[ARRL-OK] The Tower Accident

[D C Macdonald]

Resurrected by John, AD5GT.  It's been around for many
years.  I think it was even in the old C&E quite a few
years back.

73  ---  Mac, K2GKK/5




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			   THE TOWER ACCIDENT
			   ------------------



Dear Ms. Jones
Patsy Insurance Co.
Wata'ohoh, HI 96999-0101


I am writing in response to your request for additional
information for  Block 3 of the Accident Report Form (ARF) I
submitted to you on April 1, 1997.  I put "poor planning" as
the cause for the accident.  You said in your letter that I
should explain more fully. I trust the following detail will 
be sufficient.

I am an Amateur Radio operator and on the day of the
accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new
80 foot tower.  When I had completed my work, I discovered
that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower,
brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware.
Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and material down
by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel
by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the
gin pole at the top of the tower.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went back to the top of
the tower and loaded the tools and material into the barrel.
Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding
it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of
tools.

You will note in Block 11 of the Accident Report Form that
I weigh only 155 pounds.  Due to my suprise of being jerked
off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and
forgot to let go of the rope.

Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed
up the side of the tower.  In the vicinity of the 40 foot
level, I met the barrel coming down.  This explains my
fractured skull and broken collarbone.  Slowed only slightly,
I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers
of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.
Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind
and in spite of my pain, I was able to hold on to the rope.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools
hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.  Devoid
of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approxi-
mately 20 pounds.  I refer you again to my weight, shown in
Block 11 of my submission.

As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side
of the tower.  In the vicinity of the 40 foot level, I met
the barrel coming up.  This accounts for the two fractured
ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately,
only 3 vertebrae were cracked.  I am sorry to report, however,
that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand
and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost 
my presence of mind and let go of the rope . . . . .

Sincerely,


Andy Clark, WA4PRF
TIARA (Tokyo International Radio Association)


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