AR 18 Ava, MO 250' 240' Self Supporter
Company: Paul Construction Company Llc
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 6 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260503 B01 - $1500
Incident Description:
Worker was installing new cell phone cables and antennas. He was descending the tower and fell 240 feet. For details see article
 
5/4/10 Dixie County FL 36 Hawthorne, FL 400' 240' Guyed
Company: North Florida Tower Service
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 30 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tech was working on a communication tower and fell from the tower. Reportedly was not tied off. For details see article
 
2/3/10 Benton AR 51 Lucedale, MS 250' 98' SelfSupporter
Company: Dynamic Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 27 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,750
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260502 E09 - $1500
Other - 19260503 B01 - $750
Other - 19260550 E - $1500
Other - 19260550 A06 - $0
Incident Description:
Tower tech was disassembling a communication tower when he fell approximately 98 ft. to the ground. For details see article
 

2009 Fatalities Total: 5

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/14/09 Town of Dix NY 46 Clyde, NY 396' 60' Guyed
Company: Demand Communications, Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 21 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,400
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $2100
Other - 19100132 H01 - $300
Incident Description:
On December 14, 2009, Employee #1, working as part of a tower crew, was replacing 21 guy wires, three each at seven different elevations, on a 360 ft radio antenna. They dropped the lowest set of guy wires from an elevation of approximately 50 ft. Employee #1 was at the 50 ft level and started attaching the newly fabricated guy wires. The tower buckled and collapsed and Employee #1, who was attached to the tower, was struck and crushed by falling tower pieces. Employee #1 was killed. For details see article
 
9/14/09 Thomasville MO 26 Wagoner, OK 330' 330' Guyed
Company: S & S Communication Specialists Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 30 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B15 - $1500
Serious - 19260502 E09 - $1500
Incident Description:
Tower tech and his co-workers had ascended a communications tower to install antennas and to adjust the coax cables at the top of the 330-ft tall structure. Employee descended approximately 10 ft to adjust the coax cables from that height. He detached his positioning hook and fell to the ground. For details see article
 
7/18/09 DeKalb TX 28 Crowley, TX 337' 100' Guyed
Company: Lariat Communications
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 2 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $1000
Incident Description:
Tower tech was installing coax cable hangers down the North face of a guyed tower. He was climbing down the tower cross members installing hangers on six newly installed coax cables at approximately 47-inch intervals, when he fell between 60 and 100 feet and was killed. Further investigation revealed that he was wearing a full-body harness with a 6-foot shock-absorbing nylon web lanyard but was not using it at the time of the accident. Metro PCS install, AT&T tower. For details see article
 
6/3/09 Leland MS 28 Alexander, AR 250' 217' SelfSupporter
Company: Diamond K Tower Company, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 5 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
At approximately 2:52 a.m. on June 3, 2009, an employee was working on a cell phone tower adding new transmission lines. The employee fell 217 feet to the ground and died at the site. Employee was wearing a body harness. The employee had not secured himself to the tower with his personal fall-arrest system equipment. He was wearing a DBI-SALA Exofit Tower Climbing, Full-Body Harness, Model Number 1108650, Serial Number 119903, Size SM. Attached to the back D-ring of this full-body harness was a "ZORBER" wye shock-absorbing dual lanyard by Elk River, twin 1-in. by 6-in. nylon web energy absorbing lanyards with a dual-action snap-hook on one end and dual-action rebar-hooks on the other ends. The employee apparently was attempting to secure his front "pelican" hook into his positioning lanyard which was secured to a vertical antenna pole. On June 9, 2009, the employee's 1-in. by 44.5-in. adjustable nylon web positioning lanyard, six foot overall length, with dual-action snap-hooks at each end, was retrieved off the tower by the Foreman. This lanyard was found wrapped around a vertical antenna pole at the west end of Alpha (1) Sector at Elevation 217, right where the employee had secured it with a carabiner back on June 3. T-Mobile Project. For details see article
 
3/17/09 Lake Worth FL 36 Lake Wales, FL 120' 114' Monopine
Company: Andrew Systems, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 1 / 2010
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $9,625
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260021 B02 - $7000
Serious - 19260105 A - $0
Serious - 19260550 G06 VII - $2625
Incident Description:
Employee and four coworkers were erecting a 124 ft communications tower. Employee fell approximately 114 ft and died. Tech had been working on the tower for three hours before he fell. T-Mobile Project For details see article
 
Special notes for year: 2009
*A fatality of a 57-year-old Michigan was during a hamfest event. Although the man had previously installed ham towers and antennas, it was not his profession. For the past 14 years he was an IT manager at a local university. His death is not considered to be as a result of work within the defined commercial industry.
*A fatality of a 59-year-old West Palm Beach International Airport worker who fell from a decommissioned radar tower on May 30, 2009 is not listed because he was not a communications worker that regularly climbed towers.
*A fatality of a 44-year-old Tyler, TX man on April 16, 2009 is not listed because he was not employed as an experienced tower worker and should not have been taking down a tower on his property. His primary occupation was incomputer repair.

2008 Fatalities Total: 12

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
11/18/08 Corona de Tucson AZ 22 Tucson, AZ 65 Self Support
Company: Wallen Communications Llc
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 4 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
 
10/23/08 Ellensburg WA 24 Wanatchee, WA Guyed
Company: Cascade 1 Internet Service
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 3 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $700
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 155005050404 - $450
Serious - 155001100501 - $250
Other - 155001100901 - $0
Incident Description:
Employee worked for an internet service provider that had its antenna on a tower on a roof at the Ellensburg's location. It is not known if he fell off the tower while servicing equipment or was working on the ISP's equipment and fell through a skylight. For details see article
 
9/12/08 Port Angeles WA 33 Bonney Lake, WA 50' 40' Rooftop Tower
Company: Emerald Wireless Communication
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 24 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $600
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 15524510 - $450
Serious - 1552450501 - $0
Serious - 0620900502 - $150
Incident Description:
Tower tech was the supervisor of the crew. He fell approximately 40 ft from a cell tower on an elevator shaft to the roof of a building. He sustained unspecified injuries and died at the hospital. For details see article
 
