OSHA Strategic Partnership Program<< Back to National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

Partnership Name
National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) National Partnership
 
Purpose of Partnership
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will work to provide a safe and healthful work environment for employees and contractors involved in the telecommunications tower erection industry by preventing serious accidents and fatalities through increased training, implementation of best work practices, enhancement of safety and health management systems, and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations.
Goals of Partnership
Goal Strategy Measure
1) Reduce the percentage of injuries, illnesses and fatalities of participating telecommunication and broadcast tower erection employers, and their subcontractors, to an aggregate rate that is below the BLS average, based on most recently published data.
 		 a) Analyze participant data to identify causal factors and corrective actions. Share corrective actions.

b) Establish a baseline year to provide for the analysis of results.

c) Participants to use tools such as the NATE Site Safety Audit Checklist.

d) Create/disseminate safety and health materials to NATE participants.

e) OSHA to provide 10 Hour training up to two times a year as resources allow. All supervisory personnel to receive OSHA 30 hour training.

f) Develop, implement, and share best practices with participants. Establish a website or tool to communicate best practices among participating NATE members. For example, produce/disseminate guidelines for the use of gin poles and tower maintenance activities.

g) Participants to provide 100% fall protection.

h) Review annually and provide feedback on participants’ safety and
health management systems as needed. 		 i. OSHA 300 Logs

ii. Percent of participant employees and contractors receiving requisite OSHA 10- or 30-hour training

iii. Percent of participants using each tool

iv. Number of best practices developed and the percentage of implementation among NATE participants

v. Number of injuries/fatalities related to falls (compared to baseline)

vi. Number of casual factors identified and abated by participants

vii. Percentage of participants Safety and Health Management Systems reviewed by NATE as part of the application process.

viii. Percent or number of fatalities reduced from baseline

ix. Results of NATE audits

 
2) Recognize participants that successfully achieve reductions in illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. a) Develop a recognition system to recognize participants for reductions in injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the telecommunications and broadcast tower erection industry. i. Number and percentage of participants recognized
3) Improve awareness of OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) on the hazards/issues associated with the tower erecting industry. a) Increase the number of
employees that attend the OSHA 3150 Tower Safety course.
 		 i. Number of CSHOs completing the course from the time of the established baseline.
 
Anticipated Outcomes
The partners will work to provide a safe and healthful work environment for employees and contractors involved in the telecommunications tower erection industry by preventing serious accidents and fatalities through increased training, implementation of best work practices, enhancement of safety and health management systems, and compliance with applicable OSHA standards and regulations.

Partnership goals will be accomplished by focusing the efforts, skills, knowledge, and resources of NATE and OSHA to benefit tower erector industry employees. Increased communication and respect between partners are additional benefits expected to be realized through this Partnership.
Strategic Management Plan Target Areas (check one)
Construction X Amputations in Manufacturing  
General Industry      
Strategic Management Plan Areas of Emphasis (check all applicable)
Amputations in Construction   Oil and Gas Field Services  
Blast Furnaces and Basic Steel Products   Preserve Fruits and Vegetables  
Blood Lead Levels   Public Warehousing and Storage  
Concrete, Gypsum and Plaster Products   Ship/Boat Building and Repair  
Ergo/Musculoskeletal   Silica-Related Disease  
Landscaping/Horticultural Services      
 
Section 1 General Partnership Information
 
Date of Evaluation Report January 8, 2009
Evaluation Period
Start Date November 8, 2006 End Date November 7, 2007
Evaluation Contact Person Rex Morgart
Originating Office OSHA National Office – Washington DC
Partnership Coverage
# Active Employers 85 # Active Employees 1,630
Industry Coverage and SIC of each participant
Company SIC Company SIC
Advanced Tower Services, Inc.
Advanced Wireless Solutions, Inc.
Asbuilt Construction, Inc.
Atlantic Tower Services, Inc.
B-C Walker, Inc.
Blackhawk Tower Communications, Inc.
Bright Lighting, Inc.
Brook Hill Communications, Inc.
Communication Services, Inc.
Communications Infrastructure, Inc.
COM-TECH SERVICE GROUP, INC.
CSG Wireless, Inc.
Deerfield Construction Group, Inc.
Dietz Brothers, Inc.
Dish Technologies
Doty Moore Tower Services LLC
Dynamic Construction Services, Inc.
Dynamic Construction, Inc.
Eagle Communication Services, Inc.
Eastern Communications, Inc.
EasTex Tower, Inc.
eciWireless LLC
Elite Wireless
Emergency Radio Service, Inc.
Empire International
Excalibur Communications Inc.
Excell Communications, Inc.
GlobeLink Telecom
GMT Service Corp.
Great Plains Towers, Inc.
Green Mountain Communications, Inc.
Hayden Tower Service, Inc.
Hightower Communications, Inc.
Hoosier Tower Service, Inc.
Hydaker-Wheatlake Company
Lee Antenna & Line Service, Inc.
Legacy Telecommunications, Inc.
McCabe-Orin
MEI - Morgantown Excavators, Inc.
Mid Atlantic Contracting, Inc.
MidAmerica Tower Service, Inc.
Midwest Underground Technology, Inc.		 1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
8711
1799
1799
7605
3724
1796
1799
1799
1799
1799
0509
1799
1791
1542
1799
1799
1623
1799
4812
1799
1799
1623
1623
1799
1799
1799
2371
1799
1799
1799
1799
1623
1799
1799		 MIKAB Corporation
MILLENNIA CONTRACTING, INC.
Mountain Valley Tower Service, Inc.
Netrepid
New Horizon Communications, Inc.
New Wave Communications, Inc.
Northern Pride Communications, Inc.
Paramount Advanced Wireless
PERFECT WIRELESS, INC.
Phoenix of Tennessee, Inc.
Phoenix Tower Service, LLC
Professional Resources & Services Inc.
Radian Communication Services Corporation
Radiofrequency Safety International (RSI)
Seacomm Erectors, Inc.
Shenandoah Tower Service, Ltd.
Sioux Falls Tower & Communications
Skyhook, Inc.
South Seas Inspection (S) PTE LTD
Southern Broadcast Services, Inc.
Speelman Electric, Inc.
Stewart Electric & Communication
Synergy Concepts, Inc.
System One Communications
TEAM Communications
Tower & Communication Services, Inc.
Tower 2000
Tower MRL, Inc.
Tower Systems, Inc.
Tower Technologies, LLC
Tower Works Inc.
TowerTel USA LLC
TR Systems Inc.
Train's Towers, Inc.
TriCon/TowerWerks, Inc.
Trillium Development, Inc.
Trusty Construction, LLC
United States Tower Services, LTD
WAVE Communications
WesTower Communications
Wireless Horizon
Wireless Infrastructure Services
Wireless Legacy Corp.		 1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799

1799

1799
7622
3663
8748
1799
1791
1799
1799

1799
1799
1623
1799
1799
7612
1799
1799
5040
1799
7601
1799
1799
1799
1799
1799
1796
1623

1799
1623

1731
7601

Section 2 Activities Performed
 
Note whether an activity was provided for by the OSP and whether it was performed
  Required Performed
a. Training Yes Yes
b. Consultation Visits No No
c. Safety and Health Management Systems Reviewed/Developed Yes Yes
d. Technical Assistance No Yes
e. VPP-Focused Activities No Yes
f. OSHA Enforcement Inspection No Yes
g. Offsite Verifications Yes Yes
h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Interactions No No
i. Participant Self-Inspections Yes Yes
j. Other Activities No Yes
2a. Training (if performed, provide the following totals)
Training sessions conducted by OSHA staff 4
Training sessions conducted by non-OSHA staff 1
Employees trained 1,230
Training hours provided to employees 20,500
Supervisors/managers trained Included above
Training hours provided to supervisors/managers Included in Line 4
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
As a result of the Partnership, 813 employees received OSHA 10-hour training, and 411 received OSHA 30-hour training. In addition, NATE and OSHA held an OSHA 500 course in September 2007 and another will be offered in December 2007. Finally, a VPP Mobile Workforce Training Conference Call was held December 2007 and presented to the NATE Board.


