Eligibility & Requirements
NATE encourages all eligible members to take part in this program and show their continued dedication to tower climber safety. Here is a quick look at the requirements of the program.
Eligibility
The NATE STAR Initiative is open to all NATE members who employ tower climbers, including:
- tower erection, service and maintenance companies; and
- other NATE member companies whose work involves employees climbing towers.
The program is also open to NATE member companies who subcontract their tower work to tower service companies. Such companies include:
- Tower owners;
- Carriers; and
- General contractors.
NATE Member Requirements
Participating NATE members must agree to:
Requisite Levels of Training
Tower related OSHA 10-Hour Training, or its equivalent, is required for all personnel who will be working on a tower site. OSHA 30-Hour Training, or its equivalent, is required for anyone operating in the capacity of a supervisor or competent person on site. All personnel who will be working at heights of six feet or more above the ground must be trained in fall protection that meets or exceeds the NATE Tower Climber Fall Protection Training Standard (NATE CTS).
Implementation of a Safety and Health Program
All applicants must have a safety and health program in place that meets or exceeds the standard established by the Fourth Edition NATE Accident Prevention, Safety & Health Program Guide.
Presence of a Competent Person
A competent person for safety and health must be on site at all times.
Conduct and Submit Site Safety Audits*
The site safety audit form provides a comprehensive checklist to enhance safety in ten specific areas as defined by the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety & Health (ACCSH) under NATE’s guidance. A competent person from the participating company must conduct site safety audits each quarter and submit them to the NATE office via the NATE website at www.natehome.com. Audits must be submitted for 10% of a company’s projects, or 2 audits per month, whichever is less. *(Tower owners & carriers are not required to submit site safety audits.)
Complete List of Requirements
For a complete list of requirements please refer to the application/agreement form.
NOTE: While STAR stands for Safety, Training, Accountability and Reliability, NATE will not be providing the actual training for your employees. As always, training employees to meet the necessary standards for safety remains the responsibility of their employer. It also should be noted that participating companies must adhere to the applicable requirements found in the Telecommunications and Broadcast Tower Inspection Checklist.
Program Enrollment
The enrollment period for the NATE STAR Initiative will begin in Spring 2012. At that time, NATE members who would like to participate in the program are required to complete an application form and submit it to the NATE office.
The applications will then be reviewed, processed and approved by NATE. NATE will send certificates to approved companies. The STAR Initiative year officially begins on October 1, 2012 and runs through September 30, 2013.
The first quarterly audits are due from all partnering companies (excluding tower owners and carriers) on December 31, 2012.
Conclusion
The NATE STAR Initiative offers NATE members an opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to a higher level of safety. NATE encourages all eligible members to consider participating in this process. Together we can continue to pursue our most important mutual goal -- to ensure that tower climbers go home safely at the end of the day.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact NATE Sr. Staff Associate, Shelly Trego at shelly@natehome.com or tel: (605) 882-5865 or 888-882-5865 (U.S.).
