Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Falling Isn’t The Only Risk For Cell Tower Workers


While falling is a huge risk to the tower technicians that scale 100 to 300-foot towers, heat illness is another risk that these workers face. OSHA has launched their nationwide Heat Illness Prevention Campaign that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of working in hot weather. The campaign began in 2011 and has reached over 7 million people and distributed close to have a million fact sheets, posters, quick cards, and training guides.

OSHA explains that there are two types of heat illness: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The symptoms for heat exhaustion are: dizziness, headache, sweaty skin, weakness, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fast heartbeat. While the symptoms for heat stroke are: red, hot, dry skin, high temperature, confusion, convulsions, and fainting.

Water, rest, and shade can help workers stay safe and healthy. Make sure to drink water every 15 minutes even if you aren’t thirsty. Watch out for each other, rest in the shade, and wear hats as well as light colored clothing. According to NATE, “Any worker exposed to hot and humid conditions is at risk of heat illness, especially those doing heavy work tasks or using bulky protective clothing and equipment. Some workers might be at greater risk than others if they have not built up a tolerance to hot conditions.”


Take a look at the Heat Fatalities map below provided by OSHA:

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