[TowerTalk] tower climbing death rates, plus osha 2006 tie off regs (I doubt people follow them)

[Kevin Normoyle]

  did some more googling

ranking death rate by fatality rate in 2006

Tower climbing leads the pack: (per worker)
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=SPEECHES&p_id=1267 
<http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=SPEECHES&p_id=1267>
(osha numbers)

rank occupation, death rate per 100,000, total deaths
1    Tower erectors/climbers    183.6    18
2    Fishers and fishing workers    141.7    51
3    Aircraft pilots    87.8    101
4    Logging workers    82.3    64
5    Structural iron and steel workers    61.0    36
6    Refuse and recyclable material collectors    41.8    38
7    Farmers and ranchers    37.1    291
8    Electrical power line installers/repairers    34.9    38
9    Roofers    33.9    82
10    Driver/sales workers and truck drivers    27.1    940


The comment about commercial tower climbing and "follow the rules" while heartfelt, got me thinking about whether people 
really follow the rules on commercial worksites, or just some rules.

The latest OSHA 2006 regulations, and rightly so, talk about what's a good tie off. For instance, requiring you to tie 
off to something that can support 5000 lbs. All the time people clip off on cross bracking (or step bolts like in that 
video)

A death somehow connected to a step bolt failure (with picture of broken step bolt)
http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Tower%20Climber%20Lawsuit

An overview of new 2006 tieoff rules from OSHA
http://www.wirelessestimator.com/t_content.cfm?pagename=Revision%20G%20focuses%20upon%20safety
SHA defines anchorage as "a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices." Subpart M, 
1926.502(15), in part, states that "anchorages used for attachment of fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any 
anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per 
employee attached."

That's why I always think that blind adherence to rules isn't what it's about..it's understanding all the issues, 
because "what's right" changes over time, and you have to think thru why things are changing.

-kevin
ad6z