How to Become a Tower Climber

When cell phone companies need to repair their towers, they often call on the services of a tower climber.

This individual may climb onto cell phone towers to inspect them and make needed repairs.

People who would like to work as a tower climber should have a high school diploma or equivalent, good physical agility, and no fear of high places.

To prevent major repairs to cell phone towers, many carriers perform routine inspections on their equipment.

Tower climbers perform routine inspections and tests on broadcasting towers, and may also be called upon to perform repairs and to provide input when plans for new equipment are being developed.

Incredible demand is placed on tower companies to begin work on carrier sites – They want workers on the ground even when supplies for jobs are not yet present – Increases frequency of Free-Climbing in order to finish jobs faster.

Work speed-up leads to worker error • Damaged, overused, and improper equipment • Not rigging safety lines on horizontals • Men pushed to work without proper gear.

Rigging Errors Rigged with one choker in the center of the ladder (steel was fracturing here) Weld was broken by the weight of 120 feet of T-line Ladder Other Factors - Rigging with lanyards, not chokers - Homemade Blocks and Tackle.

Working Long Hours • Climbers have to work on Broadcast towers at night • Cell Switchovers also occur at night Work often goes on during the day at other sites.

Alarm – The body launches into the fight or flight response by elevating cortisol and DHEA levels.

Sometimes over worked, tower climbers are moved around from job to job without consideration of the physical requirements.

When every minute saved or lost can make the difference between life and death, tower climbers should have the security and some comfort knowing that if required everything will be done by the employer to help you.

Communications tower construction cell companies are more cognizant and driven by the thinking that regardless of the weather these towers have to be climbed because people are not going to stop using their cell phones.

PARIS (Reuters) - Rescuers successfully talked down a man who scaled the upper heights of the Eiffel Tower on Monday, forcing the monument's evacuation, and handed him over to police.

A day before the ascent, police said the climber posted a video on YouTube entitled, "Message to Mr.

You must have the desire and ability to travel if you want to succeed in the tower climbing industry.

Now, don’t confuse this with needing to have foreman experience in order to snag any tower climbing position.

As tower climbing jobs entail at-height risks, proper training programs and compliance with OSHA regulations are required by tower companies.

These skills can be learned through, basic Competent Climber (Fall Protection) training, Advanced Tower Climber (Fall Protection) Training, Climber Rescue, EME (RF) Awareness, CPR, Emergency Planning, and more.

If you are new to the industry, then getting certified as a basic Competent Climber can be a great step to take as it not only provides fundamental knowledge / techniques, but also shows initiative and a commitment to working in this industry.