Watertown, SD — Communication tower workers must cooperate with jobsite safety auditors and implement all recommended corrective actions, a safety resource from NATE: The Communications Tower Infrastructure Association says.
NATE recently published a guide that explores auditing procedures and responsibilities. It’s intended to be used as a training aid to “promote compliance, risk mitigation and a proactive safety culture.”
NATE recommends employers:
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- Establish and maintain safety policies and procedures that meet applicable regulations and consensus standards.
- Provide training, resources and protections for employees, including stop-work authority and antiretaliation measures.
- Assign owners and timelines for corrective actions and ensure verification is completed with evidence.
Workers should:
- Comply with employer safety policies, procedures and safety requirements.
- Provide auditors with requested documentation, participate in inspections and demonstrate safety practices.
- Offer feedback for continuous improvement.
The audit process consists of planning and conducting, holding a closing meeting, reporting and follow-up, and verifying corrective actions.
Guidance for auditors:
- Define objectives, scope and success metrics.
- Use approved checklists.
- Confirm with the site crew the scope of work and review the Job Hazard Analysis and construction plan.
- Be mindful of ongoing work progress, especially during critical junctures or when crews are facing time constraints for completion.
- Perform a walkthrough to confirm work conditions and controls align with employer policy and current regulations and standards.
- Monitor work practices. When feasible, use drones for elevated inspections.
- Summarize audit findings and preliminary conclusions, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
- Solicit crew input, questions and feedback to inform future audits.
- Assign clear responsibility for corrective actions and give defined timelines.
- Confirm completion with documented evidence by the safety officer or supervisor.
