Tue, Aug 04, 2009
Monitors Emergency Procedures For Control Tower Workers
The safety of airport traffic
control tower personnel is the focus of an inspection targeting
program titled "Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Traffic
Control Tower Monitoring Program," which monitors how workers clear
a control tower in case of fire and other emergencies. The
inspection targeting program, conducted by the U.S. Department of
Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
examines the FAA's air traffic control towers' provision of safe
means of egress for workers at FAA-owned and operated towers.
The program requires the FAA to bring towers into compliance
with the alternate standard for egress and fire safety. OSHA
inspectors will inspect randomly selected towers to determine if
the FAA is meeting this requirement. A description of OSHA's
alternate standard is available online.
Current guidance based on the FAA's alternate standard allows
for a single exit route where the building size, occupancy level,
type of construction and workplace arrangement is such that all
workers would be able to evacuate safely during an emergency.
"This agency's fundamental responsibility is to protect workers
from unsafe workplaces," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor
for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Those who work in airport traffic control
towers risk their safety if exit routes are not in place in the
event of a fire. OSHA recognizes the importance of this inspection
program and is confident that monitoring compliance with this
standard will result in fewer worker injuries and deaths."
Control Tower File Photo
The standard also includes requirements such as incorporating
fire detection and alarm systems, fire suppression equipment and
emergency action plans. The standard currently covers 386 towers,
of which 190 have been certified by the FAA as being in
compliance.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]