2b. Consultation Visits (if performed, provide the following total)
Consultation visits to partner sites N/A
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
N/A


2c. Safety and Health Management Systems (if performed, provide the following total)
Systems implemented or improved using the 1989 Guidelines as a model 85
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
Each SHMS was evaluated/reviewed by NATE and will continue to be reviewed for continuous improvement.


2d. Technical Assistance (if performed, note type and by whom)
  Provided by
OSHA Staff		 Provided by Partners Provided by Other Party
Conference/Seminar Participation 6 4  
Interpretation/Explanation of Standards or OSHA Policy 4  4  
Abatement Assistance Assistant Sec. Foulke – National Conf. Patrick Howey - OSHSPA  
Speeches      
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
In 2007, six OSHA staff members actively participated in NATE’s Annual Conference including: Rex Morgart, Rob Medlock, Jocko Vermillion, and A/S Edwin G. Foulke Jr. was the keynote speaker. OSHA exhibited at the NATE 2007 show distributing compliance assistance materials, posters, CFR’s, and Partnership application materials. Two members of the Nashville TN Area Office assisted with the Booth; Michelle Sotak and Phillip Harrell. The National Conference provides an excellent opportunity for OSHA to provide outreach, compliance assistance, and general advice to NATE members, tower employers and employees. The face to face interaction is especially helpful in forming cooperative and friendly relationships within the industry. OSHA held its 10-hour training course at NATE 2007 along with a National Partnership workshop attended by hundreds.
Other activities include: NATE and OSHA hold regular Partnership Management Team (PMT) meetings (5 have been conducted over the past 12 months). Other activities included NATE Executive Director Patrick Howey addressing the annual OSHSPA meeting attendees. NATE and OSHA held an OSHA 500 training course in September 2007 and will be offering it again in December 2007. In addition, NATE and OSHA are working together to develop a Public Service Announcement on Tower Safety, Mr. Foulke is expected to participate. Overall, the NATE PMT has been very active in promoting the Partnership and working together to move the partnership forward.


2e. VPP-Focused Activities (if performed, provide the following totals)
Partners/participants actively seeking VPP participation 0
Applications submitted 0
VPP participants 1
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
Mid America Tower Services has applied for VPP and was accepted. A VPP Mobile Workforce Training session was conducted by the OSHA National Office for NATE Board members. There is an interest in more NATE companies potentially pursuing VPP in the future.


2f. OSHA Enforcement Activity (if performed, provide the following totals for any programmed, unprogrammed, and verification-related inspections)
OSHA enforcement inspections conducted 5
OSHA enforcement inspections in compliance 3
OSHA enforcement inspections with violations cited 2
Average number of citations classified as Serious, Repeat, and Willful 1
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
OSHA enforcement inspections are not required in the Partnership but several were performed. Five enforcement inspections were conducted at NATE member sites in CY2007.


2g. Offsite Verification (if performed provide the following total)
Offsite verifications performed 85
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
Applications are reviewed by NATE and OSHA for every member applying to the Partnership. Data is submitted to NATE and forwarded to OSHA for review.


2h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Verification (if performed provide the following total)
Onsite non-enforcement verifications performed N/A
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
 


2i. Participant Self-Inspections (if performed provide the following totals)
Self-inspections performed 594
Hazards and/or violations identified and corrected/abated 232
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity required but not performed)
 


2j. Other Activities (briefly describe other activities performed)
As noted, the NATE PMT is very active. In addition to the Partnership activities, OSHA National Office Staff provided NATE with an information session on OSHA Challenge, VPP, and VPP Mobile Workforce. NATE was very interested in pursuing VPP applications in the future as the Partnership moves forward. Furthermore, NATE and OSHA are working together to develop a Public Service Announcement on Tower Safety, Mr. Foulke is expected to participate. The PSA will provide a powerful message promoting safety within the industry.


