[TowerTalk] Roswell Tower Accident

[Doug Renwick]

If this description of the fatal event is correct then one possibility
is that being belted-in in his decent may have contributed to his fall.
If he used both hands to unhook his positioning lanyard (reason unknown)
to get around the guy station, and lost his balance then that could
explain what happened.  Yes if he had used a fall-arrest lanyard it
could have changed the outcome.
IMO if the use of 'safety' equipment increases your risk then it is not
doing the job.  If the 'safety' equipment complicates, interferes,
tangles, etc. then it will increase the risk and be a hazard.
Don't waste your time emailing me about risk.  Everyone takes a risk
when they put their first foot on the tower rung.  Don't climb when you
are tired, out of physical condition, don't rush, focus on what you are
doing, if what you are about to do doesn't feel right - don't do it.

Doug


Greg was descending a tower and was attempting to pass guys wires at the
90 foot level.  It is unknown what actually happened at the moment, but
he did NOT have a safety line attached to the tower when he removed his
belt from around the tower to pass the 90 foot level guys.  Greg was
wearing his own new full-body safety harness at the time.



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