7/20/08 Petersburg ND 38 Mandan, ND 1400' 50' Guyed
Company: Allstate Tower Service
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 5 / 2009
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
Employee was painting a television broadcast tower. He was found lying unresponsive on the ground later in the afternoon. He fell approximately 50 ft and died. For details see article
 
7/18/08 Vineland NJ 55 Franklinville, NJ 280' 60'
Company: Paramount Advanced Wireless Llc
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 20 / 2011
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tower tech was working on a telecommunication tower and fell approximately 60 ft. For details see article
 
5/22/08 Miami FL Guyed, Broadcast
Company: Structural Systems Technology, Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 22 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $4900
Serious - 19260502 D21 - $0
 
5/16/08 Haubstadt IN 25 AL 200 140 Monopole
Company: Phoenix of Tennesse
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 31 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260251 A01 - $2500
Incident Description:
May have been rappelling down a load line For details see article
 
4/23/08 Natchez MS 31 Griffin, GA 200' 100'
Company: Overland Contracting
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 18 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
NONE
Incident Description:
Tower tech was installing stacker blocks for coax cable within the interior of a cell tower between the 80 and 100 ft level of the tower. As he was working his way down, the crew leader who was at a higher elevation noticed that he was not placing the coax into the blocks. The crew leader shouted to him to come back up and install the coax into the blocks as he processes down. While the tech climbed back up, the crew leader continued with his task. Several minutes passed by and all of a sudden the crew leader noticed the coax moving erratically, and looked down and saw his co-worker fall. The crew leader tried to grab onto the coax, but could not. The tech was killed in the fall. From the investigation, the tech may have been at the 100 ft level preparing to place the coax into the first block when he fell. For details see article
 
4/18/08 Frisco NC 46 Chesapeake, VA
Company: Brook Hill Communications Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 24 / 2011
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 7F0604 B01 - $0
Serious - 7F0605 A01 - $1000
Other - 7F0605 B02 - $0
Serious - 7F0605 B03 - $0
 
4/14/08 San Antonio TX 38 200'
Company: Ransor, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 16 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
OSHA closed its investigation after two days, and no citations or penalties were assessed. It is not known whether the deceased was considered a public sector employee, and therefore federal OSHA didn't have authority to investigate his work-related death. CPS Energy, a utility owned by the city of San Antonio, hired Ransor, Inc. to perform work on their tower. The employee and co-workers were working on a communication tower at a height of approximately 200 feet. They were removing and replacing bracing in order to reinforce the structure. The employee was tied off to a brace that he was removing. As he removed the brace, he removed his attachment point and fell. For details see article
 
4/14/08 Moorcroft WY
Company: Cornerstone Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 2 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 C - $2500
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $2500
 
4/12/08 Wake Forest NC 34 Midwest City, OK 150 150 Monopole
Company: MJM Group
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 26 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,100
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 7F0605 A - $2100
Incident Description:
Fell while reportedly rigging tower For details see article
 
Special notes for year: 2008
*In order to maintain separation between the telecommunications and wind power industries, wind turbine and meteorological structure deaths are not included. On November 9, 2008, a worker fell less than 8-feet when a meteorological mount on the ground fell over and crushed the wind energy technician to death.

2007 Fatalities Total: 11

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/5/07 Bridgewater NJ 45 Stanhope, NJ 113' 65' High Tension Transmission Line Tower
Company: JBL Electric, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 4 / 2009
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $3500
Incident Description:
Tower tech was working from a PSE&G 113 ft tall, 230-kilovolt tower, installing support brackets for running cable to the newly installed cell antennas. He fell approximately 65 ft to the ground, and was killed. Safety equipment was being worn, but it is not known if he was properly attached For details see article
 
9/24/07 East Deer Twp. PA 51 Triadelphia, WV 100' 100' Self Support
Company: Daniel W. Plants - Self Employed
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 25 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Was working alone while dismantling the tower For details see article
 
7/28/07 Centerville LA 29 Tomball, TX 400' 380' Guyed
Company: Gritz Towers, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 8 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tower rigger and two co-workers had completed installing a gin pole on top of a tower in preparation for adding another section to the tower. The gin pole was in place when one of the coworkers descended the tower because it had started to rain. The tech was instructed to bring the cable line down after putting it in the block. He placed the cable in the block and was moving around the tower away from the other coworker, who was stationary at the time. This coworker heard a grunt, looked up at the tech, and saw that he was using his elbows and arms to hold onto the wind lacing on the tower. The coworker was halfway around the tower from the tech and watched as he slipped from the lacing and fell 380 ft to his death. For details see article
 
7/10/07 Edura KS 33 Independence, MO 1000' 700' Guyed
Company: Structural Inspection, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 5 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1, the company owner, and Employee #2, a helper, both ironworkers, were replacing television transmission equipment 920 ft up on a 1,000 ft communications tower. They were riding a gondola-style man-basket pulled by a 1/4 in. wire rope up a trolley line that was anchored to a 16 ft flatbed trailer approximately 450 ft from the base of the 1,000 ft high tower. When the man-basket was approximately three-quarters of the way up, the wire rope line broke. The man-basket fell back down the trolley line, striking the ground and then the anchor point. Both Employee #1 and Employee #2 were tied off to the basket and were killed on impact. The coworker winch operator was not injured. The tower had been rigged approximately two weeks earlier by Employee #1. For details see article
 
7/10/07 Edura KS 54 Kansas City, MO 1,000' 700' Guyed
Company: Structural Inspection, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 5 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1, the company owner, and Employee #2, a helper, both ironworkers, were replacing television transmission equipment 920 ft up on a 1,000 ft communications tower. They were riding a gondola-style man-basket pulled by a 1/4 in. wire rope up a trolley line that was anchored to a 16 ft flatbed trailer approximately 450 ft from the base of the 1,000 ft high tower. When the man-basket was approximately three-quarters of the way up, the wire rope line broke. The man-basket fell back down the trolley line, striking the ground and then the anchor point. Both Employee #1 and Employee #2 were tied off to the basket and were killed on impact. The coworker winch operator was not injured. The tower had been rigged approximately two weeks earlier by Employee #1. For details see article
 
