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03/01/2007
OSHA Relations Committee Update
After reading several articles in different publications and Internet resources, I was reminded that our industry experienced a high level of deaths due to falls this past year.
Please read and review the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) FACE reports, Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation. The common cause of death to these climbers has been an insufficient use of their fall arrest safety lanyard giving them 100% tie off to the tower structure upon positioning or relocating on the tower. Safety conscious tower companies express importance for the use of this required safety precaution and for some reason some tower technicians chose not to use their fall arrest equipment properly.
We as owners spend many hours of implementing policies, training on safety belt use, toolbox meetings and outside educational courses to express the importance of properly using the full body harness and all safety lanyards. Unfortunately, we find that some tower technicians will not follow these vital policies on a regular basis. How can we stop this? Is there a clear answer? If we make the employee more accountable with fines through OSHA, will this help? Can we accomplish an answer to a never-ending problem? Maybe the answer is in the approach of training. The company recently purchased a publication “Safety 24/7” which illustrates guidelines used for an effective safety culture.
Changing the mindset and responsibilities of the employee in my opinion, is the key answer. Of course, we all have existing safety policies and guidelines implemented in our companies. However, how effective are they? Do you need to change your safety environment? Jump-starting employee motivations, behaviors and habits can be frustrating and challenging. Build trust with your new safety culture with concise goals and expectations. Commend the progress and keep the courage to stay consistent with all safety practices. I highly suggest reading this publication. Hopefully, your firm and employees will discover this to be a valuable tool.
In fond memory of Leo Deters and all of our Tower Guys.
Barbara Houdek is a member of the NATE OSHA Relations Committee. She is the CEO of Trillium Development, Inc. in Sartell, Minnesota. She can be reached at 320-267-3544 or trillium@cloudnet.com
Barbara Houdek
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