[TowerTalk] FW: Here is the insurance report

[maflukey at gmail.com]

Bravo Bill!    I haven't read that one in quite a long time.    Thanks for remembering.   😊

Matt
KM5VI

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Bill Bennett
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 7:22 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Here is the insurance report

I'm writing in response to your request for additional information for block #3 of the Accident Report Form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident.  You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust the following will be sufficient.

I am a Amateur Radio Operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top of my new 80 foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 lbs. of tools and hardware.  Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and materials down by hand, I decided to lower them down in a small barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and materials into the barrel. I climbed down to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly, to insure a slow decent of the 300 lbs of tools and hardware. You will note, in block #11, of my Insurance Plan Profile, I weigh only 155 lbs.

Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.  Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming down; this explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.

Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hang onto the rope in spite of the pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools and hardware struck the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.  Devoid of the weight of the contents, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 lbs. (I refer you to the figure of my weight in block#11). As you might imagine, I began a rapid decent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met the barrel coming up; this accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell on to the pile of tools and hardware, and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked. I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand or move and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope.

Bill K4IBC
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