[TowerTalk] Learning from tragedies

[Patrick Greenlee]

Ive been up a few towers and to the masthead of some sailboats (at least 
the towers don't rock and roll like a sailboat.)  I heard the old timers 
say, "one hand for the ship and one hand for yourself." A very good rule 
is to have a harness with two lanyards, one of which is fastened to a 
secure part of what you are climbing  AT ALL TIMES.

Always hook up lanyard #2 before unfastening lanyard #1 and vice versa. 
At least one lanyard must be attached at all times,  This is sometimes 
inconvenient, may slow progress, may attract "smart" comments from the 
peanut gallery, but it can save your life.

In some situations and configurations carabiners can be upset and 
detached  by accident.  (I can demo but a description could take volumes 
so just trust me, they can unhook in some situations or configurations.) 
Use the carabiner-like "hooks" with the manual safety that you have to 
depress to be able to open the hook. Less convenient but will keep you 
safe.  You want convenience and don't mind dying to prove it, ignore 
suggestions such as above.

Patrick        NJ5G


On 10/19/2018 11:52 AM, Art Roberts wrote:
> Very interesting and TRUE comments. ALL hams should have this imprinted on their brain.
> Years ago, I did some tower work for our repeater club, as well the Fire Department radio shop I worked for. Most of the work was between 600 feet and 1450 feet. Needless to say, staying belted was mandatory. What did help was the elevator inside the tower. BUT, once you left the safety of that device, you were in the open framework.
> As a former EMT, stay safe and stay secure!!
> 73,
> Art
> W1AER
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Keith Dutson
> Sent: October 19, 2018 10:01 AM
> To: Tower Talk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Learning from tragedies
>
> I learned in the local citizen's fire academy that people who jump from the third floor of a hotel usually survive, while people above that usually perish.  This is a good thing to remember when staying in a hotel, as most high-rise hotels reserve one or two rooms on lower floors for firemen who demand a lower floor.
>
> Another statistic indicates falling from a height of 50 feet is the dividing line between life and death.  So, I always think, "If I climb to 50 feet and fall, I will not die, but will likely be maimed for life." <grin>
>
> Bottom line: ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED 100 PERCENT OF TIME SPENT CLIMBING A TOWER
>
> I usually walk around the tower base and guy wire anchors looking for any signs of failure before starting a climb.
>
> I am now thinking about purchasing a fall-arrest lanyard to use during a climb.  This should help prevent serious injury in case of a climbing error.
>
> 73, Keith NM5G
> Age 76, and still climbing...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Steve Lott
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 6:25 AM
> To: jcjacobsen at q.com
> Cc: k4kyv at hotmail.com; towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Learning from tragedies
>
> Ask any Trauma Doctor
> They will tell you the stats on Falls
> "Above 40 feet is 50% Fatal"
>
> Always stay attached
> Climb and Descend with precision
>
> Steve
> KG5VK
>
> http://www.KG5VK.com
> My Ham Radio Friends
>
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 18, 2018 at 5:57 PM jcjacobsen at q.com <jcjacobsen at q.com> wrote:
>
>> Don, K4KYV, was reminiscing about putting a tower up by himself years ago.
>> At one point he said:
>>
>> "You will likely be just as dead falling from 30' as falling from 130'."
>>
>> I have a friend that used to crawl towers in his younger days. He used
>> to say the same thing, but always added: " The only difference is from
> 130'
>> you get just a little longer to enjoy the view".
>>
>> Don't know if that was a fatalist point of view, or just being realistic.
>>
>> 73
>> Jake K9WN
>>
>>
>>
>>
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