Comprehensive Tower Safety Standard Reaches Completion

August 9, 2016

J. Sharpe Smith

Senior Editor
AGL eDigest

Smith

August 9, 2016 — The wireless infrastructure industry now has one place to go for knowledge of safety practices for the construction, demolition, modification and maintenance of communications structures with the completion of the A10.48-2016 Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE).

“It is the most comprehensive standard encompassing the entire tower construction, service and maintenance industry. Prior to this standard, many of the topics contained in the standard were scattered across other standards or were not referenced at all in a standard,” said Todd Schlekeway, executive director, NATE. “The standard will act as ‘one stop shop’ and … will make it much easier for contractor firms, tower owner/vertical realtors and tower technicians to find the information they need to ensure a safe and quality build-out.”

The standard establishes minimum criteria for safe work practices and training for personnel performing work on communication structures including antenna and antenna supporting structures, broadcast and other similar structures supporting communication related equipment.

“The A10.48 Standard will provide the ultimate road map for companies and workers to adhere to in order to raise the bar on safety and quality in the industry,” said NATE A10.48 Subcommittee member Kathy Stieler from ERI Installations. “This transformative standard will fill a huge void that currently exists right now in the industry,” Stieler explained.

The standard is example of industry attempting to police itself, according to sources, in lieu of increased government regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The standard addresses: pre-job planning, job site conditions, fall protection, RF energy, base-mounted hoists, personnel lifting accessories, rigging, gin poles, climbing access, structural construction loading, capstan hoists, demolition and helicopter use.

The final version of the A10.48 Standard is a by-product of more than six years of work by ANSI, ASSE and NATE, which formed the A10.48 Subcommittee in 2010 to write the standard. As the standard draft neared completion, NATE appointed a committee to edit and format the document per ANSI and ASSE guidelines, which included Gordon Lyman, eSystems Training Solutions; Don Doty, FDH Velocitel; Stieler; and Shelly Trego, NATE Operations Director. The final document was then approved by ASSE’s members.

“NATE led the charge on this as our A10.48 Subcommittee members played an invaluable role in its completion,” Schlekeway said. “NATE is proud to have played a crucial role in establishing the standard and helping get this valuable resource across the goal line.”

Representatives from NATE, ASSE and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) will be providing additional information and educational opportunities regarding the new A10.48 Standard in the coming weeks. Additionally, NATE will be providing an update in the near future to members and industry stakeholders on how to purchase the A10.48 Standard when it is officially published.

“The release of the A10.48 Standard is one of the most significant developments to have occurred in my 43 years working in the industry,” Doty said.