ksf@security.UUCP (Kieth S. Fung) (11/04/83)
This article was given to me by a friend, who got it from a guy at work,
who is a ham oerator.
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POOR PLANNING !!! ( the following was taken from the MOBILE FLUTTER, May 83 )
From western Carolina ARS to Birmingham ARC to Mobile ARC, an article
entitled "ANTENNA RAISING ACCIDENT" ( author unknown ) is called to our
attention by WD40KY:
One HAM's letter to his insurance company:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information
for block number three of the accident reporting form. I put "poor planning"
as the cause of my accident. Your said in your letter that I should explain
more fullly and I trust that the following detail will be sufficient.
I am an amateur operator and on the day of the accident, I was working
alone on the top section of my new 80 foot tower. When I 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 in a small barrel by using a pully, which
fortunely was attatched to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing a
rope at ground level, I went to thr 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 insure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools. You
will notice in block number eleven of the accident insurance reporting form,
that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise 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 vacinity of the 40 foot level I met the barrel
coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collar bone, Slowed
up slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the digits 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 onto the rope in spite
of my 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 now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my
weight in block number eleven.
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 so that when I fell into the pile of tools, fortunately only three
vertabrae 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.
I let go of the rope.
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copied by Keith Fung
Mitre
Bedford, Mass.