OSHA Says Communication Towers Directive In Works, Responding To GOP, Industry Pressure

OSHA chief David Michaels says the agency will unveil “as soon as possible” a new directive that implements a years-old pledge to extend its 2002 revised fall protection requirements on communications tower construction to also cover tower maintenance, responding to new pressure from House Republicans to bring the enforcement policies in line, according to documents obtained by Inside OSHA Online. The tower erectors industry has urged OSHA for years to allow hoisting during tower maintenance operations, as the 2002 directive allowed for new communications tower construction. Michaels wrote to