OSHA Inspection: HEARTLAND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Issued

Oct 29, 1998

Abate by

Feb 20, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Employees working on and near a telescoping cable television tower were
exposed to the
recognized hazard of "falling from an elevated position" or being "struck
by" the tower during
collapse.  The employer did not take adequate measures to control
employee(s) exposure, in that:
a)  The employer's own policy concerning the climbing of towers was not
fully enforced.
The policy stated "under no circumstances shall anyone attempt to climb a
telescoping
tower in the future.  Do not climb these towers under any circumstances."
b)  Inspection of the tower and antenna supporting structures was
deficient
in
development, implementation and maintenance. Qualified personnel were not
available
to perform inspections regularly and/or prior to work activities.
The potential for "falling from an elevated position" or being "struck by"
was demonstrated by
the following instance:
On July 9, 1998 a thirty-eight foot telescoping cable television tower
located in Franklin
county Texas collapsed.  One employee, who was secured to the top of the
tower with
fall protection equipment, fell with the tower as it collapsed.
Among other methods, recognized and feasible means of abatement to correct
this hazard
include, but are not limited to:
a)  Full implementation of the employer's "no tower climbing" policy
coupled with the
use of an aerial lift, bucket truck or other similar device for any work
activity associated
with the tower at elevations of six feet or more above the ground.
b)  Development, implementation and maintenance of a regular inspection
program, by
qualified personnel, to inspect the tower, antenna and supporting
structure as required
by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Electronic Industries
Association
(EIA) Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standard 222-E-1991
(Structural
Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures),
with particular
attention to Section 14 (Maintenance and Inspection).
IN THE ALTERNATIVE:
29 CFR 1926.20(b)(1):  The employer did not initiated and maintain such
programs as may be
necessary to comply with this part:
a)  Full implementation of the employer's "no tower climbing" policy
coupled with the
use of an aerial lift or bucket truck for any work activity associated
with the tower at
elevations of six feet or more above the ground.
b)  Development, implementation and maintenance of a regular inspection
program, by
qualified personnel, to inspect towers and antenna supporting structures
as required by
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Electronic Industries
Association (EIA)
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standard 222-E-1991
(Structural
Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures),
with particular
attention to Section 14 (Maintenance and Inspection).