The Life Of A Tower Climber II: Failures At Every Level | Documentary (2025)

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  • Опубліковано 27 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 116

  • @emproductions160
    @emproductions160 10 днів тому +19

    This documentary was really really good. Hope your channel starts to really pop! As an electrician, I think unionizing for tower climbers would be beneficial and a step in the right direction, but there will always be greed. The climbers that work at the same contractor as I, seem to love their work they do.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  9 днів тому +3

      Thanks for checking it out,appreciate the support!

  • @englishbulldog89
    @englishbulldog89 13 днів тому +22

    23 years old 2 years in this industry and I havent even fully finished this documentary and can only say it's hitting very good points. Thank you Tommy Schuch for doing these videos you are showing so many people what we go through! We need to come together as climbers to demand change and better standards whether for training and structures we work on, and pay/benefits!

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  13 днів тому +13

      @@englishbulldog89 Agreed! Stay safe out there bud, make good decisions, and remember this - Complacency is one of the biggest killers in the industry.

  • @stephenjschuch
    @stephenjschuch 14 днів тому +18

    This is a very insightful and sobering piece digging deep into the reality that tower climbers face each day.
    Great documentary!

  • @JacobMcCain-b3j
    @JacobMcCain-b3j 14 днів тому +30

    I’ve been climbing for 4.5 years, thanks for representing us well.

    • @elcharrosays
      @elcharrosays 13 днів тому +2

      Get out my guy. Please.

    • @alskdjfhg0
      @alskdjfhg0 13 днів тому +7

      Nobody thinks about you guys. I do. Thank you. You literally keep the modern world together.

    • @PaytonnManning1503
      @PaytonnManning1503 10 днів тому

      Your welcome

  • @fryz
    @fryz 10 днів тому +13

    Impactful, thanks for this hope the right eyes see it

  • @HFarms1955
    @HFarms1955 10 днів тому +10

    Thanks for all you fellas do!!! Retired Firefighter here, and some of the work you do is related to fire and ems comms. Without you guys people could DIE! Be safe! I appreciate what you do!👍👍👍👍

  • @Newtons_Towers
    @Newtons_Towers 10 днів тому +10

    Subscribed from the first documentary, and I am confident in saying that your work on these videos is incredible.
    I'm a 16yr old in high school and want to do tower climbing (at least for a while), as radios, and towers are my hobbies/passions. I know for certain that when I'm at a site, that I will do my best to look out for and address issues with the site that haven't been noted or passed down.
    It seems that the low-tier subcontractors are just shit in, and shit out.
    A question for anyone inside this industry: How would one set themselves up for success with proper training and landing a good position with a good employer that guarantees safety and stable pay?
    I'm lucky enough to have backing for education, so I have many choices for when I select my path.
    I appreciate all yall out there doing this stuff for the little recognition you get. I hold you of the highest respect.

  • @williamstone4170
    @williamstone4170 14 днів тому +15

    Another masterpiece brother! Great job! I’m sorry I couldn’t help with this one… hurricane Helene screwed that up. Let’s keep this going because progress is being made and it’s very obvious that it’s gotten the correct attention at the congressional level! Whooooop!

  • @zekeabercrombie1242
    @zekeabercrombie1242 8 днів тому +5

    Former tower worker. Everything you said was right on.

  • @WiskeyAdventures
    @WiskeyAdventures 11 днів тому +21

    18 year tower vet here and the industry definitely does not care about the climbers. They push the crews to get in and get back out for little pay for what they do.

    • @mikeanshit158
      @mikeanshit158 7 днів тому +3

      I m a lineman for a huge power company. We re just a number to them. They don't give a rats ass about us

  • @LanceIngram-cg3ej
    @LanceIngram-cg3ej 10 днів тому +9

    All of us that take our communication for granted should be thankful for the tower guys. Thankyou! Bestwishes to the loved ones suffering a loss. We pray for you and the people who risk their lives now! I appreciate it! Please be safe!

  • @mirandaburns7265
    @mirandaburns7265 10 днів тому +11

    Thank you for your hard work

  • @alskdjfhg0
    @alskdjfhg0 13 днів тому +12

    These videos are coming out more and more. I commend you brotha! Not to undertone other professions like roadwork, tow truck drivers. But these guys literally keep our phones going.

  • @joebeecher2835
    @joebeecher2835 10 днів тому +7

    Awesome vid.

  • @wadesarver4207
    @wadesarver4207 11 днів тому +12

    Great job kid, thank you! The ending was powerful.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  11 днів тому +5

      @@wadesarver4207 Thanks Wade, I’ve been following you since I first got into the industry. Appreciate it!!

