[Towertalk] falling from my tower

[kb9cry@attbi.com]

Some may wonder, "How do I secure the ladder in the 
first place?"  Here at the plant, and per OSHA's Fall 
Protection standards, we require a second person to 
stabalize the lower portion of the ladder while the 
first climbs to the top to secure it by however means, 
rope, hooks, etc.  Once it is secured then we allow just 
one person to work off the ladder, but yes, when the 
ladder is ready to be taken down the second person is 
required because as the lashing is being removed, the 
ladder is then not secured.  We also require that for 
any (meaning any) work off the ladder that is higher 
than six feet from the surrounding surfaces, the working 
person is also in a full body harness and has a shock 
absorbing lanyard secured at an attachment point higher 
than six foor (so if they fall they won't bounce on the 
ground).  For work where the person can not attach their 
full body harness, then we specify the electric scissors 
lift; we use that before any ladder whenever possible. 
(The person in the lift is also harnessed and secured to 
the lift basket's top rail.) How many of us don't even 
come close to performing any of this at home?!   
> Well Al, you were lucky!
> As a professional tower person and who was trained to climb by the utility 
> company. You made several mistakes.
>     1. your ladder is supposed to be secured to whatever you are climbing by         
> lashing.
>     2. you always climb with what call 3 point climbing, only one limb free at a 
> time. Some companies teach 2 point, but not as safe.
>     3.Never climb with hands on the steps, you always climb with hands on side 
> rails. Steps can break, get loose or get slippery (i.e.. dog shit and other 
> things on the grass) from your feet!
>     4. A person on a tower several years ago fell, I don't remember what 
> happened to him. A friend drove up and honked he turned to see who was there. 
> While holding on to a cross brace, it broke.
>     5. I know what it is like. I fell once carrying a person who was injured. 
> NOT MUCH FUN
> 
>         good luck
> Joe Clement W6MR
> J & J ANTENNA SERVICE
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Al Williams" <alwilliams@olywa.net>
> To: <Towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 7:49 PM
> Subject: [Towertalk] falling from my tower
> 
> 
> > Yesterday I fell from my tower!  Well, not really--I fell from my 6'
> > stepladder
> > that was leaning against the tilt fixture.  I had finished looping the tilt
> > winch cable through the pulleys and was descending at the 2nd or 3rd step
> > from the ground.  All of sudden I was falling backwards and hit the
> > ground, first with my feet, then my tailbone, then my back, and then
> > my head (which bounced back up a bit).
> > 
> > I don't climb towers so am not at all an authority so why am I posting this
> > to all tower talkians including many experienced and professional tower
> > climbers?  Read on.
> > 
> > First, I do not have a macho personality and I always have been very
> > cautious and careful whether hiking, using ladders, and tools, etc.
> > The stepladder was firmly planted and it or I did not slip.  Furthermore,
> > I had made it a practice to have both hands holding the cross braces
> > of the tilt fixture before moving my feet up or down.
> > 
> > But an unexpected event occurred.  My right boot caught on the
> > ladder rung.  At the same time I must have had one or both hands
> > off the cross braces (I wasn't carrying anything--maybe one hand
> > was free and the other hand got pulled off, I don't know).
> > 
> > Here is why I am posting this accident.  I was finished with the
> > off-ground part of the task and what could happen so close to
> > the ground?  I must have deviated from my safety carefulness
> > long enough for the unexpected event to occur.
> > 
> > Fortunately, my sore tailbone and lower back has almost
> > completely recovered.
> > 
> > Forever stay cautious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > Thanks
> > k7puc
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Towertalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> > 
> 
> 
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