7/5/07 Pinola MS 300' 300' Guyed
Company: Berryhill Tower Services, Llc Dba Hang Em High
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 1 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $56,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260021 B02 - $4900
Serious - 19260503 A01 - $1500
WillFul - 5A0001 - $49000
Other - 19040039 A - $1500
Incident Description:
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on July 5, 2007, Employee #1 was on crew of five, including the supervisor, that was installing three boom-gates on a 300 ft tall telecommunication tower under construction. Using a cathead to hoist the booms, they successfully installed the first boom. Employee #1 rigged the hoist line by connecting a snatch block to the top flange of the southwest tower leg, connecting a carabiner through a bolt hole on the flange and finally connecting the load hook of the snatch block to the carabiner. The crew then moved on to the second boom. It had been lifted to the highest point allowed by the rigging configuration and Employee #1 radioed to the hoist operator to stop. To get the boom to the required installation location, Employee #1 had to use a come-along to lift it another 5 to 6 ft. Before he could connect the boom to the come-a-long, the carabiner broke and the boom struck Employee #1 on the head, neck, and shoulder, nearly severing his right arm. He did not lose consciousness, and two coworkers on the tower tied Employee #1's arm in place and helped him climb down nearly 300 ft. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then transferred to University Medical Center in Jackson, MS. He died two days later of head injuries sustained in the accident.
 
6/30/07 Summerville SC 40 Rex, SC 170' Monopole
Company: Snelling Communications, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 6 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Coroner said he had safety equipment, but was not tied off. Tower tech was raising a mount for antennas on a cellular phone tower. He was using a come-along attached to a step bolt above the mount when the step bolt broke and the winch dropped several feet. This caused tech to lose his balance. He fell approximately 170 ft to the ground and was killed. It was later determined that he was not tied off. For details see article
 
6/28/07 Bluffton SC 30 Woodstock, GA 480' 140' Guyed
Company: Tricon/Towerwerks, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 1 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tower tech and his coworkers climbed a tower to a height of approximately 120 ft to begin their work. The foreman remained on the ground, engaged in related tasks. Crew members were installing bolts on the new diagonal bracing on the tower. Approximately two hours later, the foreman, a welder, and the site superintendent were on the ground preparing the welder to climb the tower when they heard someone yell and saw the tech falling. He dropped approximately 140 ft to the ground and was killed. His coworkers on the tower later stated that he had lacerated his finger and one of them gave him a piece of tape. He used it to seal the cut and then began to smoke a cigarette. He was apparently moving from a sitting position to a standing position when he fell backward off the tower. A coworker observed the tech's pelican hook and lanyard unravel within the structure as he fell. There was no evidence that the tech had been tied off at the time of the accident. For details see article
 
6/7/07 Mandarin FL 19 Mount Vernon, IN 150' 100' Monopole
Company: Tower Reinforcement, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 2 / 2008
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
The deceased was part of a crew installing reinforcing bars on the sides of a monopole cellular tower. He was at a height of approximately 108 ft installing rigging equipment so the reinforcing materials could be hoisted to that level. When he climbed the tower, his safety harness was connected to a cable lifeline that was equipped with a cable sliding device. Once he reached his working level, he disconnected from the cable lifeline to reposition himself on the other side of the tower. On the front of his safety harness, he had a pelican hook device that was used for positioning. He also had a safety lanyard that was connected to the back of his safety harness. On the other end of the lanyard there was a rope grab device, even though a rope lifeline had not yet been installed on the tower. He apparently connected the pelican hook to the tower, as he was observed from the ground leaning back on his harness and using both of his hands to move material. It is not known if the pelican hook came loose when he connected it to one of the climbing pegs on the tower, or if he disconnected his hook to reposition himself. He fell from the tower, landing on the roof of a nearby building. He sustained multiple fractures, lacerations and contusions to his head, neck, torso, and extremities, and died at the work site. The medical examiner's report listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The report also stated that he had a high level of ethanol in his blood (0.13 percent) and vitreous (0.16 percent), as well as cannabinoids and nordiazepam. His coworkers admitted that they had drank alcohol the previous night until around midnight, but all denied that they drank or consumed drugs on the day of the accident. For details see article
 
3/16/07 Shreveport LA 72 Gilmer, TX 150' 150' Guyed
Company: Service Tower Company
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Was talking on his radio to men inside building when he fell. The deceased was a subcontractor of a subcontractor. No records are available. OSHA may not have investigated the accident. An OSHA representative informed Wireless Estimator that they were not aware of the accident the day following the fatality. In addition, in certain circumstances an OSHA Area Office Director can decide whether to investigate an incident. For details see article
 
2/7/07 Golden Meadows LA 29 Nocona, TX 330' 125' Self Support
Company: Gritz Towers, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 26 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
A tower technician, was working on the tower installing braces, according to OSHA. He fell approximately 125 feet to the ground. The employee was treated by Emergency Medical Service on the site and then transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. For details see article
 

2006 Fatalities Total: 19

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
10/2/06 Westland MI 23 Higgins Lake, MI Unknown 120' Monopole
Company: Skyline Antenna and Line
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 3 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,940
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 C - $1470
Serious - 40843005 - $1470
Incident Description:
Tied off to antenna pipe on T-arm when it inverted and climber fell For details see article
 
9/17/06 Pensacola FL Toccoa, GA Unknown 100' Pedisphere Water Tower
Company: Utility Service Communications Co., Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 12 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 C - $4900
Other - 19100022 C - $0
Incident Description:
On September 17, 2006, Employee #1 was a member of a four-man crew that was installing telecommunication equipment on a 200,000-gallon pedisphere water tank. Inside the water tank structure was a 107 ft tall fixed ladder that rose from the ground to an elevated catwalk. Attached to the ladder was a North Saf-T-Notch carrier rail, part of a ladder safety device to prevent falls. Employee #1 climbed the ladder to retrieve a block and tackle that had been placed at the catwalk opening to facilitate lifting equipment. He used an Antenna Products safety sleeve to attach himself to the carrier rail, but once at the catwalk level, he had to undo the sleeve from the rail. After getting the block and tackle, Employee #1 hooked it to one of the side rings on his fall protection harness. He had started to descend the ladder when he fell, suffering a blunt impact injury to his torso. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he died. When he attached the sleeve to the rail to climb down the ladder, he may have placed the sleeve upside down; it would not prevent a fall if placed onto the rail in that way. It was also speculated that Employee #1 had not attached the sleeve to the rail, but a witness heard the sleeve sliding on the rail when he fell. North, the manufacturer of the carrier rail, states that it should be used only with a North sleeve; in this case the carrier rail and the safety sleeve had been made by two different manufacturers. The two different components had never been tested as a unit to ensure that they were compatible, and neither manufacturer had approved the use of two different components. There were differences in size between the North sleeve and the Antenna Products sleeve. Employee #1 had not been specifically trained about how to properly use the ladder safety device. For details see article
 
