That was a really good story, and sounds too familiar.
One tip I give to everybody, even when installing an antenna on a roof:
Figure out an escape plan in case all else fails.
I've known two local hams, one who is now a SK, who fell off relatively low
rooftops while doing antenna work: One broke both legs when he landed poorly
on a cement patio only 15 feet below, the other died when he did a header
off a 20' or so rooftop. Both accidents completely avoidable.
I always think: If this antenna tries to pull me off of whatever I'm
standing on, what am I going to do? And have a good answer clearly in mind
before starting.
WB2WIK/6
"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure with no loss of
enthusiasm." -Winston Churchill
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kelly Taylor [SMTP:ve4xt@mb.sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 8:33 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Favourite tower tip
>
> My favourite tower tip comes from a near-disaster while working atop a
> tower
> in a semi-professional basis:
>
> If the tower's owner is not experienced, explain EVERYTHING. Including the
> right and wrong ways to assist with hoisting. We were installing the top
> section of a 72-foot freestander when the knot (improperly tied section)
> got
> caught in the gin pole pulley. The owner, a farmer, saw this and
> immediately
> came running to our ground guy's aid. One mighty yank and he narrowly
> missed
> getting up close and personal with the local coroner. It was graceful,
> really, the way the top section started to tip over, slowly at first, like
> in slow motion, and then accelerating through its arc before coming to
> rest
> at the end of my tower-top companion's arm. Instinctively, he grabbed the
> bottom brace as it started to tip. He's lucky he didn't dislocate his
> shoulder or worse.
>
> Which is the other tip: hardware can be replaced, limbs can't. If
> something's falling, just get out of its way.
>
> 73, kelly
> ve4xt
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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