A Primer on Cable Workers’ Occupational Safety & Health
A Factsheet and Survey by the
Communications Workers of America
The following is an information factsheet and survey prepared for cable workers by the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Communications Workers of America (Visit CWA's OSHA department website by navigating to www.cwa-union.org/osh/).
Use the survey we provided (see below) to conduct a safety and health "inspection" of your workplace. Print out these pages, answer the survey questions, and mail the survey back to CWA at the address provided at the end of this questionnaire. Your name will be kept confidential and will not be connected with the survey.
Employers Must Provide a Safe & Healthy Workplace
Cable TV workers are entitled to, and must be provided with, safe and healthful working conditions. Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) states:
"Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.”
Coverage Under OSHA’s Telecommunications Standard
Workers in the cable TV industry are covered by OSHA’s Telecommunications Standard (1910.268). This standard establishes safety and health provisions that “apply to the work conditions, practices, means, methods, operations, installations and processes performed at telecommunications centers and telecommunications field installations which are located outdoors or in building spaces used for such installations.” Field work “includes the installation, operation, maintenance, rearrangement, and removal of conductors and other equipment used for signal or communication service, and of their supporting or containing structures, overhead, or underground, or public or private rights of way, including buildings or other structures.”
Cable TV workers are also covered by OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, which establishes regulations governing use and exposure of workplace chemicals.
The Survey: Safety & Health for Cable TV Workers
1. Medical & First Aid
A. Are first aid supplies/kits made available to you?
Yes _____ No _____
Answer question "B" below only if you answered "Yes" to question "A" above.
B. Are the first aid kits inspected at least monthly?
Yes _____ No _____
2. Support Structures
A. Are support structures such as poles, platforms, ladders, and aerial devices in good condition?
Yes _____ No ______
B. Are these structures inspected daily by a competent, trained person to ensure that they are in good condition?
Yes _____ No _____
3. Energized Electrical Power Lines
A. Are you provided education and training regarding work around electrically energized power lines?
Yes _____ No _____
B. Are you provided insulated protective equipment when performing work around electrically energized power lines?
Yes _____ No_____
4. Illumination of Outside Work
A. During work performed at night, is adequate illumination provided by your employer?
Yes _____ No _____
5. Training
A. Are you provided with safety (and health) training regarding your various work activities, work equipment, and job hazards?
Yes _____ No _____
Answer questions "B", "C" and "D" below only if you answered “Yes” to question "A" above:
B. Is the training performed in classroom setting?
Yes _____ No _____
C. Is the training provided on-the-job or a combination of on-the-job and in the classroom or both?
Yes _____ No _____
D. Does your employer maintain a record of such training?
Yes _____ No _____
6. Working in Areas of Vehicular or Pedestrian Traffic
A. When working in the vicinity of vehicular/pedestrian traffic, are warning signs, flags, and or other traffic control devices provided buy your employer?
Yes _____ No _____
Answer question "B" below only if you answered “Yes” to the question "A" above:
B. Are these protective devices used to alert and divert approaching traffic?
Yes _____ No _____
C. During work performed at night, are warning lights provided by your employer?
Yes _____ No _____
D. In excavated areas, does your employer provide protective barriers?
Yes _____ No _____
7. Personal Protective Equipment
A. Are you provided personal protective equipment (gloves, gauntlets, helmets, and eyewear), devices and special tools to prevent your unnecessary exposure to workplace hazards?
Yes _____ No _____
Answer question "B" below only if you answered “Yes” to question "A" above:
B. Are these devices inspected by a competent person to ensure that they are in good condition?
Yes _____ No _____
8. Climbing Equipment
A. Is well-maintained climbing equipment (i.e., safety harnesses) provided by your employer?
Yes _____ No _____
9. Improving Your Workplace Safety & Health
A. If you had a voice and union representation through CWA, what would you change to bring about improved working conditions at your workplace?
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Mail us your survey!
Please send your survey to us at: CWA, "Cable TV Safety and Health Survey," Occupational Safety and Health Department, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20001. You may also FAX the survey to us at 202-434-1141.
