Cell Phone Tower Workers: The Most Dangerous Job in America

The head of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, was once asked what he considered to be the most dangerous job in America. Without hesitation, the nation’s chief occupational safety official stated: “Cell phone tower worker.” The stark reality is that each year an ever-increasing number of cell phone tower workers suffer severe, horrific, and even fatal injuries as the result of cell phone tower accidents.

Hundreds of people were injured in cell phone tower accidents in 2019, the last year a full set of statistics is available. There were eight recorded fatalities associated with cell phone tower accidents that same year, according to OSHA. (There is a consensus that there likely were more deaths that didn’t end up reported to OSHA for one reason or another.)

In all eight cases, violations of OSHA regulations were cited as being underlying causes or contributing causes to all of the deaths of cell phone tower workers in 2019. Only two of the eight accidents that resulted in deaths and included violation of OSHA workplace safety regulations resulted in the imposition of any monetary penalty. In one case, the penalties imposed by OSHA because of violations underlying a worker’s death amounted to about $16,000. In another case, following a cell phone tower worker’s death, the penalties imposed by OSHA amounted to approximately $37,000.

The incident that resulted in the $37,000 OSHA penalty involved at 18-year-old cell phone tower worker. In this case, the employer did everything possible to conceal the death from the public and limit the information OSHA and other regulators were able to obtain. In fact, the employer was able to largely conceal the young man’s death for over six weeks. The death was finally brought to light because of a media investigation.

The young worker experienced a horrific death as the result of safety deficiencies at the cell phone tower. As a result these safety deficiencies, the cell phone tower worker or climber plummeted 140-feet to his very violent end.

The death of this particular cell phone tower worker represents one of the most common ways in which climbers are injured or are killed during the course of their jobs. Other ways in which cell phone workers lose their lives because of employer deficiencies in regard to safety are:

• Falling objects and debris
• Catastrophic tower collapse
• Impalement and decapitation
• Electrocution

Bear in mind that it’s not only climbers who are injured and killed in cell phone tower accidents. Cell phone workers also include ground crews. Moreover, with alarming regularity, members of the general public are also routinely injured in cell phone tower accidents, particularly as the result of falling objects and debris.

A fair statement can be made that if a cell phone tower worker is injured or killed, justice doesn’t come from governmental agencies let along employers themselves. Rather, people find themselves turning to cell phone tower accident lawyers to protect their legal rights and interests.

Dealing with the aftermath of a cell phone tower accident can be both medically and legally challenging. If you’ve been injured in a cell phone tower accident, if you’ve lost a family member in that type of catastrophe, you need to make certain that you fully protect your vital legal rights. A cell phone tower injury lawyer from The Doan Law Firm stands ready to assist you in protecting and asserting your legal interests.

You can arrange an initial consultation with a cell phone tower accident lawyer from our firm any time of the day or night by calling (800) 349-0000. The Doan Law Firm is a nationwide law practice with 40 offices located from coast to coast. We can schedule a case evaluation with an experienced, committed cell phone tower injury lawyer at an office located conveniently to you. We can also schedule a virtual appointment with you online. There is never a charge for an initial consultation and case evaluation with a Doan Law Firm cell phone tower injury lawyer.

We make an attorney fee promise to you. The Doan Law Firm will never charge an attorney fee unless we win for you. Our Houston personal injury attorney is committed to winning big for you.