[TowerTalk] Never Free Climb

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 8/13/2013 7:47 PM, Tom Osborne wrote:
> Interesting that the article said 'harness's were found near the tower.'
> Guess that's what happens when you leave them on the ground.  73
> Tom W7WHY
>

Harnesses were found "after the fact"

If a friend or partner fell, what's the first thing you'd likely do at 
getting down?
The harness is heavy and hinders your movements, yet two or three clicks 
and you can drop it in seconds and be far more effective at assessing 
the situation and administering aid although you know the chances of 
needing aid after a fall are next to nil and less than that from several 
hundred feet.

There are many times you have to unhook one hook, move it, and then do 
the same for the other. It's very easy to make a mistake if you are 
tired, and/or in a hurry to finish.

Often it means moving the fall arrest gear as well and that means there 
are many chances for mistakes.

We don't know from the description whether they had been wearing 
harnesses or not. It's likely the investigation can easily show if the 
harness of the victim was being worn at the time of the fall.
I've finally reached the end of climbing, much as I enjoy it.  I never 
hooked up the fall arrest while climbing except when moving around 
places where I had to disconnect both Gorilla hooks.

Normally I climbed using a pair of gorilla hooks so at least one was 
always attached. As I said, when going around the guy plates which were 
often 18" or more, I'd leave the gorilla hooks attached and reach as 
high as possible to hook up the fall arrest, then disconnect the gorilla 
gooks and climb around the plate, hooking the first gorilla hook as soon 
as possible. Often It can be verry difficult to leave one hook on below 
the plate and reach up to hook the other above the plate.  Usually the 
gorilla hooks were as short as possible, yet long enough to aid a rapid 
climb.

I don't know how others did it, but it was allowable for us as long as 
at least one hook remained secure and was attached to the back of the 
harness.  You never want to fall with the support attached to the front 
of your harness.  Even a relatively short hall can break your neck or 
back.  That's why fall arrest gear always attaches in back between and 
below the shoulder blades.  Yes it is likely to hurt (maybe a lot), but 
it's unlikely to be fatal.

73

Roger (K8RI)

>
> Is this what happens when free climbing?
>
> http://www.wral.com/man-dies-after-fall-from-cell-tower-near-coats/12768142/
>
> I am strapped on with a loop and a fall arrestor while climbing up, working
> and when climbing down
>
>
>
> Mark N1UK
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