[TowerTalk] How to Clip on with a Fall Arrest Lanyard

[K9MA]

I normally use double fall arrest lanyards from the dorsal ring, one of 
which is always attached to the tower. However, if I'm going to be 
making multiple trips, I'll install the lifeline. Installing it, of 
course, requires one trip with the double lanyards. The lifeline 
attaches to something solid near the top of the tower, like a shackle 
through a corner of the top plate. I tie down the bottom end just to 
keep some tension on it so the rope grab doesn't pull it up when I 
climb. I attach the front D ring of my harness to the rope grab with a 
short fall arrest lanyard. Once the lifeline is in place, I can dispense 
with the fall arrest lanyards, until it's time to take it down. The rope 
grab will follow me up the tower, but I usually push it ahead to reduce 
the fall distance. I have to manually lower it every step or two, but 
that's still easier and faster than the gorilla hooks on the double 
lanyards. The rope grab is also a lot lighter than the lanyards and 
gorilla hooks.

If I'm just making one or two trips up the tower for a small job, of 
course, it's not worth the trouble of putting up the lifeline. It's 
polypropylene, so it can't be left up permanently. Even though 
polypropylene isn't all that strong, it is so big that it's rated for 
6,000 pounds.

If I'm going to be working above the end of the lifeline, like standing 
on the top plate, I have to use the double fall arrest lanyards.

By "fall arrest lanyard", I mean one designed to break a fall sort of 
gently, with stitching that breaks, or some other mechanism. I haven't 
tried it, but I suspect such an arrested fall is likely to be painful. 
But not as painful as hitting the ground.


Lifeline 
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HJFTHRU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1>

Rope Grab 
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CPMZB7I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1>

73,
Scott K9MA



On 9/6/2020 8:47 PM, Kim Elmore wrote:
> Would you mind being a bit more detailed about this? What it is, 
> exactly, and how you manage it? I think I know, but I want to be 
> certain. Also, if there's a permanently-installed a safety line on a 
> tower, what's required to properly use it?
>
> Kim N5OP
>
> On 9/6/2020 4:17 PM, K9MA wrote:
>> I’ve been using a 5/8 inch lifeline and a rope grab. It takes one 
>> trip with the gorilla hooks to put it up, and another to take it 
>> down, but all the other trips are much easier.
>>
>> 73,
>> Scott K9MA
>>
>> ----------
>>
>> Scott Ellington
>>
>>   --- via iPad
>>
>>> On Sep 6, 2020, at 12:05 PM, Dick Green WC1M <wc1m73 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> 4. All this further convinces me that a safety cable is the best way 
>>> to climb a tower. I plan to install one on my Rohn 55 tower provided 
>>> I can find one with enough clearance to pass through the three TIC 
>>> rings on my tower.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us