[TowerTalk] Learning from tragedies

Sat Oct 20 20:39:21 EDT 2018

John,

Been reading this thread with sadness and wonder.      I have tested PPL ( preform line products )   5/16” , ¼” and  3/16 “   Rohn  EHS strand. And every test the  EHS stretched and failed  before

The PLP grip  failed,   only in one test where I used a  3/8 dia. Rod at the  radius in the PPL and not the recommended  Thimble Dia  did the PPL  stands start to stretch and  fracture .

As for  Shackles when first  reported  as a failure  either  screw in or  through shoulder bolt with threaded end .  I have personally used in tower erections  and also  in securing heavy equipment  for crane   and Helicopter lifts  With  steel cable, chain  hooks, and Kevlar straps.    In MPO there safety ratings are at a factor  2X .

So  the court is OUT  in determining it’s failure ???

Wayne  W3EA

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

________________________________
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of john at kk9a.com <john at kk9a.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2018 6:49:18 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Learning from tragedies

The thread was about Ken Mitchell Waddell's accident. The whole 70 ft tower
collapsed with him fastened to the top. There was no PPE failure, apparently
a guy cable shackle broke.

John KK9A

From:   Patrick Greenlee NJ5G

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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