Techs Die in Fall from Tower in N.D.

July 16, 2013

Two tower technicians were working on a communications tower owned by an electric cooperative on July 10 in Mountrail County, North Dakota, when they fell 250 feet to their deaths.

It was the fourth and fifth tower climber fatalities this year.

The men, Namon Smith, 42, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Zachary Roberts, 25, of Lakeland, Ga., were adding structural supports for the addition of microwave equipment to the 300-foot tower when one man fell and contacted the other man, causing him to fall.

Both men were wearing safety harnesses and hard hats, according to reports, and OSHA is investigating the equipment failure. The North Dakota Forensic Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy.

The two men worked for Monarch Towers of Sarasota, Fla., which was subcontracting for Basin Electric Power Cooperative to work on its telecom equipment. The tower is owned by Mountrail Williams Electric Cooperative.