6/25/06 Bonifay FL 30 Evansville, IN 1,900' 550' Guyed
Company: S & W Tower Maintenance, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 31 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $1250
Serious - 19260502 E05 - $1250
Incident Description:
Employee was part of a crew that was removing antenna equipment from a 1,900 ft communication tower for placement on another tower. One of the workers was on the ground operating the Hydraulic Power Systems, Inc., hoisting unit. Two workers were at a height of approximately 1,800 ft on the tower, removing the equipment. Once it was free, they would connect it to a 5/8-in. nylon rope, and the hoist operator would lower it to about the 600 ft level of the tower, where Employee was located. He was connected to and suspended by a 1/2 in. wire rope hoist line. Once the equipment reached him, he would connect it to the hoist line, and the hoist operator would then lower him and the equipment to the ground. Employee would disconnect the equipment, and then be raised back up to wait for the next load. During the course of the operations, Employee was being raised when the nylon rope broke. The approximately 100 lb equipment attached to the rope fell from approximately 1,800 ft, as did a headache ball that was also attached to the rope. The broken end of the rope became tangled on the rigging block that was on top of the tower. This caused the nylon rope to suddenly stop, and the shock caused the it to break again at a point just above the headache ball. The nylon rope, headache ball, and equipment fell until they struck Employee on the hoist line. He was connected to the line with a CM chain repair link that was not designed to be part of a personal fall protection or positioning system. The link separated and Employee fell about 550 ft to the ground. He was killed. Subsequent investigation revealed several problems with the hoisting system: the rigging, hoist line, and slings that were used to raise personnel had not been installed with a 10:1 safety factor; Employee was on the hoist line while another load was suspended from the same hoist unit; Employee connected his fall protection/positioning device to a shackle above the hook rather than using a lanyard that had been placed directly on the hook; and no anti-two-blocking device was installed on the personnel hoisting line. It was believed that the nylon rope was cut by the wire rope where they both passed through the same double-block rigging device at approximately 500 ft on the tower. For details see article
 
5/31/06 Oakland IA 19 Cumming, IA 1450 1100 Guyed
Company: Deter's Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 16 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 880004 - $1500
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $1500
Incident Description:
Employees working at a telecommunication tower site, were riding the headache ball assembly, while being hoisted into position. They fell approximately 1,200 feet to the ground and were killed. OSHA did not site the company since it was closed following the fatalities. For details see article
 
5/31/06 Oakland IA 27 Des Moines, IA 1450 1100 Guyed
Company: Deter's Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 16 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 880004 - $1500
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $1500
Incident Description:
Employees working at a telecommunication tower site, were riding the headache ball assembly, while being hoisted into position. They fell approximately 1,200 feet to the ground and were killed. OSHA did not site the company since it was closed following the fatalities. For details see article
 
5/31/06 Oakland IA 57 Norwalk,IA 1,450' 1,200' Guyed
Company: Deter's Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 16 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 880004 - $1500
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $1500
Incident Description:
Employees working at a telecommunication tower site, were riding the headache ball assembly, while being hoisted into position. They fell approximately 1,200 feet to the ground and were killed. OSHA did not site the company since it was closed following the fatalities. For details see article
 
5/24/06 Vicksburg MS 48 Dale, IN 90' on top of building 50' Roof mounted tower
Company: Jack Pellow, Subcontractor for National Tank and Tower
OSHA Status: No OSHA Records
Total Penalties:   $0
Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
UNKNOWN
Incident Description:
Pellow's co-worker said "Pellow was about halfway down (the tower) and I looked up and saw the knot on the second rope came loose and he fell about 50 feet." No OSHA documents can be located. Pellow may have not had a registered and licensed company. For details see article
 
5/5/06 Ebensburg PA 25 Lebanon, PA 175' 90' Self Supporting Tower
Company: Last Mile Inc. Dba Sting Communication Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 14 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B15 - $7000
Incident Description:
Tower tech was preparing to install an antenna. It is not known if he was tied off to the tower. The coroner was informed by a second Sting Communications employee on site that he was "feeding up the safety rope". according to published reports. For details see article
 
5/2/06 Central City KY 23 KN Unknown 380' Guyed
Company: Tower Services, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 13 / 2009
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
At approximately 10:15 a.m. on May 2, 2006, Employee #1, a tower technician with Tower Services, Inc., was killed when he fell approximately 380 ft from a cell phone tower. A co-worker who was on the tower with Employee #1 stated that neither of them were utilizing fall protection equipment. The foreman confirmed this to the investigators. For details see article
 
5/2/06 Lawton IA 51 Des Moines, IA Unknown Unknown Pedisphere WaterTower
Company: Mike's Construction
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 14 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Four men on the crew were feeding a coaxial line inside of the water tower when an aluminum pulley failed. The technician then fell inside an access tube of the pedisphere tower and died after hitting a landing 48-feet below him. He had been wearing a harness, but was not tied off, according to OSHA. For details see article
 
4/10/06 The Woodlands TX 51 Horn Lake, MS 185' Unknown Monopole
Company: Quality Tower Service Ltd
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 18 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,800
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19261053 A19 I - $2800
Other - 19040039 A - $0
Incident Description:
Had safety equipment on, but it is unknown if he was tied off. Monopole reportedly had a safety climb device, but it was not known if decedent was attached to it. A toxicology report revealed 0.19 mega-grams per liter of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, in his system. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 10, 2006, Employee #1 was climbing a 185 ft telecommunications tower (Monopole) in preparation for hoisting a series of antennas that were to be installed. A witness stated that Employee #1 was wearing a safety harness and carrying a rope over his shoulder to be used for rigging. When Employee #1 was at a height of approximately 165 ft, the witness heard a noise and saw Employee #1 falling. Employee #1 was killed, when he landed on a platform at the base of the tower. For details see article
 
