Well Al, you were lucky!
As a professional tower person and who was trained to climb by the =
utility company. You made several mistakes.
1. your ladder is supposed to be secured to whatever you are =
climbing by lashing.
2. you always climb with what call 3 point climbing, only one limb =
free at a time. Some companies teach 2 point, but not as safe.
3.Never climb with hands on the steps, you always climb with hands =
on side rails. Steps can break, get loose or get slippery (i.e.. dog =
shit and other things on the grass) from your feet!
4. A person on a tower several years ago fell, I don't remember what =
happened to him. A friend drove up and honked he turned to see who was =
there. While holding on to a cross brace, it broke.
5. I know what it is like. I fell once carrying a person who was =
injured. NOT MUCH FUN
good luck
Joe Clement W6MR
J & J ANTENNA SERVICE
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Al Williams" <alwilliams@olywa.net>
To: <Towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 7:49 PM
Subject: [Towertalk] falling from my tower
> Yesterday I fell from my tower! Well, not really--I fell from my 6'
> stepladder
> that was leaning against the tilt fixture. I had finished looping the =
tilt
> winch cable through the pulleys and was descending at the 2nd or 3rd =
step
> from the ground. All of sudden I was falling backwards and hit the
> ground, first with my feet, then my tailbone, then my back, and then
> my head (which bounced back up a bit).
>=20
> I don't climb towers so am not at all an authority so why am I posting =
this
> to all tower talkians including many experienced and professional =
tower
> climbers? Read on.
>=20
> First, I do not have a macho personality and I always have been very
> cautious and careful whether hiking, using ladders, and tools, etc.
> The stepladder was firmly planted and it or I did not slip. =
Furthermore,
> I had made it a practice to have both hands holding the cross braces
> of the tilt fixture before moving my feet up or down.
>=20
> But an unexpected event occurred. My right boot caught on the
> ladder rung. At the same time I must have had one or both hands
> off the cross braces (I wasn't carrying anything--maybe one hand
> was free and the other hand got pulled off, I don't know).
>=20
> Here is why I am posting this accident. I was finished with the
> off-ground part of the task and what could happen so close to
> the ground? I must have deviated from my safety carefulness
> long enough for the unexpected event to occur.
>=20
> Fortunately, my sore tailbone and lower back has almost
> completely recovered.
>=20
> Forever stay cautious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Thanks
> k7puc
>=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>=20
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