[Towertalk] RE: Double protection - climbing..and falling...

[brewerj@squared.com]

> If you fall several feet while hooked to a positioning lanyard,
> you will almost
> certainly be seriously injured or killed.


      While there may well be better ways to keep one's self from falling off a tower,
I don't believe that a 2-3 foot fall ("several feet") is enough to routinely kill someone.
Consider a seatbelt, which is similarly inelastic. I'm sure the deacceleration of hitting
a wall or other immovable object is similar to reaching the end of a 2-3 foot tether
drop. Neither would be pleasant, but far preferable to the alternative.

      I'm not trying to minimize the dangers involved, but rather to keep them
in perspective. I'd MUCH rather take my chances falling "several feet" to be stopped
by a inelastic positioning lanyard, than to fall 40 and be stopped by terra firma.

      Happy and safe holidays to all.
      John wb5oau