4/6/06 Milan TN 39 Walnut Ridge, AR Unknown 35' Unknown
Company: Arco Towers & Contracting Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 6 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee was climbing down from a communication tower, when he lost his balance and fell approximately 35 ft. He struck the ground, sustaining injuries that killed him. OSHA indentifies that the they were operating under the following industry codes: SIC - 1721/Painting and Paper Hanging, NAICS - 238320/Painting and Wall Covering Contractors For details see article
 
3/27/06 Martinsville VA 60 Long Island, VA 403' 30' Self Supporting
Company: Sky Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 19 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
An Alaskan rigger was critically injured and his Virginia co-worker was killed when the hoist line they were riding snapped as they were being lowered to the ground following an antenna installation. For details see article
 
3/14/06 Gladstone KS 28 Knoxville, IA 300' 150' Self Supporter
Company: Interstate Tower Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 16 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Tower Tech was upgrading antennas on a communication tower when he fell approximately 150 ft to the ground. For details see article
 
3/3/06 Talladega AL 400' Ground Level
Company: Betacom, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 10 / 23 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260100 A - $4900
Incident Description:
On March 3, 2006, Employee #1 was working with a crew inside a communications tower building, walking in and out of the building to get parts from their trucks. At the same time, workers from another company were lowering a 50 lb antenna from the 400 ft tall tower to replace it with a new one. The rope they were using as rigging broke, and the antenna fell over 260 ft to the ground. Employee #1 and three coworkers had just walked out of the building on their way to lunch. They heard the warning call indicating that something was falling and ran for cover, but the antenna struck Employee #1 on the top of his head, killing him. Neither Employee #1 nor any of the workers from his company had been wearing hard hats.
 
2/21/06 Veedersburg IN 31 Ridge Farm, IL 170' 150' Unknown
Company: Conxtions Communications
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 29 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee, a contractor, was working on an approximately 170-foot high self-supported tower. As Employee was working at about the 150 foot level of the tower, attempting to remove an Omni type Antenna from a support bracket, he fell and was killed. The accident investigation revealed that Employee was free climbing to position himself on the tower. Also, a rope lanyard was found on the Omni antenna, which was possibly being used by Employee as hoisting apparatus. For details see article
 
2/9/06 Thomasville NC 50 TN Unknown 20' Unknown
Company: Fridley's Communications Dba Business Cell Systems
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 14 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1, an owner of Business Cell Systems and another employee, a son of the owner, arrived to Thomasville, North Carolina, shortly after lunch. Employee #1 proceeded to put on his climbing equipment. Another employee was inside the building, working on wiring of a photo cell, which needed replacement. Another employee went through a gate to enter the tower area, as Employee #1 was descending the ladder and approaching ground level after installing the photo cell. Another employee asked how Employee #1 was doing. Suddenly, he heard a noise, which he could not identify. When he looked to see what it was, he saw Employee #1 falling 15 ft to 20 ft to the ground and landing face down on a metal grate, at the bottom of the ladder. Another employee ran up to Employee #1 and turned him over. He saw Employee #1 bleeding from his head. Employee #1 was killed. He did not use a fall protection. For details see article
 
1/21/06 Hollister MO 21 Lawson, OK 120' 90' Guyed
Company: Rocky Mountain Erection Company
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 21 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,700
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $1350
Serious - 19260502 D21 - $1350
Incident Description:
A bulldozer's track became entangled with the tail of the tower's guy wire. The dozer pulled the grip off of the guy wire causing the tower to collapse. Employee was killed. For details see article
 
1/19/06 La Guna Vista TX 33 San Angelo, TX 90' Unknown Monopole
Company: Wilbur L. Anderson Inc. Dba Western Towers
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 13 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,200
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $1100
Serious - 5A0001 - $2100
Serious - 19260105 A - $1000
Incident Description:
Employee #1 was raised to near the mid-point of a 90-ft-tall monopole communications tower. The tower was to be removed and replaced by a new self-supporting tower. He secured himself to the pole with a work positioning belt. While Employee #1 was wrapping a nylon sling around the pole, the ground crew removed all of the nuts which secured the base of the pole to the anchorage bolts. The pole had not been secured at the top to prevent toppling. As soon as the last nut was removed, the pole leaned in a northerly direction with Employee #1 still attached to the pole. When the pole fell to the ground, Employee #1 struck the ground and was killed. For details see article
 

2005 Fatalities Total: 7

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
8/3/05 Poplar Bluff MO 37 Alton, IL Unknown 80' Guyed
Company: Tower Maintenance & Erection Corporation
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 9 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $300
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19040039 A - $300
Incident Description:
At approximately 11:17 a.m. on August 3, 2005, an employee, for some unknown reason, fell approximately 80 ft from the top of a radio tower to the ground. The employee was wearing the appropriate fall protection and fall arrest system. According to the lead man on the site, the employee was practicing 100 percent fall protection. The employee simply detached himself from the tower and fell. He was killed. For details see article
 
7/27/05 Apache Junction AZ 46 CA Unknown 80' Monopole
Company: Constant Power Technologies Cpt
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 25 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employees #1 and #2 were assigned to adjust a microwave dish on a microwave tower 80 feet high. Employee #2 was directed to adjust the 4 foot microwave dish. Employee #1 was located on the lower section of the tower. While installing his fall protection equipment to the tower, he fell approximately 65 feet to his death. For details see article
 
6/6/05 Lincoln IL Glendale, AZ 140' 120' Self Support
Company: Wireless Horizon Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 2 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $750
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260105 A - $750
Incident Description:
Employee #1 fell while disassembling the 240' structure. On June 6, 2005, Employee #1 was with a crew dismantling an unused microwave tower. The workers had just "jumped" the gin pole and were preparing to remove a "K" section from the south face of the tower. Employee #1 was climbing the gin pole to attach a sling to the "K" section when the gin pole began sliding down the tower face. It was abruptly stopped by the load line ball, causing Employee #1 to fall approximately 120 feet to the ground. He was killed. For details see article
 
5/16/05 New Boston NH Peyton, CO 400' 100' Guyed
Company: Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 8 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1 fell from an azimuth tower after he either slipped or fell. A ladder-climbing device arrested his fall, however, the harness ripped apart. Employee #1 was killed. For details see article
 
