Tower techs, safety leads, foremen, and other interested parties are being urged to weigh in on rope use by taking the survey.
Rope failure in the telecommunications industry isn’t just inconvenient — it can be deadly. Despite the critical role ropes play in rigging, fall protection, and rescue operations, the industry continues to see rope-related incidents, some with catastrophic consequences.
Now, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, is sounding the alarm and calling on workers and leaders across the industry to take part in its Rope Selection and Use Survey — a national effort to gather data, close safety gaps, and drive regulatory improvements.
A Wake-Up Call for the Industry
From hauling gear up a tower to protecting a technician during a rescue, ropes are lifelines — literally. But they’re also vulnerable: improper use, missed inspections, or purchasing the wrong type of rope for the job can result in sudden, unpredictable failures.
The Rope Selection and Use Survey aims to change that. It seeks honest, on-the-ground insight from those who handle ropes every day — tower hands, field technicians, safety managers, trainers, and even executive leadership — to help understand:
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How ropes are being selected
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How often they’re inspected
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What criteria determine when they’re taken out of service
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Whether the ropes being used are even appropriate for the application
Why This Survey Matters
“Every broken rope or overlooked inspection represents a preventable risk,” said a spokesperson for NATE’s OSHA Relations Committee, which is spearheading the initiative. “We can’t fix what we don’t understand. This survey is the first step toward identifying patterns and practices that are putting workers at risk.”
By collecting and analyzing this data, NATE hopes to:
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Reduce the number of rope-related safety incidents
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Improve training materials and field-level education
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Inform rope selection, purchasing, and inspection protocols
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Bolster outreach to OSHA and help shape future regulatory guidance
Backed by NATE’s OSHA Relations Committee
This effort aligns with the OSHA Relations Committee’s mission to serve as an ongoing source of safety guidance for NATE members and the broader telecommunications industry. The committee has long worked to enhance worker protection by monitoring regulatory developments and partnering with OSHA for proactive safety advocacy.
Their focus is on better standards, better tools, and a better-informed workforce.
“The data from this survey will support the industry’s efforts to reduce incidents, enhance workforce effectiveness, and potentially influence OSHA safety recommendations for rope use,” the committee noted.
Who Should Participate
The survey is open to all corners of the industry. NATE is specifically encouraging participation from:
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Field technicians, climbers, and tower hands
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Safety professionals and corporate trainers
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Foremen, construction leads, and executive managers
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Rope suppliers and procurement staff
If you’re involved in any stage of selecting, using, maintaining, or retiring rope in telecom work, your input is vital.
Take the Survey. Help Save Lives.
The Rope Selection and Use Survey isn’t just another form — it’s an opportunity to improve safety practices across thousands of job sites nationwide directly. With participation from the field, NATE hopes to build a much clearer picture of where safety breakdowns occur and how they can be prevented.
A single piece of rope can mean the difference between life and death. Understanding how that rope is chosen, used, and trusted is one of the most critical safety conversations the industry can have.
