OSHA Inspection: TRUE NORTH TOWER, LLC

Issued

May 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $13,260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(g)(1): A positioning system or a personal fall arrest system was not provided and the employer did not ensure their use when work is performed at positions more than 4 feet (1.2 m) above the ground, on poles, and on towers, except as provided in paragraph (n)(7) and (n)(8) of this section:    (a)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project #CER1323012/SDL04621 154th Avenue, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure a tower tech/top hand was protected from the hazards associated with falls while working on a telecommunications tower. On January 10, 2019, a tower tech/top hand had finished troubleshooting an Alpha 2100 radiohead and was attempting to descend from the tower at night when the employee fell approximately 180 feet and died as a result of injuries sustained from the fall. The employee was not utilizing a fall protection system and fell as a result. This condition exposed an employee to a fall hazard of approximately 180 feet.  (b)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project #CER1310516/SDL04604, Midland, SD 57552: On or about and at times prior to November 26, 2018, the employer did not ensure a tower tech/top hand was protected from the hazards associated with falls while working on a telecommunications tower. The employee was working on a platform located at the top of the tower while performing maintenance on a Beta 700 radiohead while not utilizing a personal fall arrest system. This condition exposed an employee to a fall hazard from the top of the telecommunications tower.

Issued

May 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,366 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(d)(2)(ii): Personal fall arrest systems were not rigged in such a manner that the employees could not free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact a lower level:    (a)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project # CER1308136, Grand Forks, ND 58201: On or about and at times prior to December 3, 2018, the employer did not ensure a tower tech/top hand employee was rigged in such a manner that the employee could not free fall more than 6 feet. Two employees were conducting maintenance work on a telecommunications tower using personal fall arrest systems with the lanyards and pelican snap-hooks connected to anchorage that was below the employees' waists. The tower tech/top hand was also utilizing an inadequate anchorage in conjunction with a positioning system that consisted of an enlarged or oversized carabiner placed over an open ended 5/8 inch step bolt on the tower. The carabiner was large enough to slide off of the open end of the step bolt and could have caused the employee to fall from the work position and greater than 6 feet due to the anchorage being below the employees feet. This condition exposed employees to injuries associated with increased arresting forces due to a free fall greater than 6 feet.

Issued

May 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,366 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(b)(8): Illumination of field work.  Artificial illumination was not provided to enable the employee to perform the work safely when natural light was insufficient to adequately illuminate the worksite:    (a)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project #CER1323012/SDL04621 154th Avenue, Rapid City, 57703: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from hazards associated with inadequate lighting as a part of night climbing and performing night work on a telecommunications tower. On January 10, 2019, a tower tech/top hand employee fell approximately 180 feet and died as a result of injuries sustained from the fall. The employee was utilizing a JobSmart 250 Lumen Headlight while attempting to troubleshoot an Alpha 2100 radiohead. During the process of transitioning to the ladder and descending from the top of the tower, the employee fell. The single headlight did not provide an adequate level of lighting to the work area to ensure shadows were not created that could affect an employee's perception while working on the tower. The company did not have an established night work policy or a procedure to address the hazards of working at night. This condition exposed an employee to fall and struck-by hazards related to inadequate lighting associated with working on a telecommunications tower at night.

Issued

May 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $4,740

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.268(e): Personal protective equipment, protective devices and special tools needed for the work of employees were not provided and the employer did not ensure that they were used by employees. Before each day's use, the employer did not ensure that these personal protective devices, tools, and equipment were carefully inspected by a competent person to ascertain that they are in good condition.    (a)True North Tower, LLC at Tower/Project #CER1323012/SDL04621 154th Avenue, Rapid City, 57703: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure that a tower tech/top hand was provided a protective device in the form of a Lad-Saf detachable cable sleeve or ladder safe climbing device. On the night of January 10, 2019, a tower tech/top hand was tasked to troubleshoot an Alpha 2100 radiohead located on top of a telecommunications tower. The tower was equipped with a vertical wire rope cable assembly that would allow an employee the option to climb the tower using the ladder safe climbing device.  This condition exposed an employee to a fall hazard of approximately 180 feet.