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OSHA Removes Hoisting Restrictions for Communication Tower Workers

April 10, 2002

OSHA publishes a revised compliance directive for communication tower construction that removes the restriction on raising employees on the hoist line to workstations below 200 feet.

EHS Today Staff

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a revised compliance directive for communication tower construction that removes the restriction on raising employees on the hoist line to workstations below 200 feet. All other policies and procedures of the directive remain unchanged.

"This change allows tower workers to be lifted on the hoist line to work stations, regardless of the elevation and maintains appropriate safety measures for safe access to communications towers during construction," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw.

The revised compliance directive, "Interim Inspection Procedures During Communication Tower Construction Activities," applies only to the construction of new communications towers. Activities such as maintenance, retrofitting and dismantling will be addressed in a future directive.

The change applies only to federal programs and does not require state adoption. However, states have up to 60 days to provide notification of whether they intend to adopt the new guidelines.

The compliance directive is available on the OSHA web site at www.osha.gov.

edited by Sandy Smith ([email protected])

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.