Details on Telecom Installation, Repair, and Removal
You need to get tools and personnel up where they need to work, no matter the job. And maneuvering to cell phone towers or rooftop sites is challenging. These tall structures are often found around high-voltage power lines, making disassembly and maintenance tricky. Smaller towers might only reach 50ft. But larger installations and rooftop cell sites can push upwards of 200ft.
Add in the potential of working amongst historic buildings in downtown areas or around corporate headquarters, and you have increased the difficulty and need for an experienced crane operating crew. For either complete deconstructions, retrofitting, regular maintenance and repair, or new installations, you want skilled hands moving delicate lifts around existing structures and site personnel with a reliable safety record.
Moving People, Not Just Materials
The one aspect that makes telecom unique from other construction, repair, or dismantling projects is that it almost always involves lifting personnel instead of or in addition to materials. Personnel platforms go by several names, including man baskets or suspended platforms. Whatever you call them, they allow for the safe transport of personnel to high work locations when ladders and scaffolds aren’t up to the task.
There are two broad categories of personnel platforms: boom attached and suspended. Both come with different uses, pros, and cons. When deciding which is appropriate for your job site, consider the particular layout of the job site, work being done potentially from the platform, and height requirements.
- Boom Attached Personnel Platforms: The most commonly used platform or man-basket is connected directly to the boom or lift arm, like the “bucket truck” you see employed during work on power lines. They come in various styles, including telescopic, articulating, or scissor lifts.
- Suspended Personnel Platforms: The second broad category of lifted personnel platforms is the suspended variety. Just like it sounds, this involves the man basket or similar personnel platform hanging from the tip of an existing crane. Using an existing crane helps give suspended platforms a distinct height range advantage, increased maneuvering capabilities, and lower costs.
Suspended personnel platforms lend themselves to use in the construction of large buildings and telecommunication projects like cell tower maintenance and removal. But this greater diversity of use comes with an increased need for properly maintained equipment, personnel training, and adherence to safety procedures.
Safety Is a Priority
Care needs to be taken to address safety concerns during any lift. Following good procedure is essential whenever a crane is used on a job site and even more critical when lifting personnel.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides clear guidelines on when crane lifts are appropriate and the required safety steps.
A few of the OSHA regulations to keep in mind are:
- Crane equipment must be on firm, stable ground within one degree of level, with all outriggers extended and locked.
- The total load, including personnel, platform, and all rigging equipment, must not exceed fifty percent of the equipment's rated capacity.
- Cranes used to lift personnel must be fitted with several additional safety devices, such as angle indicators visible to the operator, hoist limiting devices, and systems to control load lowering.
- The personnel platform must stay within ten degrees of level, have sufficient guard rails, and enough room for personnel to stand fully upright, and any gates or doors should swing inward.
Rigging to the Highest Standard
When it comes to cranes, it is just as essential to have the right people operating the machinery as it is to have the right crane for the job. Cranes remain the most costly and deadly hazards on any site. Crane operation is an essential part of renting. You want to ensure your rental company can provide qualified personnel.
When you rent a crane, the rental business should provide you with qualified personnel covering the following roles:
- Crane Operator
- Signaler
- Dogmen
- Riggers
Riggers will be your go-to expert regarding the safety and efficiency of lifts. They determine the best equipment for safely performing lifts based on mass, size, and center of gravity and ensure that materials and workers are adequately secured.
It may be tempting to avoid additional personnel costs, but on-site experts are worth the price. They will help you move your materials more efficiently, potentially reducing the time of the overall rental.
Parker’s Crane Service
If you need a crane rental service for a telecom installation, repair, or removal project throughout the Carolinas and the East Coast, look no further than Parker’s Crane. With over 40 years in the industry, we are the first choice for industrial, commercial, and residential telecommunications projects.
Our Services
We have a fleet of hydraulic cranes available for rental with reach capabilities up to nearly 320ft, enough to tackle telecommunications projects of any size. Utilizing the skills of a professional crane rental service comes with a host of benefits, from helping determine site plans, crane, and rigging needs and supplying OSHA-certified operators and personnel.
Trusting the lifting of an expert can make any project safer and more efficient. If you face a complex telecommunications project, we have a Zero Accident Philosophy worked into the core of our business that can give you the peace of mind that lifts will be completed error-free.
We will work with you on the project from pre-planning on-site assessments through the project's conclusion. We provide the following benefits and services to our customers.
- Site hazard analysis and daily risk assessments
- A well-maintained fleet with transportation to the site
- All of our operators, riggers, and signal persons are OSHA-qualified personnel
- 24/7 Emergency service
Whether you only need us for a few hours or a month, contact us today to discuss your telecom project; we provide free on-site quotes.