[TowerTalk] Tower Climbing Safety

[Sam Smith]

We have rules of thumb that we go by. Like always hook to a tower member that will lift your truck or 5,000#. Although that one does't really apply if you're climbing a Rohn 25g. On a small tower like that I always attach my Y-lanyard 
(w/large hooks) Around the leg where the diag meets the horizontal. 

You guys have posted some great info in the last couple of days. Most of the time you're talking way above my head and I'm in the dark. LOL! But this topic is one that I can really relate to. Sad that it takes the death of a climber to get the topic on list.

Sam 


----- Original Message ----
From: "donovanf at starpower.net" <donovanf at starpower.net>
To: TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:38:39 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower Climbing Safety

Experienced tower climbers use a mental safety checklist every time they reposition. It takes only a few seconds.  Here's another important
mental checklist item for every time you reposition:

* * *  Am I tied off to safe tower components  O N L Y ?  * * *

On most amateur towers that means your positioning lanyard and fall
arrest lanyard  M U S T  N E V E R  wrap around or fasten to  O N L Y 
the horizontal and diagonal structural members.  

Horizontal and diagonal structural members and welds are never safe for fall protection.  They can be weakened or fail from severe weather or tower overloading and are rarely strong enough to safely arrest a
fall.  Your fall arrest lanyard must have hooks large enough to fasten
around your tower legs.

Your positioning lanyard must  A L W A Y S  wrap around at least one,
and preferably two or three tower legs.

Never, never, never use antenna mounts or other tower accessories for
positioning or fall protection anchorages.

If you must position yourself above the top of your tower, the only safe anchorage is the mast, but only if its man safe.  If you're not
absolutely certain its man safe (including the mounting of the mast to
the tower) don't do it!

Be safe!

73
Frank
W3LPL

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:40:53 -0500 (CDT)
>From: Gene Smar <ersmar at verizon.net>  
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Roswell Tower Accident  
>To: "'TowerTalk'" <towertalk at contesting.com>, Doug Renwick <ve5ra at sasktel.net>
>
>TT:
>
>    I learned quite a few things about towers and climbing them here on TowerTalk.  The one that comes to my mind from Doug's advice on testing your connection to the tower is this:  Look, Listen and Feel.
>
>1.  Look at where you're connecting.  Make sure you're hooking onto your D ring and not to a tool on your climbing belt.  
>
>2.  Listen for the positive click of the snap hook closing onto the D ring.
>
>3.  Feel the snap hook to make sure it's actually closed.
>
>    Only then should you lean back and transfer your safety from your hands to the positiong strap.  
>
>    BTW - Your snap hook should be connected to the D ring of your climbing belt with its opening AWAY from you.  You won't roll into the snap hook and disengage it.  Of course, most serious positioning belts these days have double snap hooks that include a safety catch that prevents roll-outs.  The second catch must be depressed before the snap's main catch can be opened. Tough to open accidentally. 
>
>    Caveat Amateur.
>
>
>73 de
>Gene Smar  AD3F
>
>
>From: Doug Renwick <ve5ra at sasktel.net>
>Date: 2007/10/24 Wed PM 10:36:47 CDT
>To: 'TowerTalk' <towertalk at contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Roswell Tower Accident
>
>IMO if you can't free climb a tower then maybe you shouldn't be climbing
>at all.  One or preferably two connections at the work level is advised.
>Do not rush.  Test your connection with both hands on the tower before
>transferring your life from your hands to your connection.  IMO a lot of
>hams are out of shape.  If you are going to climb then you better be in
>good physical shape or forget it.
>
>Doug
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk