The Federal Communications Commission and Department of Labor are calling for worker safety guidelines in the broadband sector following the death of several telecommunication infrastructure workers.
In a joint statement, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Labor Secretary Tom Perez expressed concern that the production of telecom towers is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous undertakings in the construction industry. To date, 11 workers have died in work-related accidents this year, with another 13 losing their lives in 2013.
In order to rectify this situation, the FCC and Labor Department are developing a list of “recommended practices” for employers to ensure the safety of their staff. While the report acknowledged the fact that communications companies do prioritize safety when planning their tower projects, it says that message “gets diluted” by a decentralized subcontracting community.
“We have to make sure the protections are making it from the folks on the ground to the person 1,000 feet in the air holding the wrench or wearing a harness,” says the report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already published guidelines that address the safety of telecom tower construction and maintenance workers.
In addition to developing new recommended practices, the FCC and Labor Department are also creating an apprenticeship for new tower technicians. The Registered Apprenticeship Program for Tower Technicians program provides workers with safety training in order to minimize on-the-job injuries.
A similar program geared towards “tower climbers” was announced by the FCC in early September.
According to the chairmen, “as the telecom industry booms, it needs workers with expertise to do the job safely.”
