[TowerTalk] Disturbing tower picture in QST

[Pete Smith]

I would be willing to bet that it's a little stub tower, and that the 
bottom guy is standing on the roof, but none of them is wearing anything 
like a proper harness.  Steve should relook at the picture, and revisit the 
safety message it sends.

73, Pete N4ZR

At 12:31 PM 10/13/2004, Markhasin, Vitaly wrote:

>The bottom one definitely DOES NOT. They should wear full harnesses and HARD
>HATS.
>73! Vitaly (VE6JO)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Coleman [mailto:aa4lr at mac.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 6:15 AM
>To: towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Disturbing tower picture in QST
>
>
>
>I received a reply from Steve Ford, WB8IMY, who is the editor of QST.
>
>He assured me that all three gentlemen were wearing climbing belts,
>although they are not visible in the picture.
>
>On Oct 12, 2004, at 11:32 PM, Bill Coleman wrote:
> > In the October 2004 QST, on page 52, there's a rather disturbing
> > picture. It shows three hams on a tower. Ostensibly, they are
> > installing a 2m antenna at a hospital as part of an Eagle Scout
> > project.
> >
> > Here's the disturbing part. Although it isn't possible to tell for
> > certain from the photograph, NONE of the tower climbers appear to be
> > wearing any sort of climbing safety gear. One gentleman on the left of
> > the picture appears to have a strap around his rib cage. The gentleman
> > above him on the right seems to have a similar clip to the tower. The
> > fellow below and to the right has nothing, and doesn't appear to be
> > doing anything to further the installation.
> >
> > Now, I'm all for doing good things for the benefit of the general
> > public, and installing a 2m antenna system in a hospital is a good
> > thing. BUT, that's no reason to compromise safety.
> >
> > Tower climbing is a dangerous activity. Proper safety gear and all
> > safety precautions ought to be followed.
> >
> > QST ought to consider the consequence of publishing pictures showing
> > hams recklessly endangering themselves.
> >
> > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> > Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
> >             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
> >