Continuous fall protection while climbing utility poles

September 24, 1990
Richard F. Andree, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President
Safety and Health
Management Consultants, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Andree:
Thank you for your letter of August 7, concerning fall protection standards for pole climbing.
Your understanding of my letter of July 23, is essentially correct. The term, "working in elevated positions," as used in my previous letter, was intended to clarify that, whenever a worker is at an elevated position and exposed to a fall hazard from which serious bodily harm con result, the worker must at all times be protected with effective fall protection equipment. Most certainly, the worker who must ascend and descend a pole must be continuously protected from a fall during such activities, including passing around an obstacle such as a pole cross brace.
If we may be of further assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Gerald F. Scannell
Assistant Secretary