Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:38:08 -0700
From: David Gilbert <xdavid@cis-broadband.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident
No ... he doesn't climb with safety gear. He works on the tower with
safety gear ... i.e., he clips his hooks in only after he has gotten
where he is going. He CLIMBS without safety gear.
Dave AB7E
## Unless you have the safety restraint system installed, IE: the .375 inch
steel
cable that goes from top to bottom of tower, with the turnbuckle and spring
at the
base to keep the safety cable taut....and the correct device to couple it to
you belt
harness, etc, you have no way of climbing up the tower safely. How else are
you
gonna climb the tower ? Some will use TWO lanyards and hook, and unhook
em as they climb up the tower, but that is slow, tedious, and probably just as
dangerous.
## I have two lanyards, the newer types have the locking mech..which is a
pita,, mine requires
a lot of effort to rls the hook. Some of the above cable safety restraint
systems will use spring steel
at the very top of the tower....so if you do fall, the spring steel will
partially cushion the fall.
## Trylon offers another method in lieu of the safety cable for some of
their towers, like the trylon etc.
Consists of a safety rail top to bottom of the tower, spaced out a few inchs
from the tower, using
steel standoffs every few feet. The rail is a 4 sided affair, with a open
slot on the front..facing the climber.
The safety device is mounted to your belt, climbing harness, etc. same idea
as the safety cable. the advantage
of the rail system is no spring and turnbuckle required at the base of the
tower. The rail is fixed, rigid, and wont budge.
## Both schemes work superb. You climb safely to what ever level of the tower
you want, then use your pair of
lanyards to attach yourself to the tower.... before releasing the safety cable
/ safety rail device.
## Ever get stung by a wasp when climbing up around the 70 ft level ? No
fun, no joke either. The problem with
free climbing is a lot of folks will have one hand AND also one foot OFF of
the tower while climbing up + down...
and esp going up. That only leaves one hand and one foot on the tower. Lose
your grip, get woozy from the hot sun,
get stung, cut yourself, etc.... and you can be in big trbl..fast.
## Trylon self support towers and also similar towers that use angle steel
for cross bracing are no fun to climb if it starts
raining out. these kinds of towers use diagonal bracing. I was up mine a
few times..when it started spitting rain out.
Yikes it’s like greased lightning trying to climb down.
## IF WCB catchs you free climbing on any job site, or your employer, you
are toast, poof, gone.
## The .375 inch safety cable is cheap insurance. Its also a pita if tic
rings used. However the safety cable can still be
used, between rings. It can also be used on rotatable towers. In the case of
a rotary tower, the bottom of the safety cable is
terminated above the tower rotor.
Jim VE7RF
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