Telecommunications work can combine climbing, exposed structures, electrical systems and radio-frequency equipment. A safe method must address the particular site and how a person could be rescued. The figures below provide national height-fall and international powered-access context; neither dataset establishes a current UK tower-worker accident rate.
Reviewed 15 October 2026. HSE figures are Great Britain, 2025/26 provisional. IPAF figures are worldwide powered-access reports for calendar 2025, published September 2026; they are not UK telecommunications-tower totals.
Key facts & figures
- 31 worker deaths from height falls across all Great Britain industries in 2025/26, provisional.
- 170 fatal or major powered-access incident reports worldwide in IPAF’s 2025 data.
- 76 fatalities in that worldwide powered-access dataset.
- 28 electrocution or electric-shock incident reports in the worldwide 2025 dataset.
- 20 fatalities associated with those electrical incidents.
- 25 worldwide reports of falls from powered-access platforms in 2025.
The specific risk profile of telecommunications tower work
Tower work requires assessment of hazards that may occur together:
- Height and access: assess the structure, climbing route, work position and equipment before access.
- Fall protection: select a suitable system, anchorage and rescue method; equipment must be compatible and used by competent people.
- Electrical and radio-frequency hazards: coordinate with the site operator to understand energised systems and any exposure restrictions.
- Remote locations: plan communications, access for assistance and rescue capability without assuming the emergency services can provide the initial recovery.
- Weather: assess conditions at the working position and follow equipment and site limits. A fixed formula relating ground-level wind to tower-top wind is not a reliable control.
The electrocution risk
IPAF’s 2026 report covers worldwide incidents reported for 2025 involving powered access, including MEWPs, mast-climbing work platforms and hoists. It is not a census of all incidents and is not specific to tower climbing. Its 28 electrical incident reports involved 33 people and 20 fatalities.
Incident counts, people involved and deaths are different measures. Dividing deaths by incident reports does not establish an individual’s probability of dying. Tower work also requires a separate assessment of electromagnetic-field exposure: the powered-access electrical category is not a measure of radio-frequency harm.
| Measure | Figure | Population and period |
|---|---|---|
| Worker deaths from falls from height | 31 | HSE, all Great Britain industries, 2025/26 provisional |
| Fatal or major powered-access incident reports | 170 | IPAF, worldwide, 2025 |
| Fatalities in those reports | 76 | IPAF, worldwide, 2025 |
| Electrocution / electric-shock incident reports | 28 | IPAF, worldwide, 2025 |
| Fatalities associated with electrical incidents | 20 | IPAF, worldwide, 2025 |
| Falls from platform incident reports | 25 | IPAF, worldwide, 2025 |
Legal requirements for telecommunications tower work
In Great Britain, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require the work to be planned, supervised and carried out safely. Electrical and electromagnetic-field duties may also apply. Northern Ireland has separate legislation.
- Competence: workers and supervisors need the skills and experience appropriate to the task; trainees need suitable supervision.
- Rescue: have a workable plan and the people, communications and equipment needed before work starts.
- Weather: proceed only when conditions allow the work to be carried out safely.
- Equipment: use suitable access and fall-protection equipment with the required checks, inspections and maintenance.
LOLER applies to lifting equipment used in the work; it does not mean every personal fall-protection item is lifting equipment. Assess live electrical systems and coordinate safe isolation where needed with competent authorised people. Assess electromagnetic-field exposure separately and apply the necessary controls and information.
Make sure everyone working at height on your team is trained and competent.
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Mark writes about working at height, workplace health and safety, compliance and accredited training for Working at Heights Course, part of Online CPD Academy.
Sources & references
- HSE: fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2025/26 provisional
- IPAF Global Safety Report 2026: worldwide reports for 2025
- IPAF: 2025 powered-access incident findings, September 2026
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- HSE: working at height, a brief guide
- HSE: avoiding danger from overhead power lines
- HSE: electromagnetic fields at work
- HSE: thorough examination of lifting equipment