Also, apparently the job in the US is significantly more dangerous than elsewhere. While between 2003-2008 there were 70 US tower climber deaths vs only 10 international deaths in that same period: http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Inte...
"Data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011 show that radio, cellular and tower equipment installers and repairs made a mean annual wage of $44,250. This group includes transmission tower climbers. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $26,200 per year and $12.60 per hour, while the highest-paid 10 percent earned $67,660 or more per year and $32.53 or more per hour. The national average was $21.27 per hour."
Thanks for the write-up - I was just about to check how much they make seeing as how I wouldn't do it for any amount of money. That seems incredibly low for one of/the most dangerous jobs in the US
Interesting that they use the old rope-around-the-waist trick. I did the same when installing a new HD antenna on the 40-ft mast behind my house.
I note they also brought a long enough rope to haul the tools up once they got to the top. That seemed to me the stupidest part of the original no-safety video.
Why don't they use safety rails? It's actually more comfortable and faster to climb with a vest attached to a roller that is attached to a safety rail in the ladder, since it leaves your hands free.
The roller will keep rolling as long as you pull away from the ladder. If you drop down, the roller will hang. I've done one spring of snow cleaning from roofs and we had a bag full of different rollers (different standards). Only had problems if the rollers were left wet and they froze. Are they not mandated in the US? Time for someone to start a business...
Good question; I don't know enough about the specific industry to say. Knowing what I do about industry in the USA in general, I suspect that anything that must be installed on the structure, and isn't required by OSHA or by insurance companies, will not be. Aside from the expense of retrofitting, the safety rail is then one more system that must be regularly inspected, maintained, and insured.
Actually I suspect that facilities for which actual employees do most of the high work, would install these systems. Transmission towers seem pretty low-maintenance, so their high work is probably done by contractors. Those guys can worry about themselves.
This reminds me of the MSL landing last year. The way this video was done makes landing on the Earth seem nearly alien. Like this is what it would look like to someone who's never visited here before.
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[ 5.4 ms ] story [ 45.3 ms ] threadThey say they skip safety lines because its easier and faster. Wonder how often someone falls off while doing his work though.
Interestingly this seems to vary greatly. In 2008 there were 7 tower deaths in 5 weeks: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/7-Tower-Deaths-In-5-Weeks...
Also, apparently the job in the US is significantly more dangerous than elsewhere. While between 2003-2008 there were 70 US tower climber deaths vs only 10 international deaths in that same period: http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Inte...
Oh, and here's how much it pays: http://work.chron.com/transmission-tower-climber-paid-5300.h...
"Data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011 show that radio, cellular and tower equipment installers and repairs made a mean annual wage of $44,250. This group includes transmission tower climbers. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $26,200 per year and $12.60 per hour, while the highest-paid 10 percent earned $67,660 or more per year and $32.53 or more per hour. The national average was $21.27 per hour."
Some interesting recent (2012) writeups:
Daily Kos: The Killing Towers of the US Telecom Industry http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/04/1097174/-The-Killin...
ProPublica: In Race For Better Cell Service, Men Who Climb Towers Pay With Their Lives http://www.propublica.org/article/cell-tower-fatalities
Edit: I see there's this response video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b9LahaBJIk about how you're actually supposed to climb these. With safety.
I note they also brought a long enough rope to haul the tools up once they got to the top. That seemed to me the stupidest part of the original no-safety video.
The roller will keep rolling as long as you pull away from the ladder. If you drop down, the roller will hang. I've done one spring of snow cleaning from roofs and we had a bag full of different rollers (different standards). Only had problems if the rollers were left wet and they froze. Are they not mandated in the US? Time for someone to start a business...
Good question; I don't know enough about the specific industry to say. Knowing what I do about industry in the USA in general, I suspect that anything that must be installed on the structure, and isn't required by OSHA or by insurance companies, will not be. Aside from the expense of retrofitting, the safety rail is then one more system that must be regularly inspected, maintained, and insured.
Actually I suspect that facilities for which actual employees do most of the high work, would install these systems. Transmission towers seem pretty low-maintenance, so their high work is probably done by contractors. Those guys can worry about themselves.
Nonetheless, amazing footage - a head for heights and/or nerves of steel!