NWSA Job Site Safety Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a site safety plan for a tower work project?
- To estimate project costs
- To document site-specific hazards, control measures, emergency procedures, and communication protocols before work begins (Correct answer)
- To list all workers' home addresses
- To schedule material deliveries
Correct answer: To document site-specific hazards, control measures, emergency procedures, and communication protocols before work begins
A site safety plan addresses the unique hazards and conditions at each work location.
A site safety plan includes site access routes, identification of all site-specific hazards, control measures, emergency response procedures, communication plan, required permits, PPE requirements, rescue plan, weather monitoring procedures, and work schedule.
Question 2: Before driving a vehicle onto a tower compound, what must the driver verify?
- That the radio is playing
- Overhead clearance for guy wires, power lines, and other obstructions, and ground conditions for safe vehicle operation (Correct answer)
- The vehicle's paint is in good condition
- That the gas tank is full
Correct answer: Overhead clearance for guy wires, power lines, and other obstructions, and ground conditions for safe vehicle operation
Guy wires are often difficult to see and can be struck by vehicles, and soft ground can cause vehicles to become stuck or tip over.
Tower compounds present unique vehicular hazards including overhead guy wires and power lines, soft or uneven ground, underground utilities, space constraints, and gate clearance issues. A spotter should guide vehicles in confined areas.
Question 3: What is the correct procedure for establishing a tool drop zone at a tower site?
- Wherever tools happen to fall is the drop zone
- Barricade an area below the work zone extending beyond the potential drop radius, with signage and restricted access (Correct answer)
- A 3-foot circle directly at the tower base
- Drop zones are only needed above 500 feet
Correct answer: Barricade an area below the work zone extending beyond the potential drop radius, with signage and restricted access
A properly established tool drop zone protects ground personnel from objects that may fall during overhead work.
The drop zone must account for tower height, wind speed and direction, and potential for objects to bounce off structural members. It requires physical barricades, warning signs, a designated entry/exit point, and hard hat requirements.
Question 4: What must be done with all tools and equipment used at height on a tower?
- They can be placed on any available surface
- They must be tethered or secured at all times with tool lanyards rated for the tool's weight (Correct answer)
- They only need to be held in your hand
- Securing tools is only required above 200 feet
Correct 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.
Every tool used at height must be attached via a lanyard rated for at least twice the tool's weight. Workers must use tool bags for small items with bag lanyards attached to the structure or harness. ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 provides standards.
Question 5: How should hazardous materials found at a tower site be handled?
- Dispose of them in the nearest trash container
- Stop work in the affected area, do not disturb the material, and report it to the site owner and appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Bury them on site
- Ignore them if they appear old
Correct answer: Stop work in the affected area, do not disturb the material, and report it to the site owner and appropriate authorities
Unknown hazardous materials could include asbestos, lead paint, PCBs, or chemical contamination.
Tower sites may contain asbestos, lead-based paint, PCB-containing transformers, battery acid, herbicide-contaminated soil, and bird/bat guano. Do not touch or move the material. Restrict access and notify the tower owner.
Question 6: What is required when multiple companies are performing work on the same tower simultaneously?
- Each company works independently with no coordination
- A coordination meeting must establish communication protocols, work zone separation, and a unified emergency plan (Correct answer)
- Only the tower owner needs to be notified
- Simultaneous work is never allowed
Correct answer: A coordination meeting must establish communication protocols, work zone separation, and a unified emergency plan
Multi-employer work sites require coordination to prevent conflicting operations and ensure communication.
The coordination meeting must identify the controlling employer, establish work zone separation, agree on communication protocols, create a unified rescue plan, coordinate RF power-down requests, define shared tool drop zones, and schedule work sequences.
NWSA Job Site Safety Procedures 2
What is the purpose of a site safety plan for a tower work project?