Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, created by Jarad Matula and brought to you by Towercrews.net.
A flurry of cell tower related news has swept across the internet since last we reported. The top story this week involves what could have been another in a long line of tower tragedies that instead ended happily. A climber in Charlotte, NC was working at the top of a 150-foot tower when he slipped and fell. Thankfully he was using his harness, which caught him and caused him to dangle from the tower, suspended 150 feet in the air. The pressure from the harness prevented circulation, causing the man to go limp until local area firefighters were able to scale the tower and lift him up and off the tower. No serious injuries occurred, and the man is just thankful to be able to return home safely to his wife and children. Click here for a video of the rescuers recounting the experience. Chalk up a victory for the safety harness!
OSHA finally brought down the hammer this week on a company related to the death of a climber that occurred back in November. The company at fault is Optica Network Technologies, which operates as Pinpoint Towers, LLC. OSHA cited them on three counts of serious safety violations. The citation went on to claim that Pinpoint “failed to ensure fall protection was maintained at all times” and failed to “conduct a comprehensive job hazard assessment to include fall protection methods.” But wait, it gets worse. Pinpoint didn’t even provide certification that hazard assessment and fall protection training had even been provided to their workers. For all of this, the company is given a mere $21,000 penalty. This is the company’s first infraction, and they have 15 days to respond to the claim. The real question is, will OSHA follow through with a previous claim to go after the carrier responsible for hiring contractor companies such as this? Only time will tell.
Further evidence in the case of the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has come to light thanks to cell towers. An official in Washington close to the investigation has reported that a cell tower in Penang, Malaysia detected the co-pilot’s phone searching for service around the time the plane vanished. Penang is 250 miles from where the flight disappeared. There’s no evidence that suggests he attempted to make a call, but his phone was at least on and searching for signal. This reinforces theories that the plane turned around and was flying low enough to obtain a cell tower signal. As of now, that is the only new piece of evidence in this tragic case.
Sky Climber Tower Solutions, a company that provides engineering, structural, safety and installation services in the tower industry announced this week a new general manager, Tom Warchol. Warchol has nine years of telecom industry experience, as well as engineering and executive management. His responsibilities include the day-to-day operations and overall success of the company. So no pressure, right?
Regional/Local Cell Tower News
- Iowa Senate panel approves cell tower placement bill
- Plan for cell tower at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, IL debated
- New Verizon cell tower installed on Leavey Center in Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
- AT&T cell tower proposal appealed in Portland, OR
- Cell Tower on Ledges Road? There is a Public Hearing on April 24 in Ridgefield, CT
- Students seek safer Helena, MT cell tower osprey nest
- Cell tower proposed on Bismark Lane in Mount Airy, NC
- Hillsdale, NJ planning board approves new cell tower
- In Lawrence, NJ there’s a proposal to raise height of cell tower from 100 to 150 feet
- Proposed cell tower for Cousler Park drawing mixed reaction in York, PA
