W0UN -- John Brosnahan wrote:
> At 21:10 25-10-07, jacobsen_5@msn.com wrote:
>
>
>> "Tony, sorry to say this, but if you think free climbing a 42 foot tower
>> is any safer than a taller one, we'll probably be reading more about you
>> before you get old.
>>
>
> For the past 30 years or so, whenever I heard about a tower accident, I tried
> to find out as many details as possible in order to be better educated and to
> possibly avoid making the same mistakes.
>
> And this is what I have learned although I have NO statistical data
> to back this up,
> only my impressions of what I have seen, heard, or read.
>
> To me it seems that the shorter towers are the most dangerous! This may
> be explained in any number of ways, although I don't know for a fact that it
> is true. Possibly the shorter ones are more dangerous because the
> belief is that
> it is just a little tower, no big deal, and the climber is more lax
> about safety.
> Possibly they are more dangerous because taller towers tend to be climbed
> by professionals whereas the little ones are often climbed by
> non-professionals.
>
> I do know for a fact that in the past, if I was making a quick run up
> a short tower,
> I would just grab my old pole-climbing belt, or in later years I would use my
> tree-trimmers belt. I wouldn't bother with more serious rigging for
> a few minutes
> on a short tower.
>
> Now that I am older and have seen more info on the dangers of NOT wearing an
> arrest harness, I have a much less cavalier attitude about the risks
> of climbing
> with inadequate equipment.
>
> --John W0UN
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
A few days ago, I was installing one of my seasonal Beverages. It
connects to a junction box, containing the transformer and some relays,
on the tower at 10 ft. Even at that level, I use my belt. Besides the
safety issues, it's just so much easier to be able to work with 2 hands
free, not worrying about holding on.
Barry W2UP
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