Telecommunications

What are the hazards associated with telecommunications?

Employees accessing or working from elevated walking-working surfaces, platforms or open-sided floors, are exposed to fall hazards that can result in death. Failure to follow basic electrical safety principles can result in equipment and property damage (e.g., due to fire), severe shock and burns, and electrocution.

Depending upon the type of materials and the means used to move them, the hazards associated with materials handling and storage can result in serious injury or death due to employees being struck by or caught between materials or the material handling equipment, as well as musculoskeletal injuries due to repetitive movement or improper techniques used when lifting and moving materials.

Failure to wear appropriate PPE and to operate a chainsaw correctly can result in serious injury or death due to cuts, falls from elevated work surfaces or being struck by improperly felled trees and limbs. In addition, electrocution can result from the use of chainsaws from elevated work platforms (e.g., bucket trucks) that contact high voltage power lines.

Failure to implement and observe lockout/tagout procedures can result in serious bodily injury (e.g., amputation, electrical burns) and death as a result of the unexpected energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy.

What can I do to protect myself and others?

Employees should always examine any walking or working surface for the presence of slippery conditions, non-intact surfaces, or unguarded openings or open sides before stepping onto it. Workers working from elevated platforms should be sure to wear and properly use any required fall arrest or position restraint systems. Any fall arrest or position restraint devices worn by employees must be examined for defects prior to using it.

Do not operate material handling equipment such as aerial lifts, cranes or derricks unless you have been trained in the use of that equipment. If you observe another employee operating material handling equipment in an unsafe manner, report it to your employer immediately.

Prior to tree trimming, don appropriate personal protective equipment including hard hat, eye and face protection, hearing protection, heavy leather work boots with steel toe protection, cut-resistant gloves and cut-resistant pants or chaps.

Employees who are authorized to service and perform maintenance on equipment should always ensure that the equipment has been locked out or tagged out in accordance with established procedures before beginning work. 

What resources are available to assist employers?

Training and Outreach Services

Presentations on a variety of topics associated with telecommunications are available to assist employers in training their staff. These include: lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, fall protection, walking and working surfaces, materials handling, and chainsaw safety. Each of these presentations should be modified to address site-specific conditions and hazards. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time. 

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video service) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

Safety and Health Programs

Safety and health programs relative to telecommunications include: electrical safety-related work practices policy, lockout/tagout program,  fall protection plan guidance,  cranes and derricks - multiple crane and derrick operational plan and procedures, arboriculture tree trimming policy, and  chain saw policy. An example PPE hazard assessment is available and can be customized to fit workplace conditions. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.

Safety and Health Topics

Related safety and health topics include fall protection, walking and working surfaces, materials handling and storage, electrical safety, chain saw safety, aerial lifts, cranes and derricks, illumination, landscape and horticultural services and personal protective equipment can provide additional resource information.

Consultation Services

Lastly, the consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to telecommunications in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.

Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.

General Industry

• 29 CFR 1910.268 - telecommunications

Other General Industry Standards

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D - walking-working surfaces
  • 29 CFR 1910.21 - scope and definitions
  • 29 CFR 1910.22 - general requirements
  • 29 CFR 1910.23 - ladders
  • 29 CFR 1910.24 - step bolts and manhole steps
  • 29 CFR 1910.25 - stairways
  • 29 CFR 1910.28 - duty to have fall protection and falling object protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.29 - fall protection systems and falling object protection-criteria and practices
  • 29 CFR 1910.30 - training requirements
• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning
  • 29 CFR 1910.37 - maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes
• 29 CFR 1910.67 - vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating platforms
• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I - personal protective equipment
  • 29 CFR 1910.132 - general requirements
  • 29 CFR 1910.133 - eye and face protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.135 - head protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.136 - foot protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.137 - electrical protective equipment
  • 29 CFR 1910.138 - hand protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.140 - personal fall protection systems
• 29 CFR 1910.147 - the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls
  • 29 CFR 1910.141 – sanitation
• 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart S - electrical safety 
  • 29 CFR 1910.301 - introduction
  • 29 CFR 1910.302 - electric utilization systems
  • 29 CFR 1910.303 - general
  • 29 CFR 1910.304 - wiring design and protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.305 - wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
  • 29 CFR 1910.306 - specific purpose equipment and installations
  • 29 CFR 1910.307 - hazardous (classified) locations
  • 29 CFR 1910.308 - special systems
  • 29 CFR 1910.331 - scope
  • 29 CFR 1910.332 - training
  • 29 CFR 1910.333 - selection and use of work practices
  • 29 CFR 1910.334 - use of equipment
  • 29 CFR 1910.335 - safeguards for personnel protection
  • 29 CFR 1910.399 - definitions applicable to this subpart

Recordkeeping

• Refer to Recording and Reporting

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can help identify other standards that may also be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to telecommunications in general industry.

Compliance Documents

• Compliance Directive: CPL 02-00-124 - Multi-Employer Citation Policy provides guidance to Compliance Officers regarding the issuance of citations for employers who exercise control in creating, controlling, exposing and correcting hazards for their employees and those of other employers on site.
• Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 149 - Special Emphasis Program for Amputations establishes the OSH Division's enforcement policy for safety and health inspections where employees may be exposed to amputation hazards on machinery due to lack of guarding and/or failure to utilize energy control procedures.
• CFR 158 - Telecommunications provides promulgation of the telecommunications rules. 
• STD 01-15-004 - Metal Manhole Ladders provides clarification of "portable" metal manhole ladders. 
• STD 01-15-001 - Telecommunication Work provides clarification of "Operations Which Involve Construction Work" as related to telecommunication work.

Technical Assistance

• Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.