A Bad Day Part Two

"TOWER WORK"


A ham radio operator, in a letter to his insurance company, recently wrote the following:

Dear Sirs:

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block # 3 of your Accident Reporting Form. I submitted "poor planning" as the cause of the accident, and you state in your letter to "explain more fully". I trust the following information will prove sufficient.

I am an amateur radio operator, and on the day of the of the accident was at work on the top section of my 100 foot radio tower. After completing the work, I discovered that over the course of many trips up and down the tower, I had brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware.

Rather than carry the now-unneeded tools down by hand, I decided to lower them to the ground using a small barrel and my "gin pole", which was still attached to the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up the tower and filled the barrel. I then went back down to ground level and untied the rope, holding it tightly, to ensure a slow descent of the 300 pound load.

You will notice in Block # 11 that I had reported my weight as 150 pounds. Due to my surprise at being suddenly jerked off the ground at such a rapid rate, I momentarily lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.

Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 50 foot level, I met the swiftly descending barrel. This explains my fractured collar bone. After momentarily slowing, I resumed my rapid ascent, not stopping until my hands were three knuckles deep into the pulley.

Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my composure and managed to hold onto the rope despite the excruciating pain. At about this time, however, the loaded barrel hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now, without the 300 pounds of tools, the barrel only weighed about 15 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in Block # 11. As you might imagine, I began a swift plunge back down the side of the tower.

Once again, at about the 50 foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs, thighs, and lower body.

The barrel encounter slowed me enough to lessen my impact with the pile of tools and hardware, and I was extremely fortunate to escape with only a fractured coccyx and three crushed vertebrae.

I regret to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of tools in excruciating pain, unable to stand as I watched the empty barrel 100 feet above me, that I again let go of the rope.

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