John Beanland, G3BVU writes on the PART List:
W1GFF has drawn our attention to a fatal accident [on October 12, 2011] on the “WHDH” tower in Newton. Fatal accidents on a tower should NEVER happen provided a simple set of safety rule is followed 100%.
- Use a “climbing belt” and two (2) straps. If you have only one (1) strap, DON’T CLIMB.
- Carefully examine the belt and both straps before putting them on, REJECT IF DAMAGED.
- When only a few feet off of the ground, place one strap around the tower and throw your weight on it. NO HOLDING THE TOWER. If something breaks you will suffer only a bruise or two as you hit the ground.
- Repeat the test with the second strap.
- With two (2) straps there are four (4) ends.
- ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE STRAP AROUND THE TOWER AND THREE (3) ENDS CONNECTED TO YOUR BELT.
- When you come to a set of guys to prevent you climbing further, pass one strap around the tower on the other side of the guys and secure to your belt before releasing one end of the strap that is preventing further progress up/down the tower.
- BASICALLY YOU ARE ALWAYS SECURED TO THE TOWER BY YOUR BELT AND ONE STRAP.
Safe climbing.
de G3BVU
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W1GFF wrote:
Boston news outlets are reporting that a tower worker fell 1,000 feet to his death today from the American Radio Systems Tower next to Rt 128 in Newton. The tower was formerly known as the WHDH-TV Channel 5 tower…but after Ch 5 lost their license in the 70’s it became known as FM-128 and was the home to a number of FM radio stations and two-way customers. The tower is owned by American Tower Systems.