Mixed Deck — All NWSA Topics Flashcards

What must be done with all tools and equipment used at height on a tower?

Answer: They must be tethered or secured at all times with tool lanyards rated for the tool's weight

Dropped object prevention through tool tethering is a primary safety measure. An untethered tool dropped from height can cause fatal injuries.

What is a critical lift and what additional precautions does it require?

Answer: A lift involving maximum equipment capacity, irreplaceable items, proximity to hazards, or unusual conditions requiring enhanced planning and supervision

Critical lifts involve higher-than-normal risk factors that require additional planning and supervisory oversight.

What does the designation 'Type II' indicate on a hard hat classification?

Answer: Protection from both top and lateral (side) impacts

Type II hard hats provide protection against impacts to the top of the head as well as off-center and lateral impacts, offering greater all-around protection than Type I hats.

What must be done before using a synthetic sling for hoisting on a tower?

Answer: Inspect for cuts, abrasion, UV degradation, knots, acid damage, and verify the sling is rated for the intended load

Synthetic slings degrade from UV exposure, chemicals, heat, and physical damage. Pre-use inspection prevents sling failure.

According to FCC OET Bulletin 65, the human body most efficiently absorbs RF energy, and thus the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits are most restrictive, within which frequency range?

Answer: 30 MHz to 300 MHz

FCC OET Bulletin 65 specifies that whole-body absorption of RF energy by humans is most efficient in the 30-300 MHz frequency range. Because of this higher absorption rate, the MPE limits are at their most restrictive in this range to provide adequate protection.

What must the employer provide regarding sanitation facilities at a tower work site?

Answer: Adequate toilet facilities and potable drinking water within reasonable access of the work area

OSHA 1926.51 requires employers to provide toilet facilities and potable water at construction sites.

Why is weld inspection important on welded tower structures and components?

Answer: Welds can develop cracks, porosity, and corrosion that reduce structural capacity, especially under cyclic wind loading

Welds are subject to fatigue cracking under cyclic loading from wind, thermal cycling, and vibration.

What is the recommended minimum distance to keep from power lines when working?

Answer: 10 feet

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends maintaining a minimum distance of 10 feet from power lines to ensure safety.

In the event of a chemical spill, what is the first action you should take?

Answer: Evacuate the area and notify the appropriate personnel

The first action should be to evacuate the area to ensure personal safety and then notify the appropriate personnel to handle the spill.

When operating a capstan hoist to lift materials, what is the primary reason for maintaining a specific number of wraps on the drum and applying tension to the fall line?

Answer: To create sufficient friction for the hoist to grip the rope and manage the load

A capstan hoist does not store the rope on the drum like a winch. It works by using the friction between the rope and the rotating drum (capstan head). The operator must maintain the correct number of wraps and apply tension to the non-load-bearing end of the rope (the fall line) to create enough friction for the drum to grip the rope and move the load.

A gin pole is being used to lift a new tower section. Which component of the gin pole assembly is primarily responsible for attaching the entire apparatus to the existing tower structure?

Answer: The clamp assembly

A gin pole consists of three basic parts: a pole (mast), a pulley assembly (rooster head/load block), and the clamp assembly. The clamp assembly is what physically secures the gin pole to the leg or a structural member of the tower, providing the foundation for the lift.

What determines the safe working load limit for a shackle used in tower rigging?

Answer: The working load limit stamped on the shackle body by the manufacturer, which must never be exceeded

Every rated shackle has a working load limit permanently marked on its body. Exceeding this limit risks catastrophic failure.

What does a site-specific health risk assessment evaluate at a tower location?

Answer: Environmental health hazards including RF exposure levels, chemical hazards, biological hazards, noise, temperature extremes, and air quality

A comprehensive health risk assessment identifies all environmental health hazards at a specific site.

While performing a site inspection before a climb, a technician discovers a damaged rung on a fixed ladder approximately 50 feet up the tower. According to standard safety procedures, what is the immediate course of action?

Answer: Report the finding to the competent person, stop work, and prevent access to the ladder until it is professionally repaired or replaced.

If a structural or safety defect like a damaged ladder rung is found during a pre-climb inspection, the hazard must be immediately reported to the competent person on site. Work should be stopped, and the hazardous area must be secured to prevent access until a proper repair or replacement is made by a qualified person. Climbing on a structure with known defects is a major safety violation.

What is the primary purpose of a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?

Answer: To identify and control hazards

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is used to identify potential hazards associated with job tasks and to develop strategies to control or eliminate those hazards.

During a tower rescue drill, what critical skill must all competent rescuers demonstrate?

Answer: The ability to safely reach, secure, and lower an incapacitated worker using mechanical advantage systems

Competent rescuers must demonstrate they can physically reach a worker at height, secure them, and perform a controlled descent.

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.102 requires eye and face protection to comply with which standard?

Answer: ANSI Z87.1

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.102 requires that eye and face protection devices comply with ANSI Z87.1, the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.

How should bolt connections be evaluated during a tower inspection?

Answer: Check for proper torque, corrosion, missing nuts or washers, thread engagement, and cracks around bolt holes

Bolted connections are the critical links. Failed connections can cause progressive collapse.

During a rescue operation of a conscious suspended worker, what action can the worker take to help mitigate the effects of suspension trauma while awaiting rescue?

Answer: Push against a structure or use suspension trauma relief straps to create a foothold.

Using leg muscles by pushing against a surface or using specially designed suspension trauma relief straps helps to pump blood back toward the heart. This muscular contraction counteracts the venous pooling in the legs that causes suspension trauma. Remaining still is the worst thing a suspended worker can do.

What documentation must a foreman maintain for a tower work project?

Answer: Daily safety briefing records, JHAs, crew certifications, inspection logs, and incident reports

Comprehensive documentation demonstrates compliance with safety regulations and provides records for incident investigation.