Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] Tower climbing- and the our great loss of W0AIH

To: Timothy Coker <n6win@yahoo.com>, Towertalk Reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower climbing- and the our great loss of W0AIH
From: Ken K6MR <k6mr@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2018 23:55:35 +0000
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
“I’m so inexperienced that I strap up on the ground and hook in! :) “



That’s not inexperience, that’s proper safety protocol.  I do the same.  
Always.  I just wish everyone would.


Ken K6MR



________________________________
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of Timothy Coker 
via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 2:49:39 PM
To: rlvz@aol.com; Towertalk Reflector
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower climbing- and the our great loss of W0AIH

My favorite firearms instructor used to end his safety briefing by asking us 
who the most safety dangerous guy on the range was most likely to be that day?
We’d all look around at each other wondering who he thought would make a 
mistake.
He then would tell us that HE was the most likely because he had the most 
intimate knowledge of his firearm and HE had the most experience of us all. His 
deadly weapon was a tool like a hammer. To us newer guys we were, 
appropriately, well enough trained to be cautious of what we had in our hands.
My point here is that the reality is as we become better and more experiences 
we will often have lapses in safety protocols. Not because we are bad, but 
because we are so used to things.
Not saying Paul did or didn’t... but before people blow up Dick, think about 
one of the earlier posters who said Paul came to visit and climbed his tower 
without safety gear for a selfie. Not saying Paul did that when he 
unfortunately fell, but habits (good and bad) do form.
Everyone can make mistakes, even the most experienced.
There is a reason SWAT and Spec Op guys shoot and kill one another on accident 
during training, just like average home owners do. Pick your dangerous 
profession and I bet you each has their similarities.
If there was a mistake made, maybe we can further honor Paul by learning from 
it.
If there wasn’t a mistake made, what’s wrong with talking about safety?
I’m so inexperienced that I strap up on the ground and hook in! :)
Tim / N6WIN


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone


On Thursday, November 1, 2018, 14:18, rlvz--- via TowerTalk 
<towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:

I in no way was trying to indicate that Paul was "skimping" on tower safety.  
But I know I have at times when working on antennas close to the ground.  In 
the future, I'm going to be more careful.

73,
Dick- K9OM

(56 years tower experience)
In a message dated 11/1/2018 4:01:53 PM Central Standard Time, 
k4to.dave@gmail.com writes:

We have NO information as to what went wrong with Paul's accident.  I doubt 
that we ever will.  It is not right to speculate on what he may or may not have 
been doing and I certainly wouldn't accuse him of skimping on safety measures 
without the sure knowledge that that was what was happening.  I NEVER set foot 
above ground without having my safety equipment fully engaged. Paul was in his 
80's.  He (and I have had over 60 years experience climbing.  He deserves more 
respect than to speculate that he skimped on safety.

K4TOP

On Thu, Nov 1, 2018 at 4:44 PM rlvz--- via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com> 
wrote:
Paul Bittner was an extremely well experienced tower climber.  Very few 
commercial tower climbers have as much experience as Paul did which is a rather 
scary thought.  We need to use great safety measures when climbing towers 
regardless how experienced we are.  I believe that experienced tower climbers, 
including myself, sometimes skimp on safety measures when we are working on 
antennas mounted close to ground, which I believe is what Paul was doing as the 
initial report said he was working on an antenna 60' above ground.  As most of 
you know, Paul had 35 towers and was used to standing on antenna booms at the 
200' level.

 This tremendous loss of Paul Bittner- W0AIH has me really re-thinking the 
tower safety measures and precautions I use, and that I better not skimp on 
tower safety.

 Let's do our best at being careful with antenna and tower work so we can enjoy 
our wonderful hobby.

 73,
 Dick- K9OM


 In a message dated 11/1/2018 3:27:04 PM Central Standard Time, 
xe2fl.kf5mn@gmail.com writes:


  The death of W0AIH and others,send us a flag that only experienced tower 
mounting men should do it! Saludos, Fernando José Muguerza,XE2FL Cel. 
81.1589.2930 Email. Fernandojmuguerza@gmail.com Email. xe2fl.kf5mn@gmail.com 
Enviado desde mi iPhone _______________________________________________ 
_______________________________________________ TowerTalk mailing list 
TowerTalk@contesting.comhttp://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
 _______________________________________________



 _______________________________________________
 TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk



_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>