[TowerTalk] Fall Harness-My Choice

[Grant Saviers]

One problem not mentioned in this thread is the short survival time if 
suspended by a full body harness.  While there is a product being sold, 
here is a web site with a lot of sobering information

http://www.mountaineer-sports.com/suspensiontrauma.php 

Also, the OSHA fall arrest specs assume a fall twice the length of the 
tether - a person standing on a platform with a 6' tether has a center 
of gravity fall exceeding 6'.  This is not likely the case for tower 
climbing so the arrest may or may not be as forceful, depending on how 
the arrest tether performs.  Rescue time on a tower if suspended in a 
full body harness is almost certainly longer than survival time.  Ergo, 
self rescue to a stable (likely injured) survivable position has to be 
an important capability.  Getting body parts tangled in the tower are 
likely in any fall when tethered by any means. 

Falls are ugly - having a work plan and equipment that prevent falls (or 
makes them very short) IMHO is the better approach.

I used an arborist tree climbing harnesses/saddle, designed to support 
your body weight safely and with enough D rings to use two 5' climbing 
tethers (one always on) and one very short one for tie on at a work 
location.  Mine is old, here are newer models

http://www.wesspur.com/Saddles/saddles-harnesses.html

Take care,

Grant
KZ1W

> <snip>
>
> My preference would be the short lanyards with fall arrest, but I must 
> emphasize that it a personal preference.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>