7 Tower Deaths In 5 Weeks

said by PhoenixDown:

Imagine being the guy who took the photo! I look at that picture and get sick.

said by dvd536:

Probably taken from a helicopter.

said by yock:

No way. The rotor wash would blow those men right off the tower.

said by Linklist:

Ever hear of telephoto lenses?

said by yock:

Just how far away do you think they were to get a shot so well composed as that? On a moving platform no less? Was the photographer leaning out the side of the chopper or did the pilot hover on the tail rotor while the photographer set up his shot?

That show was taken from the tower. I have absolutely no doubt.

said by nklb:

It may be dangerous, but it sure does look like fun once you get up there.

Of course the climb itself isn't fun :-P

And I can only imagine how bad it is in the winter with those cold gusts of wind.

It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea.

said by rahvin112:

Most workers will tell you the safety lashings are a pain in the ass. The restraining cable is less than 6' long (much longer than that and the abrupt deceleration will physically harm you, but having known people who have dropped while wearing the safety cables even a 6' drop can mess your back up really bad) so if you are moving around the structure a lot you are constantly having to move the restraint cable and for a task where you are moving constantly and making minor adjustments most workers simply drop the safety cable.

It's a real hassle to get workers to use the safety gear they are provided, in most cases you have to threaten to terminate them as most think they are invincible. The deaths in the industry are likely for the same reasons. It's not that the workers aren't being provided the safety gear, instructed to use it and taught the consequences of not using it, it's that they simply don't like the inconvenience and don't think they will fall. How do you change human nature? This has really nothing to do with any company in particular, it's endemic in the entire work area regardless of the high work being performed, whether it's tieing steel, welding, forming, concrete pouring, communication work or any other type of construction work. OSHA has worked for 30 years to educate people and enforce rules that make the companies provide the safety gear, but they can't force workers to use it when they aren't being directly supervised.

said by David:

I have a feeling you are spot on, and it's just plain taking a chance. To highlight your point exactly, just because OSHA enforces it doesn't mean they can force the workers to use it when they are not being watched, or too far out of harm's way. Ironically, back in the days of Ranken Tech when you dropped a conduit bender off the 2nd floor and if it hit the ground that's fine, but that still didn't get the student suspended from lab class for a day, and an F for that day's work ethic grade.

Second time, you were talking to the Dean of Employers (I think that's what they called him).

said by MySay:

I constructed, painted, and replaced bulbs on towers for 8 years. It's not that bad... as many people think, always telling me how crazy I was for doing it!

As long as you're moving, you have the harness and security clips on you... but they're not connected (of course, since you're on the move). You can only latch while at a stand-still. Also, you never want to forget your gloves... as you won't make it far. Even with gloves on, the blisters are hell (especially on 1+Kers). Looking down is also alright... (if you got the nerves to do the climbing, the heights isn't a big deal). Look UP... that's the problem. With clouds rolling by, it gives the illusion the tower is falling sideways... a feeling that is still bothersome, after many years of climbing!

Then, you have to worry about obsticles attached to the tower... some which will literally blow a body part off, if it moved infront of (microwave). Some towers, you had to make a running jump onto... as if you were touching the ground while the tower at the same time, it would kill you.

Not a profession for the faint of heart... but, you can't beat the pay! $500+ for an hour or two of work.

NOTE: Referring to a post earlier in the thread... you DO NOT climb in adverse weather. That's just common sense!

BTW, replaced a bulb at 1.2K ft... and tossed it. The bulb bounced on the ground below 3 times, and NEVER busted! I have it in my room, signed and dated w/ the location on it!

said by JRW2:

OSHA has been systematically NEUTERED for OVER 30 years due to employer pressures, and complaints to federal, state and local governments...

Most workers are "instructed" in proper safety and then pressured to forgo safety to speed up "the job", those who refuse to abide by company wishes, usually find themselves without work...

said by rahvin112:

Most workers will tell you the safety lashings are a pain in the ass.

It's not that the workers aren't being provided the safety gear, instructed to use it and taught the consequences of not using it, it's that they simply don't like the inconvenience and don't think they will fall. How do you change human nature?

said by bobjohnson:

As a cable contractor 20' up on a line installing a drop.. im probably not wearing a harness,

said by imtim83:

The ones that fell and died. I can't see how they couldn't have or at least went through a window.

said by LeeWL:

Well, most towers, unlike the one in the picture above (which is on Top of The Empire State Building I beleive) are located in areas where there is not much to fall on immediately below them. Either in a rural setting with plenty of land or at least a fenced lot around them for keeping people away.

said by Transmaster:

they must have cojones as big as watermelons.

said by furlonium:

Hey - you're paid hourly, not by how fast you climb, right?

said by PolarBear03:

Most tower workers AFAIK are paid per climb, so the faster you get it done, the faster you make your money.

said by furlonium:

It'd be a shame to only climb one tower in a day and make $300

said by xpkranger:

(youtube clip)

said by MySay:

I constructed, painted, and replaced bulbs on towers for 8 years. It's not that bad... as many people think, always telling me how crazy I was for doing it!

As long as you're moving, you have the harness and security clips on you... but they're not connected (of course, since you're on the move). You can only latch while at a stand-still. Also, you never want to forget your gloves... as you won't make it far. Even with gloves on, the blisters are hell (especially on 1+Kers). Looking down is also alright... (if you got the nerves to do the climbing, the heights isn't a big deal). Look UP... that's the problem. With clouds rolling by, it gives the illusion the tower is falling sideways... a feeling that is still bothersome, after many years of climbing!

Then, you have to worry about obsticles attached to the tower... some which will literally blow a body part off, if it moved infront of (microwave). Some towers, you had to make a running jump onto... as if you were touching the ground while the tower at the same time, it would kill you.

Not a profession for the faint of heart... but, you can't beat the pay! $500+ for an hour or two of work.

NOTE: Referring to a post earlier in the thread... you DO NOT climb in adverse weather. That's just common sense!

BTW, replaced a bulb at 1.2K ft... and tossed it. The bulb bounced on the ground below 3 times, and NEVER busted! I have it in my room, signed and dated w/ the location on it!