Charlestown Data & Telecom Services

Frequently Asked Questions
1	What are the safe methods for working at height?
	The construction (health, safety and welfare) regulations 1996 provide a hierarchy of measures (Regulation 6). Firstly, prevent all fall hazards "so far as reasonably practible" - if this is not possible, install guard rails, toe-boards, barriers, etc. and working platforms.
	Then, if this is not "reasonably practicable", provide personal suspension equipment that complies to schedule 3. Finally, if all of the above are not " reasonably practicable", fall arrest equipment should be provided that complies to schedule 4. All the above methods of risk reduction really heavily on training and all Technical Height Services (THS) staff are trained to the levels required to enable staff to carry out their roles effectively.
2	What is personal suspension equipment, and how can this be used effectively?
	Personal suspension equipment or Industrial Rope Access is the second "line" of protection and when used correctly can be used cost effectively when scaffolding cannot be used as in the solution we provided for Corries Solicitors of York (Click here to view case study - PDF). Industrial rope access uses caving techniques with additional safety precautions to bring the techniques into an industrial environment.
3	Who uses Rope Access Methods?
	Rope Access methods are used through-out the working at height industry including tree surgeons, riggers, telecom industry, emergency services and military services. THS staff have been trained to supervisor level are able to use these methods to provide cost effective innovative solutions to difficult access situations.
4	Do you rely on the rescue services in the event of emergency?
	By providing comprehensive training and practice sessions THS staff have never needed to use emergency procedures. In the event of an emergency THS staff would call the emergency services and then effect a rescue to ground level. Some THS personnel are trained to supervisor level and all THS staff are trained to effect an evacuation of a colleague to ground level using dedicated rescue equipment that is carried with each team at all times.
5	Can THS provide me with a complete solution?
	THS have the ability to provide a complete assessment of your communication problem and can then present the various solutions complete with budget costs. Leased line, optical fibre, microwave radio and free space optical options can all be evaluated and solutions suggested.
6	Will optical fibre always provide more bandwidth than any other solution?
	Optical fibre can provide more bandwidth than radio or free space optical but requires installation that could involve wayleaves issues. Leased lines could be provided optically (at a cost) but radio can provide bandwidth up to SDH levels (Click here to view case study - PDF), and free space optical can provide high bandwidths on small distance hops with no licensing issues.
7	Can THS provide radio link planning expertise?
	The steps required to formulate a link plan are as follows: Initial site selection for both link location and type of equipment. Selection of suitable frequency and capacity within licensing constraints. Production of path profile taking into account dish heights, alternative locations to optimise the link. Refraction, diffraction and reflection effects also need to be taken into account. Production of a power budget for the link. In constructing the power budget a fade margin needs to be established to ensure the required link reliability to counter possible climatic variations. A path survey should now be carried out to prove LOS, and confirm initial findings. Obtain License Installation Alignment and commissioning Handover
8	What clearance is required when designing a fixed microwave radio link?
	50% of the the power travels through the first fresnel zone and the recommended clearance for a k of 4/3 is 0.6 of the radius of the first fresnel zone at the point of obstruction. A further allowance may be necessary for vegetation growth on the obstacle of 15m for trees and 2m for undergrowth.
9	Does THS have the ability to provide a complete site maintenance solution?
	THS continues to provide regional electricity companies with a complete site/tower maintenance package. This includes safety and earthing certificates, antenna inventories and documented/pictorial reports. Remedial reports and costs can also be included presented in any format required. By using multi-skilled personnel a site maintenance can be completed using one team to provide a complete site maintenance in one visit, from earth electrode tests to antenna removals.
10	Non-ionising radiation is the buzz word at the moment, how do THS safeguard it's personnel?
	THS has it's own code of practice, risk assessment and requires at least one member of the climbing team on the tower to be wearing a RF warning badge. The recommended threshold for safe working is 6mW/cm2. THS badges alarm at 1mW/cm2, when this level is reached all work ceases until the antenna or faulty feeder can be disabled.