NATE wants to make all industry professionals and workers aware of the standards and compliance directives that govern fall protection. 100% tie-off is the law and these standards must be adhered to at all times by personnel working on a tower site in order to ensure the safety and welfare of the industry workforce.
OSHA
OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M – Fall Protection, §1926.500
This subpart sets forth requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces covered under 29 CFR part 1926.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.500
OSHA Directive, CPL 02-01-036 [2002, March 26]
Interim inspection procedures during communication tower construction activities (commonly called “Riding the Line directive”).
https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-01-036
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
A10.4-2007, Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators on Construction and Demolition Sites
The purpose of this standard is to set forth minimum requirements intended to provide for the safety of life, limb and property of those engaged in occupations requiring the use of personnel hoists or employee elevators. The requirements of this standard are the minimum for that purpose.
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2fASSE+A10.4-2007
A10.32-2012, Fall Protection Systems for Construction and Demolitions Operations
Establishes performance criteria for personal fall protection equipment and systems in construction and demolition, and provides guidelines/recommendations for their use and inspection.
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2fASSE+A10.32-2012
Z359 Version 3.0, Fall Protection Code
There are multiple individual sections for this standard.
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2fASSE+Z359+Fall+Protection+Code+Package+v3.0
Z490.1, Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health, and Environmental Training
This standard establishes criteria for safety, health, and environmental training programs, including development, delivery, evaluation and program management.
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2fASSE+Z490.1-2009
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE Climber/Rescuer Training Standard
The NATE CRTS replaces the current 4th Edition of the NATE Climber Training Standard (CTS) resource and is available in electronic format for free to NATE member companies and for purchase for stakeholders representing non-members.
The NATE CRTS is intended to assist in standardizing fall protection and rescue training for climbers in the tower and communications infrastructure construction, service, and maintenance industries. The new, streamlined CRTS document presents a series of training topics, establishing a minimum baseline of knowledge and skill that a climber should possess.
The NATE CRTS training topics include an evaluation, which is intended to assist an employer in designating personnel initially as authorized climbers/rescuers, and for personnel with sufficient knowledge, skills, and experience, as competent climbers/rescuers. The CRTS also offers guidelines to support an employer’s development and maintenance of its fall protection program to comply with the ANSI/ASSP A10.48 standard and regulations where work is conducted.
https://natehome.com/regulations-and-standards/standards/nate-climber-training-standard/