4/26/05 Watonga OK Fort Gibson, OK 360' 240' Unknown
Company: Texoma Contracting, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 11 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,840
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $1125
Serious - 19260020 B02 - $1575
Serious - 19260095 B - $565
Serious - 19260105 A - $1575
Incident Description:
At approximately 7:45 a.m. on April 26, 2005, Employee #1 and a coworker were installing co-axial cables that would connect cellular antennas. The antennas, located on an existing 360 ft tall, triangular communication tower, were to be connected to an equipment building at the base of the tower. At approximately 10:15 a.m., after the cables had been installed, Employee #1 needed to move across the co-axial cables that had been suspended from the tower. As he was doing so, he fell about 240 ft and was killed. Subsequent investigation revealed that both workers were wearing safety harnesses with positioning devices. These devices connected to D-rings on the sides of their harnesses and allowed them to connect to the tower braces in front of them. However, neither employee was wearing a lanyard that connected to the back of their harnesses.
 
2/25/05 Wilson County NC Roxboro, NC 160' 150' Self Support
Company: Excel Tower Services, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 9 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,400
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B15 - $1400
Incident Description:
On February 25, 2005, Employee #1 and a coworker were tasked with changing out nine antenna panels and conducting a sweep test on a communication tower. In the process of the installation, Employee #1 fell from the tower to a lower level and was killed. For details see article
 
2/25/05 Yuma CO Wray, CO 180' 180' Self Support
Company: Ne Colorado Cellular Inc. Dba Viaero Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 18 / 2007
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $125,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260503 A01 - $5000
Serious - 5A0001 - $60000
Serious - 5A0001 - $60000
Incident Description:
On February 25, 2005, Employee #1 was installing a new digital cellular telephone antenna on the antenna mount of an existing three-leg, self-supported communication tower. He was suspended using his work-positioning lanyard from an antenna mount near the top of the tower. Seconds after being observed in this position, Employee #1 fell approximately 180 ft and was killed. The snaphook on his work-positioning lanyard had been previously damaged, and he was not tied off with his fall arrest lanyard. For details see article
 

2004 Fatalities Total: 11

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/20/04 Mayes County OK 47 San Marcos TX 500' 300' Guyed
Company: Cellxion Wireless
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 23 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1, working for Cellxion in Locust Grove, OK, was performing final installation operations on a 500-ft-high communication tower. Employee #1 fell from an elevation of 300-ft. Employee #1 was killed.
 
11/28/04 Maricao PR 30 TX Unknown 187' Guyed
Company: Radian Communication Services Corporation
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 7 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1 was installing a lateral antenna on the north leg of a communication tower and fell approximately 187 feet to the ground and was killed.
 
11/23/04 Gonzalez FL 21 Pensacola, FL 300' 290' Guyed
Company: Team One Communications, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 8 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $7,250
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $2413
Serious - 19260021 B02 - $1750
Serious - 19260105 A - $3087
Incident Description:
On November 23, 2004, Employee #1 was part of a crew that was installing a new antenna on top of a 300 ft tall Rohn communication tower, model 65. Employee #1 was on the tower with two coworkers when a storm blew in. The three workers stayed on the tower during the storm. After the rain passed, they began climbing down the tower, attaching coaxial cable to the tower structure as they went. At approximately 290 ft, Employee #1 apparently slipped as he was moving from one side of the three-sided tower to another side. He fell to the ground and was killed. Employee #1 was wearing a Miller climber's harness that was equipped with a double 6 ft lanyard and a 4 ft positioning lanyard; as he descended, he also had a small pulley attached to his equipment. However, his fall protection equipment was not attached to the tower. The tower had no access ladder or safety climbing device, so the workers had to use the horizontal and cross bracing to climb the tower.
 
11/4/04 Shirley AR 43 Unknown Unknown 75' Unknown
Company: Ozcomm Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 18 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1 was working alone installing an antenna on a communication tower at a height of approximately 70 ft to 75 feet. Employee #1 had put in three screws to mount the antenna and was drilling for the fourth screw. Employee #1 had a rope attached to the antenna (probably to pull or carry the antenna up to the mounting point). Apparently, Employee #1 fell, breaking part of the antenna off as he fell while leaving the base still screwed into the tower with the three screws. Employee #1 was wearing a safety harness and lanyard that apparently had not been attached to the tower. Employee #1 was found deceased at the base of the tower the morning after he has observed on the tower in the previous evening.
 
6/26/04 St. IgnaceTownship MI 33 Newaygo, MI Unknown 300' Guyed
Company: Grant Tower Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 26 / 2011
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
On June 26, 2004, Employee #1 was descending a communications tower when he fell approximately 300 ft to the ground.
 
6/3/04 Opp AL 300'
Company: Webb Tower Service
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 16 / 2006
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260416 A03 - $4900
Incident Description:
On June 3, 2004, Employee #1 was installing grounding wires on a 300 ft tall communications tower when he contacted a 46 kilovolt overhead power line and was electrocuted.
 
5/5/04 Utica MI
Company: Morris Painting
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 15 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,885
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 A02 - $1050
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $1050
Serious - 19260502 D16 - $1050
Serious - 19260503 B01 - $735
Incident Description:
On May 5, 2004, an employee fell from a communication tower after attaching fall protection to a faulty anchorage point. He fell approximately 18 feet and was killed. OSHA says the contract was using the following industry codes: SIC: 1721 / Painting and Paper Hanging, NAICS: 238320 / Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
 
5/1/04 Duffield VA 300' 235'
Company: Data Cell Systems, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 15 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,750
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260502 D21 - $875
Other - 19260503 B01 - $875
Incident Description:
On May 1, 2004, Employee #1, a cell tower construction worker, was taping radio frequency transmission cables to a cell tower to prevent the wind from knocking the cables against the tower and damaging them when he fell 235 ft to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Employee #1 was wearing a full body harness with double lanyards, but the lanyards were not connected. He also sustained high voltage electrical burns from an unknown source because there were no overhead power lines near the cell tower.
 
4/7/04 Stone Mountain GA 36 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Company: Blackman Services
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 4 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $3,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260020 B03 - $2500
Other - 19040039 A - $1000
Incident Description:
On April 7, 2004, Employee #1, who worked for a cell tower service company, was dismantling an amateur radio tower. He was lowering the last 50 ft long section of tower to the ground when a temporary guy rope failed, causing the tower to fall. Employee #1 was tied off to the tower and fell with it to the ground.
 
