Colorado workers who are employed by companies in the communication and wireless network industry face specific hazards on a daily basis. These workers often have to execute tasks at extreme heights. If employers fail to provide the necessary safety equipment as prescribed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with proper safety training, workers may be injured on the job.
Not all cell phone tower injuries result from falls, and workers should be informed of all the potential hazards posed by their occupations. A workplace accident is currently being investigated by OSHA. Two employees of a Colorado company were injured when a cell phone tower collapsed. According to initial reports, OSHA says the collapse was caused by high winds that prevailed during the construction of an antenna.
OSHA believes that a part of the collapsing antenna struck the two workers. They were rushed to a hospital where it was determined that they both had suffered fractured bones. Such injuries may cause extended periods of recuperation and inability to return to work. OSHA reported that the same company had been penalized on a previous occasion when a worker died after he or she had fallen from a communications tower in 2005.
Most Colorado employers provide workers’ compensation insurance for workers who are injured on the job. Regardless of who caused the injury, workers may pursue compensation by filing a claim for benefits from the insurance fund. Compensation typically covers lost income and medical expenses, and workers who are temporary or permanently disabled may be eligible for additional benefits that commonly include rehabilitation benefits.
Source: starherald.com, “OSHA investigating Viaero tower collapse“, Maunette Loeks, Jan. 30, 2015