    • @wadesarver4207
      @wadesarver4207 11 днів тому +1

      @@TommySchuch I appreciate that. This was really good work, impressive.
      I hope you can make a difference; I tried but couldn't make any real changes.
      It was great to see Richard interviewed, he's a great guy who also tried to make a difference.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  11 днів тому +2

      @@wadesarver4207 Thank you, I really appreciate that!
      This is definitely a tough industry to effect any type of change in, but I believe it can happen. I spent over two years in the last union push that ultimately fell apart. Learned so much in that time.. I feel like regulations would be effective in the meantime.
      Richard is definitely a great man with an honest heart-his insights have been invaluable, and I'm thankful to have had the chance to include him. Thanks again for the support!

    • @Dugpasttenseofdig
      @Dugpasttenseofdig 3 дні тому +1

      Hey guys, industry outsider here. (Extremely well done documentary, and thank you for literally keeping the world working by the way). I am commenting because I am extremely curious about the union push that Tommy mentioned. It fell apart after two years? That must have been hard to take. My question is how/why did it fall apart? It seems obvious to me that if a single job needed the backing and representation of a union and all the benefits that come with it it is the one you guys do. So how do you not have one? And why did the last attempt to establish one fail? My assumption is that the answer is the usual one: anti-union practices by the companies and those that own them. Is this assumption at all based in reality? Because it seems hard to believe that with such a small community of people doing extremely dangerous yet potentially rewarding and fulfilling work that you can’t all come together to make it happen. Please enlighten me if you can. Aloha from Hawaii 🤙

    • @wadesarver4207
      @wadesarver4207 3 дні тому

      @@Dugpasttenseofdig You would have to ask them specifically, but I worked with others to help them get going and it always fell apart for these reasons: 1) the unions thought the industry was too scattered and spread out, 2) the money for them to be interested was not there, 3) the people involved lose interest and money, 4) the people starting it are interested in lining their pockets more than driving the union.
      Luckily, the time it did start it had people that cared about the industry. It takes a lot of time, money, and determination to get that far.

  • @CarryTrainer
    @CarryTrainer 7 днів тому +2

    Shared on on my channel. Well done bro

  • @elcharrosays
    @elcharrosays 13 днів тому +14

    7 years in and this documentary hit so many feels. We need wider representation and I sincerely hope this message can reach an effective audience. The conditions that carriers put us through are absolutely untennable. And there is no accountability. I am absolutely sick of risking my life day after day for legitimately easily avoidable hazards. I work office and field. I know what it takes. The fault is purely carriers avoiding responsibility. Fuck turf vendors for taking 40% and doing 0% of the work, and fuck AT&T for their absolutely dismal designs.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  13 днів тому +2

      You have many valid points, thank you for watching bro

  • @jamesmckee9246
    @jamesmckee9246 14 днів тому +11

    This is great information
    Something has to be done about this issue at every level.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  14 днів тому +1

      Thank you for watching!

    • @elcharrosays
      @elcharrosays 13 днів тому

      All we need is a union and proper representation. CWA fucked up but we still need to strive for representation. Tower workers perform both electric and steel. Why are we treated so much poorly than either?

    • @jamesmckee9246
      @jamesmckee9246 13 днів тому

      @@elcharrosays
      this seems like a 2 union job
      Steel worker union
      Electrician union

    • @elcharrosays
      @elcharrosays 13 днів тому

      @@jamesmckee9246 You are right. Unfortunately, it's a 0 union job.

  • @Wilco6-v6f
    @Wilco6-v6f 12 днів тому +8

    Another banger my bro🔥🔥🔥

  • @d2kids4me
    @d2kids4me 14 днів тому +14

    I saw your 1st documentary a few months ago. I have a cousin in California who's a climber. I'm terrified of heights & have nightmares about those towers even though I've never stepped foot near one. My opinion is 4G & 5G are not even close to a legitimate reason to put anyone's life at risk. BFD if your video is a little slow on your phone. Or it takes a extra seconds for your phone to connect to who you're calling. Or that you can't place that catalog order 'right now' because you waited until the last minute before your '50% off code' was set to expire. There's not one good, justifiable excuse I can think of that would be worth the cost of loss of life. We pay so much in BS 'taxes' with cell service, maybe the FCC should make a mandatory 25 cent fee that these companies can ONLY spend on upgrading & making existing towers safe, not adding new ones or upgrading their G service. They should have to PROVE the fee went strictly for increasing the equipment needed for the safety of the climbers. I'm already taxed into oblivion, but I'd be willing to pay the extra fee. If it means my cousin goes home to his family every night along with every other climber, it's a no-trainer. If people want their super fast, smooth running 5G service, let them pay the extra 25 cents every month. If they're too cheap & don't want to pay the fee, then they can go back to 2G & see how that works for them. Start a petition & I'll sign it. EVERYBODY wants their 5G, so it's time they learned just exactly how it's delivered. Stay safe out there.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  14 днів тому +8

      You have many valid points here, but nobody should have to pay anymore than they already are. The carriers are paying enough out for climbers to be better taken of in regard to safety/ pay/ working conditions etc. The issue here is the way in which the system is designed with so many layers/tiers between the top and bottom. Too many people siphoning off profits without actually doing anything..I hope your cousin is working for a good company that takes care of him and his well being!

    • @d2kids4me
      @d2kids4me 13 днів тому +2

      @TommySchuch you're absolutely right. I wonder if OSHA or Congress can implement a new law that bans the multiple middlemen that skim off the top & screws the climbers. Basically, one company has the contract with the tower owner directly, so there's more accountability & less blaming the climber. I don't know the ins and outs. I'm just a concerned person who thinks these low ball unsafe risks aren't worth it.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  13 днів тому +3

      @You are right on 💯 Federal regulation could make huge progress as it has in other industries. I have brought these issues to my congressman and I believe some things are in the works. I will definitely be posting a video on it if it does.

    • @elcharrosays
      @elcharrosays 13 днів тому +2

      Lack of money is far from the issue. It's actually kind of the problem. The system of turf vendors and subcontractors is designed to absolve carriers of their due responsibilities. Many safety issues arise from having low-bid contractors performing shitty installs which compromise the next 100 guys who have to climb the same tower for other projects. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but fuck AT&T. Absolute garbage and disregard.

  • @justinfish9135
    @justinfish9135 4 дні тому +1

    Spent ten years climbing and the lack of care about my safety is exactly why I left …

  • @ibbylancaster8981
    @ibbylancaster8981 11 днів тому +4

    As a welder and fabricator, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you all. Personally, I’m good on Terra firma. Y’all can have it. I don’t care if they were paying $5000 an hour. Nope nope and nope. RIP to all those who have lost their lives and salute to those who still go out daily and risk it all for an ungrateful public. Much love 🤙

  • @coolguy7526
    @coolguy7526 8 днів тому +2

    Industry of communication and no one communicates

  • @Johnny53kgb-nsa
    @Johnny53kgb-nsa 9 днів тому +1

    I served my apprenticeship starting in 1977 painting energized high voltage tower's. I did this type work several year's before transferring to a local closer to home .

  • @SADFORIAN
    @SADFORIAN 13 днів тому +2

    I'm a 55 yo commercial audio/video contractor nearing the end of his career who strongly considered the tower industry after electronics school back in the early '90s (seemed like cool work with travel and decent money), until I researched a bit into what those guys actually go through. The message I got is that they will run you ragged until there's nothing left.

  • @Mylifeisnotmyown
    @Mylifeisnotmyown 10 днів тому +2

    Why is synergy such a problem in so many areas of business in 2024???? It just seems like a no brainer to me…. I’m baffled

  • @frankflstf
    @frankflstf 2 дні тому +1

    200 fatalities in 20 years is gross negligence Unacceptable

  • @williamstone4170
    @williamstone4170 14 днів тому +2

    1 week after the last documentary was released, Jose covarrubias fell from a tower in my home town. The site remained untouched for months. Verizon owned the tower. I still have the pictures

  • @coolguy7526
    @coolguy7526 8 днів тому +1

    How do I like this more than once

  • @oxcolette
    @oxcolette День тому

    This is scary asf. Please stay safe. I watched a documentary about a guy that fell and how often it happens.

  • @Ethanneverett
    @Ethanneverett 11 днів тому +2

    I’m 6 months into this industry and man I have not enjoyed it one bit . I love climbing and the feeling of accomplishing the work but at the end of the day I’m starting to think it’s not worth it

    • @JoshMunoz-f7r
      @JoshMunoz-f7r 9 днів тому

      Find a better company if the one you’re with is bad

  • @dearestdennis
    @dearestdennis 8 днів тому

    24:47 - The carriers have actually sold a majority of their ownership of the actual towers/sites and leased them back for cash infusions of billions years ago. Most of the “owners” are not the carriers, it’s Crown Castle, American Tower etc.

