Ed -
Sorry to hear of your mishap; glad you are okay. Thanks for sharing the
experience and important lesson with the others here.
73 de Jeff K2KV
k2kv@reallybig.com
-----Original Message-----
From: K4SB <k4sb@mindspring.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 5:34 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] tower safety
>This one's on me. For the first time in 44 years, I left a serious
>amount of blood on a tower,
>and as a result, have a badly broken left paw which required immediate
>surgery.
>
>Was stepping in a 2" 1/8" wall aluminum mast to the regular 12'
>molybdenum ( finally got
>a spell checker which knows how to spell it ) mast. Aluminum part
>telescopes over a solid
>machined 30" piece of T6. Using come-along to jack moly be damned up.
>
>Even had muffler clamps around both to prevent either or both from
>falling through rotor
>plate. Needed to lower the thing a little so reached in to release the
>come-along safety latch
>( the main latch was supposed to still hold it) Well, the main failed,
>and the masts dropped
>about 8' until the muffler clamp stopped it by smashing into the back of
>my left hand.
>
>Worst part was it trapped my arm and hand, nightfall was coming, temp
>low 40s, and no
>ground crew. Best part is the cable from the come-along remained hooked
>to the bottom
>of the mast. Finally had presence of mind to check and see if come-along
>would raise
>mast. It did. I hate to think what would have happened otherwise. By now
>chilled to the bone, arterial bleeding ( did I mention I threw up a
>couple of times?) and 75' in the air. Managed to climb down, go to
>emergency room, and so forth.
>
>Stupid? yes! On several points. ( and I'd rather not read about them )
>
>Don't let this happen to you! Never thought much about it, but don't
>EVER put your hands into a tower with an unsecured mass. ( 110 pounds )
>
>73
>
>Ed
>
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