The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a national strategic partnership with NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve worker safety in the communications tower erection industry. The goal of the three-year partnership is to eliminate worker injuries and fatalities while performing wireless and telecommunications, tower erection …
Grubbs, Ripp and Rodgers join National Wireless Safety Alliance Board of Governors
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced that Philip Grubbs, Environmental, Safety, Health, & Security (ESH&S) Manager in North America for Black & Veatch, Richard “Chip” Ripp, General Manager of Standards and Process for DISH Wireless and Jillian Rodgers, Environmental, Health, Safety, and Fleet Manager at U.S. Cellular have been appointed as members of the Alliance’s Board of Governors. In …
DoL gives WIA million$ of reason$ to develop the wireless workforce
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) awarded it a major contract to perform as the 5G Industry Intermediary to develop the wireless workforce. DoL provided WIA a multi-million-dollar contract as the National Sponsor of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP). The objective of the funding is to expand the industry’s multi-employer …
NATE’s DoL training grant will assist in developing 5G small cell deployment training
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2020-2021 program year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation. The …
Immediate action required to inspect 3M PROTECTA Rebel self-retracting lifelines
3M™ Fall Protection has identified a potential manufacturing issue with a limited number of 3M™ Protecta® Rebel Self-Retracting Lifelines (with galvanized or stainless-steel lifelines) produced between October 14, 2019 and February 25, 2020. There have been no reports of injuries or accidents associated with this issue. This manufacturing issue could result in the SRL not engaging properly but can be …
3M Recalls DBI-SALA Self-Rescue Descent System
3M Fall Protection issued a Product Advisory on June 10, 2020 to address a potential cracking issue that may occur after repetitive descents of the training model of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Self-Rescue Descent Systems, specifically P/N 3320037. The notice directed the competent person to complete an inspection for this condition of the inner rope spool as part of the normal …
Video challenges industry to look at suspension trauma response from a new perspective
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a video on the topic of suspension trauma. The video is the third to debut in Volume 5 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection series. The video includes important information that all tower technicians, trainers and first responder personnel need to know regarding how to respond effectively to a suspension trauma situation at …
A safe out of plumb monopole is most likely caused by the thermal ‘Sunflower Effect’
Many of us have seen and experienced the Sunflower Effect. Most of us remember the first time we pulled up to a monopole and saw a severe case of it. It seems as if the pole is leaning or is damaged in some way. However, upon further assessment it appears that there is no damage and as the day goes …
Free wireless rooftop deployment training course in Atlanta set for August 3
NATE is offering a free Wireless Rooftop Deployment Training Course on Monday, August 3, 2020 at the Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia to all industry professionals, announced NATE project coordinator Kimberly Elliott. The course is made possible due to a Susan Harwood Training Grant (SH-05134-SH9) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Applicants do not have to be …
Canadian private/public collaboration panel provides an excellent report to dispel 5G myths
Out of Canada comes an outstanding piece that lays groundwork for public understanding of 5G and dispels myths surrounding it. For something of technical depth, it is entirely readable. It’s a collaboration of Canadian equipment suppliers, associations and multiple country agencies. The report notes that while 5G transmitters will require the creation of a large number of new base stations with …
NATE shows raptors on towers a danger to techs in newly released “Birds of Prey” video
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a video titled “Birds of Prey” focused on the topic of raptors nesting on communication towers. The video is the second to debut in Volume 5 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection series. The video, released to coincide with bird nesting season in many parts of the United States, includes important information that …
Contractors not being compensated for added expenses during pandemic
Commentary – Craig Lekutis, Editor After an overview was published last week, of how the COVID-19 virus was affecting wireless infrastructure work conditions, dozens of updates were received by Wireless Estimator by the nation’s contractors with a key concern being their inability to obtain N95 masks, hand sanitizers and other PPE supplies. Also, the subjective slowdown in work averaged around 30% …
Even if you don’t climb, safety sleeve testing report is a must read
The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today officially released the NATE Safety Sleeve Testing Final Report. This in-depth, 62-page white paper describes the overall scope, methodology and results from the NATE sponsored Safety Sleeve Testing events that were performed at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) in Dayton, Ohio in 2018 and 2019. If you’re knowledgeable about the “Sunflower Effect” …
Fall protection succumbs to the need for virus protection as Washington State-based Gravitec closes
Since the initial reports of the COVID-19 outbreak, Washington State-based fall protection training company Gravitec had been coordinating their efforts and strategies to protect their clients, students and employees to sustain their operations, but yesterday evening North America’s largest fall protection training company made the difficult decision to suspend their in-house training as well as temporarily suspend travel for their …
Contractors cautioned: Don’t underreact in protecting wireless field workforces against COVID-19
By Michael Devers and Jim Tracy The wireless communication industry we work in is as dynamic and fast-paced as it is critical. Over the past week, we’ve been witness to history as the dynamic, fast-paced, and extraordinary development of the impacts and storylines surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have begun to play out. This is especially true here in Western Washington, unfortunately …
Primus and Site Pro 1 mitigate virus concerns as LBA provides free COVID-19 safety training
Primus and Site Pro 1 are eliminating non-essential visits to their locations and our reemphasizing the need for best practices for sanitation policies including frequent hand washing to minimize exposure to COVID-19. Both organizations are allowing all employees who are capable to work from home wherever possible to do so. Travel is also being limited by both companies. Site Pro …
Tower techs still road warriors as COVID-19 cancels industry’s shows and non-essential travel
Last week, most wireless infrastructure companies were supporting a mostly “business as usual” mentality regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, but they’re now reassessing their preventative plans daily as the industry finds itself struggling to keep abreast of the almost hourly information being provided by news media, health organizations and government agencies. Bernard Borghei, Executive Vice President of Operations, Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC, …
Readers question why Tennessee rescue required emergency services assistance
A Tuesday rescue of a tower tech in LaVergne, Tennessee ended successfully, but it started a slew of social media posts and emails to Wireless Estimator questioning why the individual could not have self-rescued himself or rely upon a co-worker bring him to the ground instead of waiting almost an hour-and- a-half. HIPAA compliance prevented officials from responding to requests for additional …
3M issues advisory on its DBI-SALA EZ-Stop shock absorbing lanyard
3M is emphasizing that their EZ-Stop Lanyard portfolio remains safe to use as it meets all aspects of the relevant OSHA regulation (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502), but they are issuing an advisory and not a recall. The company said that as part of 3M Fall Protection’s on-going commitment to delivering high quality safety equipment, they are notifying their customers of …
Pure Safety Group recalls SRLs with stainless steel or web lifelines
Pure Safety Group (PSG) has issued an immediate recall and stop-use alert for its Guardian Fall Protection Self-Retracting Lifelines that use a stainless steel or web lifeline. “A small number of SRLs were identified as noncompliant with ANSI Z359.14-14 and must immediately be removed from service,” PSG states in a press release. Under certain conditions, the stainless steel or web lifeline may …