  • @Jab7581
    @Jab7581 6 днів тому

    This is a real eye opener into the very real danger these guy's are facing everyday and I can't believe how flimsy these towers look and the weight hung off the top of them, it's ridiculous how some towers are just packed from top to bottom with antennas and no safe path to the top.
    The company's having there antennas put on these towers should have more responsibility over the state of the towers and making sure they aren't overloaded and there is a safe path to the top .
    Seems to me there are way too many different companies involved in these towers, there should be one company involved in the building and regular maintenance of them and the phone companies should have all the maintenance records and relevant information about each tower they have their antennas on.

  • @rickboggs4335
    @rickboggs4335 6 днів тому

    I started back in 1978 Loved climbing u towers

  • @babyzfpv1234
    @babyzfpv1234 19 годин тому

    The first scene opens up…..and the first thing I said was f*** this. No way….no f****ng way.
    You guys must not be afraid of ANYTHING OR ANYONE. Duuuuuude!
    You guys go hard af!

  • @xray5382
    @xray5382 6 днів тому

    Getting ready to go to my Christmas party.. the future looks grim

  • @babyzfpv1234
    @babyzfpv1234 19 годин тому

    Old man is also a MEGA OG!

  • @frankflstf
    @frankflstf 2 дні тому +1

    There’s no excuse for these conditions other than greed

  • @joshuaburket9232
    @joshuaburket9232 День тому

    Matthew Vukasovich, RIP your missed everyday brother.

  • @AndrewTa530
    @AndrewTa530 10 днів тому +2

    Does OSHA know??

  • @RoySATX
    @RoySATX 10 днів тому +1

    I knew a neighbors kid doing tower work about ten years ago. He and a few of his buddies around the same age, they weren't bad kids but they had no business climbing towers. Every dime they made they spent on meth, stayed high the whole time they were home and made sure to take plenty with them on the next job. I always expected at least one wouldn't return, not sure they all did. It was crazy, talking to this kid he said it was pretty much a requirement to be hired on. What kind of company knowingly sends high kids up towers under the supervision of other high kids? Well, I guess we know. Companies that don't give a damn about the kids they sending up the towers.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  10 днів тому +1

      That doesn’t surprise me at all. But generally you get that type of bs at the bottom tier companies. The last couple companies I worked for we were drug tested pretty frequently and if someone was even suspected of using something they were let go. But those companies of junkies are definitely out there.

  • @kellyput1
    @kellyput1 6 днів тому

    Great job. Excellent money.

  • @BIGEUSMC
    @BIGEUSMC 18 годин тому

    The dangers are a lot different but in the trucking industry companies do the same, that is until someone falls asleep driving or hurts themselves unloading them they’re all about the rules.

  • @AndrewTa530
    @AndrewTa530 10 днів тому +1

    What companies are we talking about???

  • @MikeHarris1984
    @MikeHarris1984 7 днів тому

    Holy f*(# that footage from the water tower has my stomach in pits. How do you do that!??!!?

  • @Mylifeisnotmyown
    @Mylifeisnotmyown 10 днів тому +1

    Also, unions? Can y’all do that? I’d say that’s the best answer but I’m on the outside looking in here…

  • @furies
    @furies 9 днів тому +1

    As a lineman, this makes me feel like a wuss.

  • @nicholaskanganis8162
    @nicholaskanganis8162 8 днів тому

    I climbed for Mastec for almost 2 years.. No prior experience when hired!!

  • @Styxx2018
    @Styxx2018 7 днів тому

    Damn, Bro! That's crazy sh!t!

  • @lonewolf1401
    @lonewolf1401 5 днів тому

    god bless your souls,,past ,presant and future. i have 2 friends that climb towers...

  • @Jab7581
    @Jab7581 6 днів тому

    Why is it that the most dangerous jobs always seem the least regulated and the worker's are always under unrealistic pressure to get these jobs done and when fatalities happen none of the companies involved will take responsibility.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  3 дні тому

      The system is setup to absolve the corporations of liability, placing it all on the guy doing the job.

  • @johnbowen4222
    @johnbowen4222 4 години тому

    Ive been climbing myself for 5 years. I love my job I'm going to hate the day I have to give it up. Nothing like working 500 feet in the air. One thing i can say about my company is they are all about safety if its not safe or we feel uncomfortable about doing a job we say it they will wont hesitate to call it and figure out a safer way to do it.Tie up or die up

    • @johnbowen4222
      @johnbowen4222 4 години тому

      That is one thing about the industry the office dont care if it's raining snowing night cuts we are going on 2 hours sleep 18 30 hours no sleep job needs to get done that's our job get it done ive been on a night cut 400 feet up in neg 15 snowing winds about 40 miles mph ish still gotta get it done

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  4 години тому

      @@johnbowen4222 sounds like you got a good company, man!

