Cell Phone Tower Worker: Deadliest Job in America

According to a story in this week's RCR Wireless News, the deadliest job in America is constructing, upgrading, and repairing cell phone towers (which can be hundreds of feet tall). The fatality rate for cell phone tower workers is currently 183.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, making it more dangerous than other risky jobs such as ranching, fishing, logging, and ironworking.

Five tower workers died during one 12-day span earlier this year alone. 18 tower workers died on the job in 2006. An investigation into the rise in fatalities in this industry has yet to trace the increase to any specific cause.

Comments

[Richard]

Our job is actually very safe- as long as you work smart by following proper safety procedures, i.e. 100% tie-off. Anyone who considers gravity, and his own mortality, and uses his mind while working can make a great living. I climb and teach climbing/ work safety for a tower company. There have been times that I refused to do certain things on a job and walked away from a dangerous situation. Other people will do these tasks and you will eventually read about them, too! The ability to work safely may cost the tower owners/ carriers more money; however, if they know that you are not as much of a liability to them they are glad to make this trade-off, and will pay for your services.

[carlos m, rodriguez]

I've been in the tower industery for a lot of years and it still comes down to the basics--you want to live-you do the right thing!!! I've been doing this type of work for a lot of years, and I still feel that when put in a situation that's unsafe--you walk away from it!I'm presently an in house comtrian instructor and I tell my guy's everyday--if you feel uncomfortable about it--don't do it. Yes I get alot of flack from the company heads-but I tell them striaght out-whats going to happen when the law suit hits!!