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tower.txt
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1990-10-14
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Antenna Raising Incident or, we should all learn to take that
vacation we so well deserve...................................
To: The Bureau of "Waddamagonnadonow?:"
I'm writing in response to your request for additional
information for Block Number 3 of the Accident Reporting Form. I
put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in
your letter I should explain more fully, and I trust the
following details 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 lbs
of tools and 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 fortunately was attached
to the gin pole at the top of the tower.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the
tower and loaded the tools and materials into the barrel; I went
back to the ground and untied the rope holding it tightly to
insure a slow descent of the 300 lbs of tools. You will note in
Block Number 11 of the Accident Reporting Form, I weigh only 155
lbs.
Due to my surprise at 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 comming 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 was able to hold on to the rope in spite of the pain. 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 weighed approximately 20 lbs. I
refer you again to Block Number 11. 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 on my
legs and lower body.
The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell on to the pile of tools, and fortunately
only three vertebrae were cracked. I'm sorry to report, however,
that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand, and
watching the barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of
mind. I let go of the rope.
Sincerely and shaken,
Dunlego Megone