I don't know if you've see this video but what do you do if you get into a lightning storm while changing a light bulb out on a tower with no parachute. I'm not sure if this guy or his buddy had a chute on but this is insane, just when you think it's crazy, watch it to the end. You couldn't pay me enough unless I could have a parachute and I was 80 lbs lighter and in peek shape. Naaaa, I still wouldn't do it, I don't have the kahunas to do that.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFVjtJaU1Qc

FWIW I've never climbed the outside of any artificial structure higher than a water tower, but plenty of cliff faces - you can get used to it. I agree though, it takes a special soul to go up to the top of those towers for a living.

I worked for a technical contract company years ago and was working on radios in fedex trucks. I was asked if I could PM the transmitter, then found out the tower was on top of a 40+ tall building downtown. I let them fry the guy in from TN or TX (I forget which) to do it, it was wawwwy up there.

The first time he looked down after getting outside it gave me the creeps, but after that not anymore. I guess if you do it all the time it's just another walk in the park.

Well, I don't think much of how they were tying themselves off.
Most of the time he was not tied at all and a lot of the times he did hook his lanyard to something it wouldn't have done anything because of where he placed his hook.
We used to require dual lanyards and 100% tied off.

I will also say that would have been a very long climb for me, I used to get tired after a couple hundred feet.

Those guys earn their pay, just watching that gave me the willies

gulp.

I was afraid of heights for a long time. Then I decided to figure out why and started to meditate on it.

-When I was roped into a climbing harness up on a shear face, I was not afraid.

-When I was rappelling out of helicopters, I was not afraid.

-When I stood in a high rise office and looked out the window, I was not afraid.

BUT---
When I stand on a high raise balcony and look over the railing, I am afraid.
When I stand on the top of a ladder, I am afraid.
When I stand on a roof or cliff and look over, I am afraid.

I realized that I do not have a fear of height or even a fear of falling. I HAVE A FEAR OF JUMPING. Once I realized that, now I find myself in those situations I tell myself, "Don't jump" and I am not afraid anymore.

I must agree that clipping into an open rung doesn't seem like adequate protection. It is simply a very different kind of operation than rock climbing. 1700 plus feet of elevation is also a bit more elevation gain that many technical climbs.

I've climbed ham radio towers to install/work on antennas, but nothing over 100'. But that video got me sweaty watching him.

The narrator did say they don't bother with harness because that would made the climb too slow.

Okay everyone, I have been there and I have done that.

I still supervise numerous crews that still do that every day.

There were SOOOOOOO MMMMMAAAANNNNYYYYY OSHA violations and flat stupid things going on on that video, that we use it as a "How Not to Climb a Tower" training video. (BTW, that video is a little older than you think.)

Free Climbing is illegal! Free Climbing is STUPID! The last fellow I caught free climbing is still looking for a job, and will be for some time to come.


Please stay away from any and all towers if you are not properly trained, equipped and set with private rescue assets in place. Guys, the Fire Department is not trained for this, the tower crews have to rescue their own in almost every case.

Also, if you should accidentally come across an AM tower, it will probably kill you the instant you touch it. Unless of course you knew to contact the station to stop the transmitter, and de-tune the antenna.


BTW, I have been on six fatality sites (after the fact) since November 2, 2009, and participated in removing one dead body from a tower. I have also had to go with a notification team more than once since 01/01/2010.

Next time you switch on the cell phone or the car radio, remember the folks that made it happen.


OK, rant over and now back to you regularly scheduled program.......

I saw that video a few days ago on Facebook. Ironically I was out at one of our customer's tower sites the very next day (568' FM antenna). We just work in the little building at the bottom of those towers though.

I've watched guys climb in the 700+' range and shot the bull with them when they were done. I've worked on the rooftops of a lot of buildings and had to climb a few small towers.

I'd have to say one of our most dangerous things in my line of work is working inside an elevator shaft, on top of the elevator car. A lot of buildings with fire alarm systems have smoke or heat detectors in the top of the hoistway that require periodic testing and maintenance.

You can always tell the old-school guys from the new guys in an elevator shaft. The new guys duck when the car gets near the top. And all the old-school guys whip out a Sharpie and sign the ceiling.

I don’t have a fear of jumping, as I have no desire to do so. However, a fear of slipping under the conditions you stated gives me the willies. Despite telling myself I will not slip, there remains that nagging voice in the back of my mind reminding me it is possible since it is not something you have total control over.

Pete