  • @frankflstf
    @frankflstf 2 дні тому

    500,000$ wouldn’t be enough compensation for this job

  • @slabslayer258
    @slabslayer258 9 днів тому

    You report to higher up OSHA if it is life on the line danger . Or I’ll find a new paycheck . I’m not scared of a pink slip ever .

  • @thejackel1844
    @thejackel1844 2 дні тому

    Maybe someday O.S.H.A. could show - up BEFORE a fall ?, ... Then again, how many of these fatalities are negligence on the Climber's behalf...

  • @frankflstf
    @frankflstf 2 дні тому

    I can’t even watch this it’s so scary and wrong

  • @jeffcarder3545
    @jeffcarder3545 9 днів тому

    That's way to many men it's the carriers Version, T Mobile, all of them

  • @tomkeppler3519
    @tomkeppler3519 6 днів тому

    Unionize

  • @1962guy50
    @1962guy50 10 днів тому +1

    If you think unions can fix the tower industry, take a look at what they've done to the automobile industry. It's real simple: If you don't like the pay and working conditions of tower work, don't do it. Go do something else.

  • @talesfromtheleashexpatdogl1426
    @talesfromtheleashexpatdogl1426 9 днів тому

    Profits come b4 people because that is how capitalism is intended to work.

    • @Wannabesky6912
      @Wannabesky6912 9 днів тому +2

      Correct but at what point does it become extortion by forcing workers to do unsafe work?

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  9 днів тому +1

      You bring up an interesting point about capitalism and the motive for profits, but my question is: Where do we draw the line to ensure workers aren’t exploited or extorted by massive corporations? When tower owners, and cell carriers prioritize profits at the expense of safety, fair wages, and ethical practices, isn't there a need for regulations to protect those on the frontlines, like tower climbers(who take on the risk to keep the industry running) At what point does this become a moral and ethical issue?

  • @kc0eks
    @kc0eks 13 днів тому

    Interviews with a toothpick in his mouth. Giant ear holes fits

    • @mountainhollers2661
      @mountainhollers2661 9 днів тому +3

      If that’s all you got from this documentary, I’m happy to say I don’t know you or have to work with you

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  9 днів тому +2

      @@mountainhollers2661💯

    • @Wannabesky6912
      @Wannabesky6912 9 днів тому +1

      What does a toothpick and gauges have to do with anything. Is his information correct and factual?? Funny how people judge a book by its cover and not it’s content

  • @kurtissalsbury8354
    @kurtissalsbury8354 9 днів тому +1

    This is a BS video. 😂
    If you're 300 on the trunk, you will know if it's been twisted.
    First, you should have checked your wires before you ever did a mod in ANY SITE. There is way more wrong with this BS video than I can put down here.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  9 днів тому +10

      @@kurtissalsbury8354 You’re missing the entire point of the video big guy. Clearly, there is a lot of things in this video that can be pointed out as wrong. Think outside the box here, man. Too many Tower hands want to run their mouth talking about pointless things to negate the fact of what’s going on out in the field.

    • @TommySchuch
      @TommySchuch  9 днів тому +7

      @@kurtissalsbury8354 clearly you didn’t even watch the video, the guy who did the mod on the tower said nothing about any issues with the guy wires only that they were adding more. The other guy that was talking about the guy wires clearly stated that he didn’t climb the tower because he did check them! Take your negative BS somewhere else dude. Within two minutes of you making that comment. I already talked to someone that knows you 😂

    • @JoshMunoz-f7r
      @JoshMunoz-f7r 9 днів тому

      You seem like a tool, if that’s all you got from this video you’re not very bright.

    • @Wannabesky6912
      @Wannabesky6912 9 днів тому +5

      Since this all BS where is your documentation to back up your claims my guy??? Please share your facts and supporting videos. I’ll be waiting for your documentary to come out on how this is all bs!

    • @williamstone4170
      @williamstone4170 8 днів тому

      @@JoshMunoz-f7ryou sound like a Greenland. The point of the video is to expose the dark side of the industry in hopes for reform and change. Not to swing dicks and act like your some tower god. These are topics that need to be discussed. If we don’t bring it to light the bullshit will never stop