How should I think about wind limits for climbing and hoisting?

There is no single legal number that fits every tower and every task. The limits come from, in this order: 1. The rigging or lift plan and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions (these can be stricter than anything else). 2. Your company safety program. 3. The tower owner’s or carrier’s site rules. 4. The judgement of the competent person on site: gusts, a loaded gin pole and large antennas catch the wind much more than a climber does. Many crews stop hoisting at roughly 15-20 mph sustained or with gusts above that, and stop climbing for lightning, ice or when they cannot control their tools. Treat these as examples, not as rules. For lightning, the NWS 30-30 guidance applies: if the time between flash and thunder is 30 seconds or less, get down and take shelter; wait 30 minutes after the last thunder. A crew that respects going down early is the crew you want to work with. — CrewRating Team. General guidance, not a substitute for your company safety program, manufacturer instructions or the carrier’s scope of work. If this conflicts with them, follow them and tell us so we can fix it.