[TowerTalk] Two Killed Erecting Tower

[Barry Kutner]

On 22 Mar 00, at 15:23, Bill Coleman AA4LR wrote:

> 
> On 3/22/00 2:42 PM, Barry Kutner at w2up@mindspring.com wrote:
> 
> >While I am guilty of climbing alone at times, I can add the
> >following:
> >
> >I, too, never free climb. I have a Rohn 45. On my fall arrest harness
> > are two lanyards. One wraps around the tower, and stays there all
> >the way up and down.  The other one is used to attach me to the tower
> >when climbing around obstacles like Tic Ringrotors, where the
> >wrap-around lanyard has to be removed. It is also used once in
> >working position. I also have a fall-arrest lanyard with a gorilla
> >hook (purchased from Champion Radio) which is used once in working
> >position, attaching to the ring on the back of the harness.
> >
> >Also, when climbing alone, I carry either a cell phone or a 2m HT up
> >the tower with me, just in case...
> 
> I won't judge you, Barry, but I do have some hard questions:
> 
> * what happens during your climb if you lean back on the positioning
> lanyard and it breaks?
> 
If I recall my specs correctly, the lanyard is rated 4000 lbs. I 
visually inspect it before each climb. What would cause it to just 
break? You could also ask what if the tower just happens to 
spontaneously fall over while I'm attached to it, or what if it gets hit 
by lightning on a clear sunny day...

> * what use will a cell phone or a 2m HT be if you get injured and are
> unconscious?
> 
The person who happens to walk by 3 hours later will have a way to 
call for help :.)


--
Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up@mindspring.com
Newtown, PA         FRC         alternate: barry@w2up.wells.com

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm