1Tower Climber Safety Workshop
Prepared Remarks of FCC Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn
Washington, DC
October 14, 2014
Mrs. Pierce, I join you and other participants, here today, because I believe that this workshop 
represents both a significant and positive step towards improving the safety of those workers, who build 
and maintain our wireless infrastructure.  Chairman Wheeler and Secretary Perez are to be commended 
for addressing this issue in such a proactive way.   
Our wireless networks are expanding at an amazing rate and are meeting the critical information 
needs of our nation like never before.  Even with these enormous benefits we must never lose sight of 
those who build these networks and the dangers that they face.  They are often young; some are relatively 
inexperienced; and others are not represented by unions.  So collectively, we have a special responsibility,
when it comes to their safety.
According to some reports, the fatality rate for tower climbers is as high as ten times the rate of
the general construction industry.  I am aware of the toll it has taken on my home state of South Carolina, 
where in June of 2007, a 30 year-old tower technician fell 140 feet from a tower in Bluffton, South 
Carolina and, in that same month, a technician fell 170 feet from a tower in Summerville, South Carolina.  
That young technician was Mrs. Kathy Pierce’s only son, and while I know this is difficult for you, we 
are grateful that you are here with us today sharing your comments about the loss of Chad, and for 
dedicating yourself to raising awareness about the dangers workers face in the telecommunications
industry.  
One tower worker fatality is one too many.  Our goal should be that no more families have to 
suffer the way you have.  To get to zero, will require 100% of the effort, from 100% of those in the room, 
to build the safety systems we need:  From wireless companies, to service providers, to tower companies 
–100% of the power and 100% of the tools to achieve 100% safety.
I have been impressed with OSHA’s efforts to meet this goal.  In his February 2014 letter to the 
communications tower industry, Dr. David Michaels sent a strong message that, since 2012, we have seen 
an unacceptable increase in tower worker deaths.  As he put it, every one of those deaths was preventable
and a high proportion of those deaths were due to inadequate fall protection.  He reminded tower worker 
employers, of their obligation to provide employees with appropriate fall protection, and the employer 
must consistently supervise and enforce the use, of such protection.  
Last month, OSHA sent another strong message to the tower worker industry when it proposed a 
fine of more than $134,000 against a wireless construction company for several willful and serious safety 
violations.  These actions demonstrate how serious OSHA is at achieving a zero percent fatality rate.  
As discussed at today’s workshop, we need to develop new and innovative tools for identifying 
and addressing specific risks.  It may be that we need a “sign-before-you-climb” approach that assesses
climber-specific and job-specific risks at each job site in advance and on the day of the job before any 
worker even climbs a tower.  It may be that we need to rethink the safety provisions in the contracts 
between wireless companies and service vendors.  And we may need to keep regulatory options on the 
table.  All of these options must be part of the conversation going forward.
The collaboration between the Commission and the Department of Labor that resulted in this 
workshop is to be applauded and continued.  I also appreciate the wireless industry’s willingness to work 
2in a positive way with the Commission and the Department of Labor and strongly encourage the wireless 
industry to continue this productive engagement.  I would like to join others in thanking all of the 
panelists, speakers, workshop organizers, and specifically the Wireless Bureau, for making this extremely 
important workshop possible.