2/9/04 Alpharetta GA 29 Unknown 230' 140' Self Support
Company: Insite Communication Companies, Llc
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 31 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $4,900
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $4900
Incident Description:
On February 9, 2004, Employee #1 was installing an amplifier on a telecommunication tower when he fell approximately 140 ft and was killed.
 
1/22/04 Ft. Wayne IN 24 Unknown Unknown 70' Unknown
Company: Swager Communications Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 15 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
On January 22, 2004, Employee #1, of Swager Communications, Inc., was working on the final stages of erecting a communication tower. He was apparently changing out short structural bolts for longer ones in the northwest corner of the tower when he fell approximately 70 ft onto the frozen ground and was killed. He was wearing a full body harness with a lanyard attached to the back on a small D ring, and another short lanyard with a pelican hook on the front for positioning. The snaphook connected to the D ring on the back had another small D ring that was not designed for fall protection. The small D ring was located on the front strap of the harness; it was in a slot and not secured to the strap. This snaphook could be attached to the small D ring to hold the lanyard up while moving or working, but could not stop a fall. Employee #1 had been properly trained and was a qualified tower climber. He was wearing fall protection equipment provided by his employer, none of which showed any signs of failure.
 

2003 Fatalities Total: 15

Date City/Town State Age Home
Town
Tower
Height
Work
Height
Tower
Type
Article Link
12/20/03 Prattville AL 38 Theodore, AL 300' 150' Unknown Tower Type
Company: Alpha Tower Service
OSHA Status: Closed : 9 / 9 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $9,800
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260105 A - $4900
Serious - 19260503 C03 - $4900
Other - 19260503 B01 - $0
Incident Description:
Employee #1 was working with a crew pulling up cables on a communication tower. He was approximately 150 feet up the 300 foot tower. His job was to secure the cable with a hoisting grip and ground it after the cable was set at the top of the tower. Two cables had been pulled into position and secured and the third cable was just starting to be pulled up when the employee fell to the ground and was killed. The investigation revealed that Employee #1 was only using a positioning belt along with his harness. His lanyard was in the tool box on the ground at the time of the accident. It is believed that the employee disconnected his positioning belt to move out of the way of the cable being pulled up and fell during his attempt to move.
 
11/14/03 Asheboro NC 19 Concord, NC 250' 140' Self Support
Company: Viper Communication Sytems, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 5 / 19 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
At approximately 9:15 a.m. on November 14, 2003, an employee and a coworker of Viper Communication Systems, Inc. were climbing the southwest leg of a 250 ft communication tower. The coworker was climbing the tower first with one end of the starter rope, while the employee was following with the block, pulley. They were climbing the tower to hang the block at the top in the center of the tower and to run the rope through the block back down to the ground. Once on the ground, another coworker would tie the hoisting cable to the rope, the rope would be pulled until the cable was run through the block and back down to the ground. The other end of the cable went to the truck mounted hydraulic material hoist, operated by another coworker. While Employee #1 and the coworker were climbing the tower, they would periodically stop and rest. At approximately 140 ft, they stopped again to rest. The coworker started climbing again when the employee fell off of the tower landing on a BTS cabinet, telecommunication equipment, then onto the stone ground resulting in fatal injuries. The coworker was not injured.
 
10/23/03 Leominster MA 24 Yellville, AR 190' 190' Water Tower
Company: Eastern Communications Incorporated
OSHA Status: Closed : 12 / 9 / 2003
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
On October 21, 2003, Employee #1, wearing fall protection and rigging, was working on top of a water tower, 189 ft high, and fell. He struck the ground and was killed.
 
9/4/03 Huntsville AL 35 Hollywood, FL 1,000' 700' Guyed Broadcast
Company: Doty-Moore Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 8 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260251 C09 - $5000
Incident Description:
On September 4, 2003, Employees #1 through #3 were at the 700 ft. level on a 1,000-ft-tall, three legged, guyed broadcast tower modifying it to conform to EIA/TIA standard 222-F. Horizontal braces had been installed to enhance the structural strength of the tower. A 160-ft-long gin pole that moves on a track had been assembled at or about the 700 ft. level on the tower. When the track on the gin pole was being raised by a base-mounted drum hoist, the tower collapsed, killing Employees #1 through #3. The investigation determined that the base blocks for the load line and jump line had been attached to the tower at the 35-foot level as opposed to the industry practice of attaching them at the concrete tower base or to an independent anchor. Also, the hoist was at an angle from the face of the tower that resulted in torsional forces beyond those which the tower could withstand.
 
9/4/03 Huntsville AL 35 Tucson, AZ 1,000' 700' Guyed Broadcast
Company: Doty-Moore Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 8 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260251 C09 - $5000
Incident Description:
On September 4, 2003, Employees #1 through #3 were at the 700 ft. level on a 1,000-ft-tall, three legged, guyed broadcast tower modifying it to conform to EIA/TIA standard 222-F. Horizontal braces had been installed to enhance the structural strength of the tower. A 160-ft-long gin pole that moves on a track had been assembled at or about the 700 ft. level on the tower. When the track on the gin pole was being raised by a base-mounted drum hoist, the tower collapsed, killing Employees #1 through #3. The investigation determined that the base blocks for the load line and jump line had been attached to the tower at the 35-foot level as opposed to the industry practice of attaching them at the concrete tower base or to an independent anchor. Also, the hoist was at an angle from the face of the tower that resulted in torsional forces beyond those which the tower could withstand.
 
9/4/03 Huntsville AL 27 Robstown, TX 1,000' 700' Guyed Broadcast
Company: Doty-Moore Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 8 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 19260251 C09 - $5000
Incident Description:
On September 4, 2003, Employees #1 through #3 were at the 700 ft. level on a 1,000-ft-tall, three legged, guyed broadcast tower modifying it to conform to EIA/TIA standard 222-F. Horizontal braces had been installed to enhance the structural strength of the tower. A 160-ft-long gin pole that moves on a track had been assembled at or about the 700 ft. level on the tower. When the track on the gin pole was being raised by a base-mounted drum hoist, the tower collapsed, killing Employees #1 through #3. The investigation determined that the base blocks for the load line and jump line had been attached to the tower at the 35-foot level as opposed to the industry practice of attaching them at the concrete tower base or to an independent anchor. Also, the hoist was at an angle from the face of the tower that resulted in torsional forces beyond those which the tower could withstand.
 
