Production
https://prod.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/0103-6513.20200108
Production
Research Article

Occupational safety risks during maintenance of telecommunication towers

Rafhael Friederiche Ribeiro; Béda Barkokébas Junior; Eliane Maria Gorga Lago; Ana Rosa Bezerra Martins; Felipe Mendes da Cruz; Tomi Zlatar

Downloads: 4
Views: 572

Abstract

   Paper aims: Conduct a set of case studies on risk management in telecommunication companies, in order to reduce the risks of accidents.

Originality: The present study furthers the discussion of risk management during the maintenance of telecommunication towers.

Research method: Three teams were assessed during their maintenance work. The risks of accidents were identified through self-made questionnaires and the checklist structured from 95 items from Brazilian regulatory and technical norms. The analysis was conducted by using the Hazard Rating Number and the OHSAS hierarchy of risk control, finally comparing the results with the OSHA´s potential draft of the standard addressing telecommunication tower safety.

Main findings: The main risks of accidents were: falling objects; falls from height; electrocution; and attacks from animals. Only 20% of occupational safety items were in conformity.

Implications for theory and practice: Suggestions on control measures were given and discussed for all four risks of accidents.

Keywords

Telecommunication tower safety, Antenna tower safety, Risk management, Falling objects, Falls from height

References

Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações – ANATEL. (2020). Telefonia móvel. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://www.anatel.gov.br/institucional/

Alanko, T., Hietanen, M., & von Nandelstadh, P. (2008). Occupational exposure to RF fields from base station antennas on rooftops. Annals of Telecommunications - Annales des Télécommunications, 63(1-2), 125-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12243-007-0001-6.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas - ABNT. (2001). NBR 5419:2001, Proteção de estruturas contra descargas atmosféricas (2nd. ed). Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://gsea.com.br/normasabnt/ABNT 5419 - PARA RAIOS.pdf.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas – ABNT. (2009). ABNT NBR ISO 31000 Gestão de riscos — Princípios e diretrizes. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://gestravp.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/iso31000-gestc3a3o-de-riscos.pdf

Barkokébas Junior, B., Veras, J., Cardoso, M. T. N. B., Cavalcanti, G. L., & Lago, E. M. G. (2004). Diagnóstico de segurança e saúde no trabalho em empresa de construção civil no estado de Pernambuco. In Anais do XIII Congresso Nacional de Segurança e Medicina Do Trabalho. São Paulo: CONASEMT.

Barkokébas Junior, B., Zlatar, T., Cruz, F. M., Lago, E. M. G., Martins, A. R. B., & Vasconcelos, B. M. (2020). Segurança e saúde do trabalho para uma cultura prevencionista no ambiente laboral. Recife: Editora da Universidade de Pernambuco.

Bastos, S. M. S. L., Vasconcelos, B. M., Attila Parisi, S., Zlatar, T., & Barkokébas Junior, B. (2019). Safety Management Plan for Equipment Used in Working at Heights. In P. M. Arezes, J. S. Baptista, M. P. Barroso, P. Carneiro, P. Cordeiro, N. Costa, R. B. Melo, A. S. Miguel, & G. Perestrelo (Eds.), Occupational and environmental safety and health (Vol. 202). USA: Springer International Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14730-3_1

Brasil, Ministério do Trabalho. (2018). NR 17 - ERGONOMIA. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://enit.trabalho.gov.br/portal/images/Arquivos_SST/SST_NR/NR-17.pdf.

Burgos da Rocha Leão, B., Vasconcelos, B. M., Barkokébas, B. J., Barkokébas, B., & Zlatar, T. (2019). Risk management of falls from height by using the BIM platform: a systematic review. International Journal of Development Research, 09(11), 31267-31273.