Section 3 Illness and Injury Information*


Year Hours Total Cases TCIR # of Days Away from Work Restricted and Transferred Activity Cases DART
2004 NA NA NA NA NA
2005 NA NA NA NA NA
2006  5,857,645  121 4.1 151 5.2
Total  5,857,645 121   151  
Three-Year Rate (2008-2010)  NA    NA
BLS National Average for 2006 5.8   3.2
Baseline     41% Below   39% Above


Comments
The first year of the Partnership was used primarily to create a baseline of injury and illness data. The data collected this year will be used to evaluate the progress of the Partnership in future evaluations. Currently, The baseline data shows that the overall Total Case incidence Rate for the partnering companies is 4.1, 41% below the BLS national average for 5.8. The overall Days Away, Restricted, and Transfer rate for the partnering companies is 5.2, 39% above the BLS national average for 5.2. It is important to note that the NAICS code used to measure the baseline is 23713, however not all partnering companies report under that NAICS code. It was determined that 23713 best describes the majority of the work being performed by the partnering companies. In addition to reporting TCIR and DART rates, the Partnership is attempting to monitor the Insurance Experience Modifier Rates (EMR). Partnering companies currently have an average modifier of .91 (.09 below the 1.0 standard).


*Sample Chart – not required format
Section 4 Partnership Plans, Benefits, and Recommendations


Changes and Challenges (check all applicable)
  Changes Challenges
Management Structure    
Participants    
Data Collection    
Employee Involvement    
OSHA Enforcement Inspections    
Partnership Outreach    
Training    
Other X  
Comments
As a unique National Partnership, it is recognized that our partnering companies are located all across the United States and abroad. Furthermore, partners often perform work on mobile sites in many different states which includes State Plan States (SPS). NATE and OSHA have made a dedicated effort to have our State Plan States recognize the Partnership. The process has been a challenge as we must deal with each SPS individually. However we have seen some progress and some states have been very responsive. We hope to see this improve throughout the partnership.


Plans to Improve (check all applicable)
  Improvements N/A
Meet more often    
Improve data collection X  
Conduct more training X  
Change goals    
Comments
As a primary method of evaluating the progress/success of the Partnership, we will continually seek ways to improve our data collection. We also hope to continuously improve and increase the training efforts and training opportunities available to both OSHA and NATE.


Partnership Benefits (check all applicable)
Increased safety and health awareness X
Improved relationship with OSHA X
Improved relationship with employers X
Improved relationship with employees or unions X
Increased number of participants X
Other (specify) X
Comments
Increased Safety and Health Awareness: With nearly 100 NATE member companies participating in the Partnership, there has been a sustained effort to increase safety and health awareness. Partners demonstrate their willingness to voluntarily hold themselves to higher standards for job site safety by identifying and resolving potential health and safety hazards via the required site safety audits. Safety awareness is also accomplished by requiring partners to requisite levels of training, implementation of a safety and health program and presence of a competent person on site at all times. Furthermore, NATE has been very proactive in promoting its Partnership with OSHA and re-enforcing the value and importance of safety in the tower industry.

Improved Relationship with OSHA: The formation of the Partnership Management Team (PMT), consisting of NATE and OSHA representatives, has increased communication and strengthened the relationship between the organizations. This working relationship with federal regulators has extended beyond the Partnership for addressing issues of concern. The partnership has become a forum for OSHA and NATE to discuss issues and concerns with an emphasis on improving overall industry safety. NATE and its partners have also got to meet and talk with OSHA officials face to face at the national conference and other training sessions, helping to form a positive working relationship and helping to alleviate fears of the agency.

Improved Relationship with employers: Through the Partnership, OSHA has been able to work closely with NATE and its partners to discuss, address, and resolve issues relating to safety. The result has been an open forum of communication where companies no longer fear OSHA but rather look to the agency for help and guidance.

Improved Relationship with employees or unions: Employees of partnering companies know that their employers are taking steps to ensure their safety. The partnership is one more method to make certain that tower climbers go home safely at the end of the day.

Increased Number of Participants: The first membership application period yielded 87 participating companies – far above our expectations. The mid year application period added another 14 companies bringing the total partners to 100. The interest level has remained high and OSHA plans to once again participate in NATE’s Annual Conference.


Status Recommendation (Check one)
Partnership Completed  
Continue/Renew X - continue
Continue with the following provisions:  
   
Terminate (provide explanation)