[Towertalk] RE: Double protection - climbing

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/18/02 5:56:18 AM Pacific Standard Time, k3nd@yahoo.com 
writes:

> I had always heard that the fall arrest lanyard(s)
>  should be attached to the BACK D-ring. As I recall,
>  the wisdom was that if attached to the front D-ring,
>  in the event of a fall, your head snaps back which can
>  break your neck. When using the back D-ring, your head
>  would go forward until your chin would contact your
>  upper chest and NOT cause the same injury. As was
>  mention in a previous post, this would swing you into
>  the tower, not away, and your head could easily
>  contact the tower. My harness has only a back D-ring.

    You are correct, sir. You want your fall arrest lanyard to catch you in a 
safe 'slumped-over' position using the back D-ring. 

    D-rings in the front are for close working (i.e. window washers, etc.) or 
when you're climbing a tower with a safety climb cable. The back D-ring fall 
arrest lanyard is secured when you reach your work position; at that point 
the front D-ring is of negligible use - it certainly shouldn't be used as a 
fall arrest lanyard point. 

Cheers,
Steve      K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
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