Telecommunication Cell Tower Safety Signs & Labels
Cell towers are an integral component of our modern telecommunications network. Towers receive the radio waves from cell phones and repeat those transmissions to switching centers to send the calls to other phones or the telephone network.
There are hundreds of thousands of cellular towers in the United States alone. Each site requires maintenance and security and safety for the maintenance technicians. Maintenance is performed at ground level in the equipment shelters and power supplies to the tops of the antennas which can be several hundred feet up in the air.
How are Cell Towers marked for safety and security?
Cell towers that are not mounted on the tops of buildings require security to protect the public from the dangers of the equipment. Perimeter fencing typically encloses the tower and the ground structures. Proper safety, warning and regulatory signage can consist of the following sign types:
• ASR Number Sign: This displays the identifying F.C.C. Antenna Structure Registration number of the cell tower.
• Danger Radio Frequency Radiation Hazard Sign: This warns of the health hazards including severe burns from close and prolonged exposure to the dangerous radio frequencies.
• No Trespassing Signs alert that the area is private property and denote any associated penalties and fines.
• Danger High Voltage Signs: These signs warn of the dangerous voltage from utility lines, generators and the cell tower that can cause severe injury or death.
• Video Surveillance Signs alert that the enclosure uses video cameras for security surveillance.
• Do Not Climb Signs: These signs warn of the dangers of climbing the tower including high voltage, electrocution, radiation, and slip-and-falls.
Technicians climbing cell towers face dangerous conditions. How are these marked?
Inside the tower enclosure, there are additional safety signs and labels for the technicians servicing the tower:
• PPE Signs denote the required personal protective equipment, gear, and clothing for climbing the tower such as harnesses, hard hats, protective eye wear, boots, gloves and more.
• Nesting birds, bees’ nests and wet or icy conditions can be sudden and unexpected causes of potential slip-and-falls. Fall Protection Signs dictate the proper fall protection gear required for climbing such as full-body harnesses, shackles, slings, pulling rope, capstans ad lifts.
• Falling Objects Signs warn of the dangerous injuries from dropped objects ranging from a roll of tape to a metal wrench.
How are electrical equipment and wiring identified for technical personnel who maintain the cell towers?
Electrical Identification for equipment, wires and cables ensures that the routine maintenance and repair operations maintain safety standards and clearly identify the components, the procedures, and any associated hazards. OSHA Compliant labels, tags and signs utilized include:
• Lockout tags are used in the equipment shelters to lock out power to equipment during maintenance and repairs.
• Arc Flash Labels warn of the danger of an arc flash from proximity to high voltage equipment and for the need for proper PPE.
• Cable Markers identify the cable type such as Fiber Optic and other styles. They are available in two styles: snap-around and clip-on format.
• Voltage Markers denote the voltage level for equipment, transformers, circuit panel boxes and more. The come in three sizes to fit varying applications.
Cell towers are just one of the many sectors of the telecommunications industry. Safety identification labels, tags and signs by LEM Products, Inc., a Trident Company, are a critical part of maintaining safe conditions for industry personnel and the public.