9/3/03 Rio Piedras PR Unknown Unknown 90' Unknown
Company: Centennial De Puerto Rico
OSHA Status: Closed : 2 / 3 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
Employee #1 fell approximately 90 ft from a communication tower and was killed.
 
7/15/03 Greene PA 26 Paducah, KY 496' 430' GuyedBroadcast
Company: Global Towers Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 8 / 13 / 2004
OSHA Details
Incident Description:
On July 15, 2003, Employee #1 and a coworker were directed to climb a 496 foot radio tower which the company had just built in March of 2003. They were instructed to rotate an antenna which was not properly installed when the tower was erected. The employees ascended the tower to approximately 430 ft using a hand-over-hand method. There was one climbing device installed on the tower which was not utilized. It was stated that Employee #1, more experienced and younger, reached the work area first and had removed the antenna. He was waiting for his coworker while wearing a positioning device rather than a safety harness. When the coworker reached the station, they began to install the antenna correctly. It consisted of 4 bolts which they were given to install while Employee #1 moved the antenna into place. The coworker told Employee #1 to raise the antenna, and when Employee #1 did so, he fell to his death. The evidence showed that the C clamp used to hook onto either the antenna mount or the bracket, rolled out during the movement, as it was not of the locking type. Employee #1 did not have a lanyard attached to the clamp which was located in front. Both employees were not wearing safety harnesses nor using any type of climbing device. Both employees' clamps were not of the locking type.
 
6/16/03 Goehner NE 22 West Monroe, LA 1500' 1200' Guyed Broadcast
Company: Doty-Moore Tower Service, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 11 / 9 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $1,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260553 A01 - $1500
Incident Description:
OSHA Description: Three employees were upgrading a 1500-foot television tower to supply HD-TV. An employee was working on the South leg of the tower tightening bolts on the half pipe. Coworker #1 was working on the East side of the South leg and Coworker #2 was working between back and forth between the pan and the tower. The employee was heard exclaiming an expletive and when the two coworkers looked over, he was falling from the tower. He died as a result of his fall.
 
5/13/03 West Lake Hills TX 35 Longview, TX 1,200' 600' Guyed Broadcast
Company: Epic Communications Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 7 / 12 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
On May 13, 2003, an employee working on a tower elevator doing alterations to the tower fell approximately 700 ft. from communication tower to his death.
 
4/4/03 Blackstone MA 41 Fremont, IN 250' 100' Self Support
Company: Swager Communications Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 26 / 2003
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,000
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 5A0001 - $2000
Incident Description:
On April 4, 2003, Employee #1 was installing a cable on a tower. He fell from the tower and was killed. Two employees on the ground did not witness why he fell.
 
2/26/03 Coalinga CA 20'
Company: Applied Technology Group Inc
OSHA Status: Closed : 4 / 27 / 2005
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $5,550
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Other - 342 A - $5000
Other - 8605 A - $550
Incident Description:
On February 26, 2003, Employee #1 was checking connections on a tower antenna when he fell approximately 20 feet. The employee had fall protection but it was not used during his ascent and descent of the tower. He was transported to Coalinga Regional Medical Center and then flown to UMC in Fresno where he died.
 
2/18/03 Orlando FL 23 Anna-Maria, FL 160' 160' Monopole
Company: Goff Communications, Inc.
OSHA Status: Closed : 6 / 30 / 2003
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $2,500
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19260501 B01 - $1250
Serious - 19261053 B13 - $1250
Incident Description:
Unhooked safety and fell while transitioning. On February 18, 2003, Employee #1 and other employees were installing sleeve covers over the antennas on a telecommunications tower. Company policy required that during the progress of work employees use fall protection when working at a height of over 6-ft. Employee #1 unhooked his lanyard and inadvertently slipped and fell off the tower 120 ft to the ground. He was killed.
 
1/27/03 Syossett NY 33 Hampton Bays, NY 132' 84' Monopole
Company: Imc Antenna & Tower Co.
OSHA Status: Closed : 1 / 7 / 2004
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $0
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
No Violations
Incident Description:
At approximately 2:50 p.m. on January 27, 2003, Employee #1, of IMC Antenna & Tower Company, was working on a 132 ft monopole located at a site in Syosset, NY. He was climbing the tower when he fell about 84 ft and was killed. Although the cause of the accident has not been determined, several contributing factors have been identified: (a) equipment failure--Employee #1 used a wire rope grab to ascend the monopole to where a new platform was being installed. According to witnesses, he bent over and leaned to his left for some known reason before he was able to connect to his lifeline. The wire rope grab separated at that point when the rivets holding the braking mechanism pulled out under a side load; one part was found 30 ft away from the tower and the other part was found on the ice bridge just below the lower anchoring point of the safety climb; (b) wire rope--the 3/8 in. wire rope, know as the safety climb, may have been installed upside down so that it was not convenient for climbers to take slack out of the line. A witness claimed there was excessive slack in the line, which may have allowed Employee #1 to put a side load on the rope grab when he bent ove; (c) weather--on the day of the accident, there was snow on the ground, it was windy, and the temperature was 11 degrees F., with an average wind of 20-25 knots at the 100 ft elevation and a wind chill factor estimated at between (-) minus 11 degrees F. and (-) minus 15 degrees F; (d) carabiner--Employee #1 apparently installed a large aluminum cababiner in addition to a small black carabiner that was attached to the wire rope grab and the safety climb; this combination extended the distance between his chest D-ring and the wire rope beyond the 9 in. required under OSHA's Construction Standards.
 
1/8/03 Oasis UT
Company: Jt3 Llc
OSHA Status: Closed : 3 / 27 / 2003
OSHA Details
Final Total Penalties:   $10,710
Final Violation Item(s): Type - Standard - Fine
Serious - 19100268 C - $5355
Serious - 19100268 G01 - $5355
Incident Description:
On January 8, 2003, Employee #1 was climbing a communications tower, without fall protection, and he fell 25 feet and was killed.
 
 
   
     
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