A tower technician found dead at a tower site in Trinity County, TX last Tuesday had been assigned to work at ground level inside the tower compound according to Inside Towers sources who cited a directive from MasTec, the victim’s employer. Although the man was found lying on a platform eight feet above the ground, according to authorities, the actual cause of his death is unknown pending investigations by local law enforcement and OSHA.
ANSI/ASSP standards stipulate that the employer shall: “provide at a minimum for a two-person crew working at height*, one competent climber/rescuer and one authorized climber/rescuer and for crews of three or more working at height, a minimum of two competent climber/rescuers are required.”
Although the standard does not define “at height,” OSHA sets the minimum at six feet for construction workers. Whether the man was working above the eight foot level is yet to be determined.
*our emphasis
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