Escola Nacional da Inspeção do Trabalho – ENIT. (2016a). NR10 - Segurança em Instalações e Serviços em Eletricidade. Brasília: Subsecretaria de Inspeção do Trabalho – SIT/Ministério da Economia. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://enit.trabalho.gov.br/portal/images/Arquivos_SST/SST_NR/NR-10.pdf

Escola Nacional da Inspeção do Trabalho – ENIT. (2016b). NR35 - Trabalho em Altura. Brasília: Subsecretaria de Inspeção do Trabalho – SIT/Ministério da Economia.Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://enit.trabalho.gov.br/portal/images/Arquivos_SST/SST_NR/NR-35.pdf

Escola Nacional da Inspeção do Trabalho – ENIT. (2018a). NR6 - Equipamento de Proteção Individual - EPI. Brasília: Subsecretaria de Inspeção do Trabalho – SIT/Ministério da Economia. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://enit.trabalho.gov.br/portal/images/Arquivos_SST/SST_NR/NR-06.pdf

Escola Nacional da Inspeção do Trabalho – ENIT. (2018b). NR7 - Programa de Controle Médico de Saúde Ocupacional. Brasília: Subsecretaria de Inspeção do Trabalho – SIT/Ministério da Economia. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://enit.trabalho.gov.br/portal/images/Arquivos_SST/SST_NR/NR-07.pdf

Grivna, M., Eid, H. O., & Abu-Zidan, F. M. (2015). Injuries from falling objects in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 22(1), 68-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2013.863784. PMid:24345025.

International Labour Organization – ILO. (2003). Safety in numbers: pointers for a global safety culture at work. Geneva: International Labour Office. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---safework/documents/publication/wcms_142840.pdf

Martins, A. R. B., Barkokébas, B., Lago, E. M. G., Vasconcelos, B. M., da Cruz, F. M., Zlatar, T., de França, T. C. M., & Pedrosa, L. R. (2018). Occupational safety and health for workers managing wild animals. In P. M. Arezes, J. S. Baptista, M. P. Barroso, P. Carneiro, P. Cordeiro, N. Costa, R. B. Melo, A. S. Miguel & G. Perestrelo (Eds.), Occupational Safety and Hygiene VI (pp. 143-148). London: CRC Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781351008884-25.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – NIOSH. (2004). Preventing injuries and deaths from falls during constructionand maintenance of telecommunication towers. Safety and health. USA: NIOSH.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA. (2014). Inspection procedures for accessing communication towers by hoist. In Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA. Implementation science (Vol. 39, No. 1). Washington: OSHA.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA. (2018). Telecommunications Towers Preliminary Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. OSHA Small Business Advocacy Review Panel (pp. 1-91). Washington: OSHA. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://www.readkong.com/page/telecommunications-towers-preliminary-initial-regulatory-3433573

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA. (2020). Controlling Electrical Hazards. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3075.pdf

Pereira, F. S. J., Soares, W. A., Fittipaldi, E. H. D., Zlatar, T., & Barkokébas Junior, B. (2019). Risk management during construction of electric power substations. Gestão & Produção, 26(4), e4639. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-530x4639-19.

Tan, Y., Fang, Y., Zhou, T., Gan, V. J. L., & Cheng, J. C. P. (2019). BIM-supported 4D acoustics simulation approach to mitigating noise impact on maintenance workers on offshore oil and gas platforms. Automation in Construction, 100, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.12.019.

Teleco – Inteligência em Telecomunicações. (2020). ERBs. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from https://www.teleco.com.br/erb.asp

Tower Crane Interest Group – TCIG. (2008). Maintenance, inspection and thorough examination of tower cranes: best practice guide (No. 1). London: TCIG.

Vila, N. A., Cardoso, L., & Toubes, D. R. (2020). Occupational risk prevention in the management of companies in the electricity sector. the case of Galicia (Spain). Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 79, 30-34. Retrieved in 2020, October 26, from http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/53467

Wiart, J., Watanabe, S., Wu, T., Joseph, W., & Lee, K. A. (2019). Electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure. Annales des Télécommunications, 74(1-2), 1-3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12243-018-0698-4.

Zhao, D., McCoy, A. P., Kleiner, B. M., & Smith-Jackson, T. L. (2015). Control measures of electrical hazards: An analysis of construction industry. Safety Science, 77, 143-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2015.04.001.

Zlatar, T., & Barkokébas Junior, B. (2018). Building information modelling as a safety management tool for preventing falls from height. Germany: LAMBERT Academic Publishing.

Zlatar, T., Lago, E. M. G., Soares, W. A., Baptista, J. S., & Barkokébas Junior, B. (2019). Falls from height: analysis of 114 cases. Production, 29, e20180091. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.20180091.
 


Submitted date:
10/26/2020

Accepted date:
07/05/2021

61264935a9539577712aaba5 production Articles
Links & Downloads

Production

Share this page
Page Sections