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RE: [TowerTalk] Re: Tower Safety Equipment

To: "'Alan NV8A (ex. AB2OS)'" <nv8a@att.net>,"'Phil Camera'" <kb9cry@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Re: Tower Safety Equipment
From: "Daron J. Wilson" <daron@wilson.org>
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 09:50:51 -0800
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
The breaking strength is likely very different (as is the construction)
for aircraft cable vs. the galvanized wire rope that I have seen used
for saftey climb type installations.

The difference in the saftey climb type installation and use is that you
don't have the distance/momentum of the fall to build up the huge load.
Properly using the safety climb setup means using an approved grip
attached to the front part of your harness directly, not via a lanyard.
It is not at all intended to support something with a lanyard and a
fall, but is designed to catch the climber if his foot slips off the
ladder rung.  The key to this is that there is little to no 'slack' in
the system.  When you have slack, you have that potential for building
up energy.

Personally I use a Klien fully body harness with a webbing 'positioning'
belt on the two side "D" rings.  On the back center fall arrest D ring
is a double shock absorbing Pelican hook setup that allows me to keep
one hook/cord connected to the tower structure at all times.  The
pelican hooks are huge, I can usually snap them over 3" angle iron or
whatever I can reach for a good support on the structure.  As usual, all
the hooks and snaps are self locking and require an extra effort to
unlatch them.

Also...as a side note, I just found the ultimate glove for this kind of
work.  I've always gotten cold hands doing this work no matter what I
tried, or had to take the gloves off to do the nuts and bolts work.  I
found Neoprene work gloves made by Stearns that have a wonderfull grip
in the palm.  I just did a tower job in the snow/rain and my hands were
wet but warm, and nimble enough to do all the nuts and bolts work
without un-gloving.

Your mileage may vary.

N7HQR


> 
> Supposing that what is described as "wire rope" is actually "aircraft
> cable"? Does that support higher loads?
> 
> Alan NV8A
> 
> 
> On 01/03/05 06:46 pm Phil Camera tossed the following ingredients into
> the ever-growing pot of cybersoup:
> 
> > And, if I may make my regularly scheduled transmission of safety
> > information concerning fall protection.
> > One poster mentioned that he only used a rope lanyard rather than a
> > shock absorbing lanyard, which is to be attached to the D Ring on
the
> > back of your full body harness.  When the average 300 lb. individual
> > falls, if the fall is abruptly stopped like when using a non shock
> > absorbing lanyard, the force exerted on the body and harness is
about
> > 5000 lbs.  That's enough to tear you up.  Using a shock absorbing
> > lanyard, the forces are mitigated down to about 500 lbs.  When that
is
> > applied to a properly fitting full body harness, those loads are
> > transferred to the strongest bones in the body, your hips.
> >
> > The poster from below mentions the safety cable, which is a good
idea
> > except it must also be designed properly.  OSHA dictates that all
fall
> > protection attachment points be capable of withstanding a 5000 lb.
> > load.  3/8 wire rope has a working load limit of less than 3000 lbs.
> > Also, the attachment up top must be very robust.  Inquiring minds
may
> > want to know.  Be safe, Phil  KB9CRY

_______________________________________________

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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