An unidentified tower technician was seriously injured when a tool bag came loose at about the 150-ft. level of this 180-foot AT&T monopole and struck him on the head, knocking him unconscious. Photo: Google Earth
The condition of a tower technician who was struck on the head by a falling bag of tools on December 20, 2024, in the Township of North Brunswick, NJ, remains unclear, according to the owner of his employer, Gzl Corporation.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Lindsey Drive, adjacent to Renaissance Park. Local authorities and OSHA have determined that a tool bag, either being raised or lowered, fell from over 150 feet, striking the technician on the ground. The severity of the impact rendered him unconscious. It remains uncertain whether the technician was wearing a hard hat at the time, and both OSHA and the North Brunswick police have declined to provide additional details about the ongoing investigation.
Employer and subcontractor details
Manuel Lojano, CEO of Gzl Corporation, based in Bay Shore, NY, told Wireless Estimator that he has not recently spoken with the technician’s family and is unaware of his current condition. Gzl Corporation appears to have been subcontracted by Allied Telecom Group of South Hackensack, NJ, to perform work on the site. Notably, OSHA has launched an investigation into both companies—a rare occurrence in Wireless Estimator’s coverage of severe tower and infrastructure-related accidents and fatalities over the past two decades.
Lojano said he was not at the accident site during the investigation.
It is unclear if Allied Telecom Group, owned by Demetrio Poubouridis, was working under a subcontract from another contractor, such as a turfing contractor. Observations of Allied’s facility suggest that their one or two-bay location might not be able to handle direct contracts with a significant turfer or directly with AT&T. OSHA’s review is expected to focus on compliance with safety regulations and contractual responsibilities across the involved parties.
Allied’s website is no longer available, but its previous presentation said its major clients were carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Dish, Verizon, and towercos American Tower and Crown Castle.
Allied has not responded to a request for information.
Gzl Corporation does not have a website.
OSHA records indicate that both companies’ NAICS code is 517919 – All Other Telecommunications, establishments primarily providing specialized telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and dial-up internet service. It is unknown if OSHA assigned that code or the contractors provided it. Nonetheless, it’s a 2017 code no longer available in the 2022 classifications. The most used code for contractors providing services to AT&T and other carriers is 237130, Power and Communication Line and related structures Construction.
The accident site is a 180-foot AT&T monopole on township property featuring a fortress quad mount at its apex. The site is adjacent to a water tower. The township approved AT&T’s lease agreement for the site in 2021, which stipulates a monthly ground rental payment of $3,450. The lease also requires new tenants to establish individual sublease agreements with the township. In June 2023, T-Mobile was approved to occupy equipment shelters and cabinets at the same monthly rental rate.
OSHA will review compliance, but will Avetta?
OSHA’s ongoing investigation will likely focus on whether proper procedures for securing tools during hoisting operations were followed and if the companies involved adhered to federal safety standards. This scrutiny could significantly affect safety practices and accountability throughout the subcontracting chain.
While OSHA’s findings are crucial, another question looms: will Avetta review its role in the compliance ecosystem?
Although AT&T doesn’t require contractors to be Avetta-compliant, T-Mobile does, and if the contractors were installing T-Mobile’s sectors on the structure approved by the township in 2023, they would have to be compliant.
Industry insiders have long noted that some subcontractors slip through Avetta’s rigorous supply chain oversight. This has raised concerns among professionals who must meet Avetta’s stringent safety and risk management criteria—an expensive process that often excludes non-compliant companies and independent contractors who avoid these requirements altogether.
In addition to potential lapses in Avetta’s pre-qualification process, questions remain about contractor compliance with AT&T’s internal workforce standards. In 2022, AT&T began requiring that at least 50% of all crew members working on its projects hold certifications from the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA). Whether Gzl Corporation met this requirement at the time of the incident is currently unknown.
Wireless Estimator will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Editor’s Note: For over 20 years, Wireless Estimator has gone beyond surface-level press releases and generic media reports. To stay informed with exclusive news bulletins, industry updates, and in-depth investigative articles you won’t find anywhere else, subscribe on our home page today.
