[TowerTalk] Tower Incidents

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

To me, the cable breaking incident points out a failure in procedure as 
well as the cable.

How many of us would use our fall arrest gear as a temporary rest 
support? I'd hazard a guess and say, none!
"Again, to me" using that cable (a fall arrest gear) equates to using 
our fall arrest gear for a temporary rest support. Yes the cable is for 
fall arrest, not normal support where I'd use the Y support  for a rest 
support.  True, had someone fallen the safety cable would have failed, 
most likely leading to a fatality.
Still the point is someone using safety equipment for regular support, 
where the Y cable is for climbing.

73

Roger (K8RI)

On 6/21/2016 Tuesday 10:05 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:
> Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 07:42:12 -0400
> From: Herbert Schoenbohm <herbert.schoenbohm at gmail.com>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Incidents
>
> I know of an incident in St. Thomas where a fall protection system
> actually failed. My son a Comtrain certified instructor where preparing
> for a 225 foot climb and the owner of the tower, the biggest owner of
> towers across the country, required that any climber must use the fall
> protection system installed on it.  His co-worker was up first at 100
> feet and took a short rest with his weight, about 200 lbs, on the
> cable.  Than bang the cable broke at the fitting at the top and down he
> came. Fortunately a microwave dish at 40 feet broke his fall but he was
> still badly injured with many broken bones when he finally hit the
> ground.  What added insult to injury was the cable came down on top of
> him as well. My son called for help while removing the tangle mess and
> stabilizing the victim.  The co--worker survived after several months in
> the hospital.  Ironically while my son was visiting in the hospital
> there were five lawyers waiting outside to handle the case.  The
> settlement was close to a million dollars. The tower had also been
> inspected by a mainland company only a month before the incident.
> Everybody lawyer-ed up and was litigating against each other before it
> was all over.  But here is a case were the very component designed to
> save a life nearly cy caused the loss of one.
>
> The problem was eventually traced to internal cable corrosion where the
> cable connected at the top of the tower.  Apart from replacing
> everything every 5 years the internal rot on stainless fittings is
> nearly impossible to detect. The hook and unhook with two fall arrest
> cords IMHO the best way to climb. It takes more time but it is safer.
>
> ##  so whats the difference between the safety cable..and any portion
> of a guy wire system ??   Both use EHS guy cable..and both use pre-form
> dead ends. Both use thimbles.  The safety cable setup doesnt require any
> egg insulators, and also uses  .375 inch EHS...but that is about it.
> How do you..rot  SS ??   One huge forged eye bolt, and double nutted at top of tower,
> and a thimble and .375 ehs cable, and a pre-form dead end is about all you need at the
> top of a tower.
>
> Jim  VE7RF
>
>
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


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