A good quality hardhat or a helmet is a must.
>Should we be wearing rock climbing helmets for tower work?
Dragging anything along that could catch on a bolt or fitting is
dangerous. A small catch could throw off your balance enough to compromise
your grip or footing. Also, if your fall is arrested by the positioning
lanyard, you're facing the high-lateral forces problem again.
One easy method for resting is to attach a spreader to your saddle or hip
rings, then use a hook to tie off to the tower when you want to
rest. Spreaders are not cheap, so a short lanyard may be a better
option. If you use a spreader on your saddle rings and suspend yourself to
work, hook a big carabiner between the hook on your chest ring and the
spreader', else you might find yourself upside down.
>1) Does it make sense to also climb with the positioning lanyard around the
>tower? Obviously, it would be slower to climb with the positioning lanyard
>because it has to be dragged along in spots and has to be unhooked/rehooked
>at each guy station. But the advantage is that I can lean back and rest any
>time. However, would climbing with the positioning lanyard in place actually
>present more risk of injury? Could the positioning lanyard cause injury if
>it catches before the fall-arrest lanyards? If so, then the right procedure
>would be to climb by alternating the two fall-arrest lanyards, then put the
>positioning lanyard around the tower when I want to rest.
You should not use a fall-arrest lanyard for positioning, even resting, as
you mention.
>2) Can a pair of fall-arrest lanyards attached to the back D-ring be used
>for temporary positioning while resting (i.e., by slinging them under the
>arms? If so, then the hip lanyard wouldn't be needed at all while climbing.
Whichever fits your tower members best. For angle towers, bigger is
probably better. There are some side-gate carabiners that open really nice
and wide, and if you have the spare change, the aluminum ones are excellent.
>3) Fall arrest lanyards come with regular gorilla hooks and rebar hooks. Is
>either preferable? It looks like the rebar hook would be easier to hook and
>rehook when climbing.
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