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Television transmission towers

Summary A Kentucky official asked which federal OSHA standards apply to television transmission towers. OSHA said the telecommunications standard leaves uncovered operations subject to other applicable Part 1910 standards, so the nonionizing radiation rule applies. It added that the hazardous-energy control rule may also apply during maintenance or servicing, depending on exposure levels and circumstances.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1993-03-04-2
Date issued
March 4, 1993
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA marks this page as an archive document and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Nonionizing Radiation Lockout Tagout Communication Towers
Source
View the official document

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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

March 4, 1993

MEMORANDUM FOR: BRUCE HILLENBRAND, DIRECTOR DIRECTORATE OF FEDERAL-STATE OPERATIONS

ATTENTION: BARBARA BRYANT
FEDERAL STATE OPERATIONS

FROM: RAYMOND E. DONNELLY, DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF GENERAL INDUSTRY COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE

SUBJECT: Transfer of Letter from Richard Carroll, Assistant
Attorney General, State of Kentucky Requesting an interpretation of 29 CFR 1910.97.

This is response to your request that we provide an interpretation of the related standards as we transfer the subject letter to you for response.

Application of 29 CFR 1910.97, .147(c)(1) and (c)(7)(i) to television transmission towers in the Federal regulations is as follows:

a. Paragraph (a)(3) of the telecommunications standard (29 CFR 1910.268) reads "Operations or conditions not specifically covered by this section are subject to all the applicable standards contained in this part 1910. (See 1910.5(c))." This means that Nonionizing Radiation standard at 1910.97, applies to television transmission towers.

b. 29 CFR 1910.147 applies to the control of hazardous energy in various maintenance and servicing operations to provide proven effective protection for employees. This standard may be applicable to the situation described by Mr. Carroll, depending on the levels of exposure to nonionizing radiation and other related circumstances.

If you have further questions, please let me know.

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