On May 14, 2006, Amateur Radio lost one of its best. Ron
Spears, W7IX, of Keno, Oregon, was killed in a tragic antenna
tower accident. He was 44. He was in the process of
taking down a 40M 4-element beam from atop a 165 ft.
tower. Ron was an expert DXer and Morse operator. He
also was an experienced tower man and was on the crew when the
tower and antenna were first erected at the "world
class" DX station of the late Ray Balch, K6VX, SK, about 15
years ago.
The station is one mile from my home, and I used to look at
the tower out my living room window. I was not
present when the accident occurred, but have visited the site
three times since. I am not a
professional engineer or accident investigator. It
appears that a 1/2 inch rope was being used to support
the 260 lb. beam, over a pulley/gin pole, and was
belayed/anchored to a large tree. Apparently, the
rope separated about half-way between the pulley and the ground causing
the beam to fall, striking one or more guy cables, causing
the 18x18x18 tower to collapse.
This tragedy has deeply affected many. It should also
serve to remind us that SAFETY FIRST
is still the best motto.
As radio amateurs, tower work is not the only risk factor.
Working with higher voltages (even 110 v.a.c. can be lethal) is
cause for constant vigilance. Emcomm operators on field
assignments are at an increased risk. Vehicle accidents,
injuries from direct hazards such as fire and floods, falling
debris, tripping over some
small object or even stepping on a nail, can render you out of
commission for weeks.
Most of us know the proper
safety precautions...but we can get careless. Again, I am
NOT a professional safety engineer, but as an attempt to
promote safety, and maybe save lives, below are a few
safety tips...especially relative to tower work.
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TOWER and
EMCOMM SAFETY:
1. Have a
plan for every project.
2. Do not hesitate to
ask for help and/or advice.
3. Know your
own limitations!
4. Consider hiring
a professional tower installer to do the
job...especially for larger installations.
5. Have an
adequate crew for every job. No less...and
no more than is necessary. If you must have a party...do
it afterwards. Onlookers are a hazard!
6. Make sure all
helpers know their job assignment...and understand
the plan.
7. Have all tools
and other equipment ready and handy.
8. Always
be sure that the working load rating is well above (a minimum of
3 X the actual weight being lifted or
supported is not unreasonable). Make sure that
your climbing harness and all ropes
are in "like new" condition and undamaged.
THE SLIGHTEST ABRASION OR "NICK" IN A ROPE CAN
CAUSE FAILURE! If you don't know how to properly
rig ropes and cables...don't even try! Hire a
professional antenna/tower installer instead. Use
only locking carabineers. (Or use two
non-locking 'biners reversed.) NEVER
use hardware store chain or rope clips. Use of a
second safety line or belay is highly recommended!
9. Always wear sturdy
boots. This also applies to all field assignments.
Do you keep a pair of old boots shoes in your vehicle...just
in case? (I once saw a person show up on a SAR call
out wearing shorts and flip-flops!) Appropriate
protective footwear, clothing, gloves, goggles, a respirator,
a dust mask, or a bandana is a must at fires, floods,
earthquakes...and just about every other disaster.
10. Everyone who climbs a tower
ought to always wear an approved climbing helmet
(with chin strap). All ground crew members ALWAYS
wear an OSHA approved construction hard hat.
NO EXCEPTIONS! A falling 3/8" bolt
can kill! Instruct the ground crew: "Don't
be looking up." A hard hat won't
do much good if something falls and lands in your face.
If you must observe stay well out from under the tower
area and be sure to wear proper eye and/or face
protection! Keep children and pets out of the work area
and use low power HT's for crew comm. (If you plan on
wearing a helmet on emergency or disaster assignments,
try to avoid standard fire dept. colors (white=chief,
red=engineer, yellow=fire fighter, etc.) Check
your local supplier or search on the Internet for "hard
hats" you will find many choices. I found several vendors
with prices below $5.00. Pretty cheap
life insurance! Why not get a group order together (same
style, same color) for your ARCT or other emcomm team?
Some vendors offer custom imprinting. Example: TYPE
I ARCT or COMMUNICATIONS
Here are some sources you can check:
(I prefer the dark blue full brim 6
point suspension style for $8.50)
(This company has some pretty exotic
hard hat designs such as camo, patriotic, "support our
troops", even "cowboy style"!)
WORK AND PLAY
SAFELY ... WHETHER AT HOME OR IN THE FIELD!
