Reference:_ITS_Wireless_Communications_Services_Policy_#202_Tower_Climbing_Certification_and_Training.pdf
PDF 479 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- IFB-26-0240
- Issued by
- Maricopa County, Phoenix City, Arizona
About this file
This is a Wireless Communications Services Policy document issued by the City of Phoenix Information Technology Department establishing mandatory tower climbing certification and training requirements for personnel engaged in inspection and maintenance of wireless communication tower facilities. The policy defines three certification levels for climbing personnel—Authorized Climber (Level 1), Competent Climber (Level 2), and Rescue Climber (Level 3)—plus an Instructor certification level, with corresponding ground support certifications at each level. All personnel must complete a 4-hour introductory tower climbing course, pass a practical evaluation by ITS Climbing Instructors or qualified third-party providers, and obtain medical clearance from a physician every three years. Recertification requires quarterly practical training sessions every three months following the initial one-year certification period. Employees pursuing Rescue Climber Level 3 certification must complete the entire certification curriculum within 18 months, which includes classroom instruction totaling approximately 20 hours plus practical training and evaluation periods. The policy emphasizes adherence to OSHA Standard 1926.65 Appendix E and industry-recognized tower climbing safety practices.
The ITS Wireless Communications Services Tower Climbing Instructor bears responsibility for maintaining current training materials, delivering approved third-party curricula, ensuring proper demonstration of safety procedures, maintaining training certificates and records in the City's eCHRIS database, and developing written fall protection plans. Climbing personnel must become familiar with training materials, acquire and maintain required skills, and adhere to all tower climbing safety policies. The ITS Wireless Manager ensures team members receive adequate resources and that hazard pay compensation aligns with certification and skill level attainment. Employees who fail to demonstrate proper safety procedures face decertification and mandatory recertification training before resuming climbing activities. The policy applies universally to all ITS employees supporting tower and ground-type maintenance activities without exception.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
POLICY/PROCEDURE #: 202
Revision: 2
Title: Tower Climbing Certification and Training Effective Date: 6/15/2015
1.0 Purpose:
1.1 This policy defines ITS policy for conducting Tower Climbing Safety and Rescue certification training for ITS personnel involved in the inspection and maintenance of wireless communication tower facilities.
2.0 Scope:
2.1 This policy/procedure applies to all ITS employees involved in communications tower maintenance activities and encompassess all tower and ground type activities.
3.0 Reference / Related Documents
3.1 OSHA Standard 1926.65 App.E.
3.2 "Industry Standard" equivilancy of a recognized "Tower Climbing Safety & Rescue" training textbook, current edition.
4.0 Policy:
4.1 Prior to supporting any communications towers:
4.1.1 Employees shall be certified by the ITS Climbing Instructor(s) or are certified by a third party entity that is qualified in providing tower climbing certification in accordance with recognized industry practices and applicable federal/state laws and regulations.
4.1.2 Employees who will be performing tower climbing functions shall pass a medically supvervised medical exam every (3) years as prescribed by the City of Phoenix Human Resources Safety Section to ensure they are physically fit to perform tower climbing. A medically supervised exam(s) can be directed at any time if there is a direct question about an employee's capacity to meet physical and/or medical requirements and/or
4.2.2 Recertification of a "Rescue Climber" is contigent on employee's ability to pass a tower climbing evaluation with respect to tower personnel skill level
4.2.1 Employees who pass the classroom instruction, practical demonstration, and practical evaluation will be certified for a period of (1) year and be re-certified through a quarterly practical training session every (3) months. Classroom instruction occurs every (2) to coincide with instructor re-certification periods.
recommended by the examining physician.
4.1.3 Upon completing a 4 hour "Introduction to Tower Climbing" instruction, the Employee will be evaluated by the ITS Climbing Instructor(s), Climbing Team members and carry the certification level as "Authorized Climber" or "Authorized Ground Support" as described in Table 1 of this document.
4.2 Tower Personnel Certification Levels are distinguished in Table 1 and Tower Personnel Skill Levels are distinguished in Table 2 of this document to where the following applies:
4.2.3 Employees who fail to demonstrate proper safety procedures will be decertified and required to attend recertification training and demonstrate the proper application of climbing safety procedures.
4.3 The tower climbing course curriculum developed by a third party entity shall be reviewed and validated by the City of Phoenix Human Resources Safety Section.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
POLICY/PROCEDURE #: 202
Revision: 2
Title: Tower Climbing Certification and Training Effective Date: 4/15/2015 DRAFT
5.0 Responsibility:
5.1 The ITS Wireless Communications Services Tower Climbing Instructor shall:
5.1.1 Ensuring training materials are kept current with industry standards and are provided to the students.
5.1.2 Presenting an approved third party training cirriculum as designed.
5.1.3 Ensuring that personnel understand and can properly demonstrate Tower Climbing Safety, Certifcation, and Skill per Table 1 and Table 2 of this document.
5.1.4 Maintain training certificates and training records for entry into section training database (I.E. eCHRIS- City of Phoenix Human Resources Information System)
5.1.5 Coordinate recertification training as required.
5.1.6 Development and implementation of a written fall protection plan.
5.2 The Climbing Personnel shall:
5.2.1 Become familiar with training material and participate in classroom, practical , and evaluation sessions.
5.2.2 Acquire and maintain the skills necessary for safety, certification level, and skill level.
5.2.3 Adhere to established tower climbing safety policies and procedures.
6.0 Records:
6.1 The ITS/Wireless Communications Services certifying instructor shall maintain the following records:
6.1.1 Certification of classroom instruction, practical demonstration, and practical evaluation of tower personnel.
5.2.4 Certification Level of "Rescue Climber" and the appropriate skill level must be attained within 18 months of entering the City of Phoenix Tower Climbing Certification and Training cirriculum.
5.3 The ITS Wireless Manager an/or delegate shall:
5.3.1 Ensure tower climbing team members are provided resources to foster the City of Phoenix Tower Climbing Certification and Training program.
5.3.2 Ensure Hazard Pay Compensation is equitable to tower personnel based on certification and/or skill level in accordance with City of Phoenix Human Resource Safety and/or Policy.
6.2 The ITS tower personnel shall maintain the following records:
6.2.1 Individual's log book
6.2.2 Individual's eCHIRS Training Record
TOWER PERSONNEL CERT TITLE LEVEL DESCRIPTION RESTRICTIONS
AUTHORIZED CLIMBER 1
"Climber" possesses an understanding of "tower awareness", rules and regulations of fall protection, the equipment utilized, and intended use of assigned equipment as outlined in Policy/Procedure #203.
Permitted only to climb under direct supervison of Rescue Climber Level 3 and additional Rescue Climber Level 3
COMPETENT CLIMBER 2
Possesses Level 1 skills; Demonstration of skill(s) necessary to rig and safely negotiate a tower structure; Cooperatively involved in evaluation by Instructor, Team, or Rescue Climber Level 3.
Permitted only to climb when accompanied by (2) Rescue Climbers Level 3.
RESCUE CLIMBER 3
Possesses Level 1 and Level 2 skill(s); ability to demonstrate a complete aerial rescue with no assistance; demonstrate the proper use of tower climbing equipment; demonstrate the proper rigging of equipment; demonstrates a basic knot mastery.
Permitted only to climb accompanied by another Rescue Climber Level 3
INSTRUCTOR *
Possesses Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 skill(s); Certification by an "Industry Standard" recognized provider Training Instructor Cirriculum (I.E Safety One Training International Inc.;
CommTrain USA Inc.; etc).
Permitted only to climb accompanied by another Rescue Climber Level 3
AUTHORIZED GROUND SUPPORT 1
Possesses an understanding of "tower awareness", rules and regulations of fall protection, the equipment utilized, and intended use of assigned equipment as outlined in Policy/Procedure #203.
Permitted only to support tower climber(s) under direct supervision of the minimum levels of Competent Climber Level 2 or Competent Ground Support Level 2.
COMPETENT GROUND SUPPORT 2
Possesses Level 1 skills; Demonstration of skill(s) necessary to rig and understanding of how climber(s) safely negotiate a tower structure; Cooperatively involved in evaluation by Instructor, Team, or Rescue Climber Level 3.
Permitted only to support tower climber(s) when accompanied by (2) Rescue Climber(s) Level 3
RESCUE GROUND SUPPORT 3
Possesses Level 1 and Level 2 skill(s); ability to demonstrate a ground to aerial rescue; demonstrate the proper use of tower climbing equipment; demonstrate the proper rigging of equipment; demonstrates a basic knot mastery.
Permitted only to support tower climber(s) when accompanied by (2) Rescue Climber(s) Level 3
Table 1 : TOWER PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION LEVELS
Class room instruction (basic cirriculum) 4 hr estimation
Level 1 Pre-requisits;
Additional class room and practical period of time (8 hrs) Level 1 and Level 2 Pre-requisits; Additional class room (8 hrs) and practical ground support
PRE-REQUISITS
Level 1 Pre-requisits;
Additional class room (8 hrs)and practical period of "tower-time".
Physical Exam; Class room instruction (Introductory) 4hr estimation.
Level 1 and Level 2 Pre-requisits; Additional class room (8 hrs), practical, and evaluation periods of "tower-time".
Level 3 Prerequisits;
Training Instructor Certification per program selection
| ADPA31.tmp |
| Tbl 1 Certification |
| ADPDE34.tmp |
| Tbl 2 Skills |
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