Canadian Occupational Safety

20 Canadian Occupational Safety | www.cos-mag.com utilize a colour-coding system so we know who is who when they are out there in the dark." It's important that tools are secured, because dropping anything from heights can put others in danger. Fatigue is a major concern in tower climbing due to the repetitive stress of going up and down a tower multiple times per day — and fatigue can be exacerbated at night. "A lot of accidents that could occur in our industry do so when fatigue sets in and when that worker forgets to tie-off or something slips their mind. And all the more, it's important when you're the foreman that you're moni- toring your workers to see how they're holding up," says Schlekeway. During toolbox talks, supervisors at WSP make sure their workers are physically and mentally fit for the job prior to climbing, says O'Krane. They make sure they've had enough sleep, ate before they came to work and are well hydrated, for example. If a super- visor sees signs of fatigue in one of his guys, he will ask the worker to get off the tower and take a break, says Morris. "We want to meet our time require- ments but it's not a race. Safety first. If he's looking tired, fatigued, get him off the tower, maybe get him some food and water and if he's feeling good later, maybe he can go (up). Or maybe he doesn't climb for the rest of the day." If a night climb is going to happen, it should be with a fresh set of climb- ers, not with those who have been on the job all day, says Morrison. The work hours should not stretch beyond a regular duty cycle. Pacing is also really important at night, says O'Krane. "Being that fatigue definitely plays a major role in nighttime work, we tell our guys 'Don't expend yourself before the job is done.'" She also tells her supervisors to allot more time for the crew to complete a job at night because everything takes a bit more time. Crews should also be reminded not to rush. One benefit of working at night may be reduced exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation. At night, a company may be able to reduce power or de-energize the tower so it can manage the risk, says Morrison. It's also a good idea for workers to wear RF monitors. This is especially true at night when it is easy to lose that sensa- tion of how close you are climbing to potential hazards, he adds. RF power is a "tremendous hazard" and all tower climbers should be trained in RF hazard awareness, says Schlekeway. Many towers are in remote areas across Canada and workers are more vulnerable when completing jobs in these areas. In the event of an emer- gency, workers need to be very familiar with the surrounding area and should be able to locate the nearest fire depart- ment and hospital, says Schlekeway. Wildlife is another consideration when night climbing in remote loca- tions, says O'Krane, because animals such as coyotes, wolves and bears are more out and about. All WSP tower climbers and ground personnel are required to complete an internal wildlife course so they know how to proceed should a situation arise. COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL Good communication is even more important for tower climbers at night because their vision is diminished. If workers normally rely on hand sig- nals, they will likely not be able to do so during a night climb. Workers might be close enough to yell back and forth, but radio communication will likely be the best bet. "The guys on the tower and the ground crew have two-way radios and they maintain constant communica- tion with each other," says O'Krane. The problem with radios is they don't always work, so whistle signals can be a good backup plan, says Morrison. "You need to make sure you have that existing language. If I blow three whistle blasts, you need to know what that means," he says, adding this should be reviewed in the tailgate meeting, especially if there are workers from multiple agencies on site. The ground personnel at WSP always have a cellphone with them for use in an emergency. In situations where the location is so remote that there is no cell service, the ground shelter will have a landline or the worker will bring a satellite phone with him, says O'Krane. A solid rescue plan is something all tower crews need to have in place in the event a worker falls from height or has a medical emergency while on the tower. The rescue plan may require additional considerations for night work. "If you have a mutual aid agreement with a fire department, for example, are they capable and prepared to do a rescue at night?" asks Morrison. "Do they have the resources they need? If they don't have the appropriate light- ing and the right equipment to respond at night… we are in a bit of a pickle." As a best practice, crews should be trained themselves to perform a rescue, so they don't need to wait for the fire department or an off-site rescue crew to arrive. No less than two crew members should be trained in rescue, says NATE. "Rescue is hard but it's vital that crews are trained… It's really critical in our industry," Schlekeway says. All jurisdictions across Canada require tower climbers to have fall protection training and certification, which includes a section on rescue. Rescue refresher training should occur annually, but it is recommended companies practice rescue scenarios with their tower technicians more fre- quently, says Schlekeway. Workers should also have first aid and CPR training. Morris' training isn't the only reason he feels safe climbing enor- mous towers on a daily basis; he is surrounded by co-workers who make safety a priority. "I have never been a part of a job where people are not obeying the industr y standards with regards to safety," he says. "Across the board, everyone is concerned about their safety." GROUND CONTROL A job site must be assessed and properly prepared before anyone sets foot on a tower. Follow these steps before a climb begins. n Keep sites free of hazardous debris. n Store materials in an orderly manner to prevent hazards. n Post signage to prevent unauthorized access. n Use barricades as needed to maintain a safe work environment. n Provide potable drinking water on site. n Store chemicals and liquids in appropriate containers. n Develop a fire protection program with no less than one 2a extinguisher on site. n Identify and address any organic hazards on site, such as plants, animals and vegetation. Source: National Association of Tower Erectors The training you need. The products you want. The knowledge you trust. Whether you're scaling a wind turbine, climbing a telecom tower, or working in a bucket truck, your safety means more than just the harness you wear. That's why we're more than just products. We can evaluate your work environment and offer appropriate training and equipment so that you and your workers can get the job done safely and confidently. To learn more about MSA's complete line of safety solutions or request a FREE, no obligation safety evaluation, visit MSAsafety.com/safetyevaluation.

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