Ho, Lee, Crap....

[sky's the limit]

Not exactly aviation - unless he falls....

Wait until after the cartoon opening, then it starts. Jesus.

stl

http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player.swf ... %26embed=1

[hydro]

[burhead1]

I like hights and climbing,But WOW hope that weather front was on its way out

[North Shore]

That helmet camera is making me seasick! Enough for me..

[Vickers vanguard]

these guys have a lot of guts to do that........how the hell can their employers get any kind of affordable insurance for that line of work ? and why a helicopter is not being used to get them on top ?

[sky's the limit]

these guys have a lot of guts to do that........how the hell can their employers get any kind of affordable insurance for that line of work ? and why a helicopter is not being used to get them on top ?

Exactly the question my wife asked me... "Why aren't you guys dropping them off???" As much time as I spent climbing, and as much time I spend hanging out the door of the helicopter, I cannot imagine doing that. How does the WCB wherever that took place allow it?

stl

[shitdisturber]

"If a storm rolls in, there's no quick way down." Actually there is, but you only get to use it once!

[ahramin]

And now there's only 60 feet to the top.

I've never had a problem with heights, but that video scared me from just looking at it.

[albertdesalvo]

How does the WCB wherever that took place allow it?

I wondered about this too, so I googled it. The video is available on many sites and has stirred up a bit of a shitstorm; the "comments" sections on the various sites are pretty busy. On one site a lineman posted the relevant legislation, and here it is:

OSHA 1910.269

Fall arrest equipment, work positioning equipment, or travel restricting equipment shall be used by employees working at elevated locations more than 4 feet (1.2 m) above the ground on poles, towers, or similar structures if other fall protection has not been provided. Fall protection equipment is not required to be used by a qualified employee climbing or changing location on poles, towers, or similar structures, unless conditions, such as, but not limited to, ice, high winds, the design of the structure (for example, no provision for holding on with hands), or the presence of contaminants on the structure, could cause the employee to lose his or her grip or footing.

So there you have it, climbing without attachment is legal.

Awesome video, took me two tries to get through it. I'm gonna capture it and show it on the big screen for my guests. Anyone have some spare barf bags?

[sky's the limit]

Thanks Albert.

That explains a lot. I am still surprised at my reaction watching that video... It's quite something, all things considered.

shitdisturber, that's a good one! I'd be tempted to wear one of those slim BASE jumping chutes, if you did bail just push hard and take what you get from there.

stl

[albertdesalvo]

It seems the site that published the video was not pleased with the controversy and took it down. Can't say as I blame them, they should be ashamed of their stupid cartoon intro. First they call it a "gided" tower, then it's a "guided" tower. Now, this site's slogan is "we know broadcasting" and they don't know it's a guyed tower?

[sky's the limit]

Link from LiveLeak still works for me. I can see how it would ruffle some feathers.

stl

[looproll]

very cool video

wish the guy looked around for us at the top though

[albertdesalvo]

Yeah, the links around the net work, but the originators of the video took it down:

Jim Coleman, Chairman of the National Association of Tower Erectors viewed the video this morning on YouTube and was troubled by the comments concerning free climbing. He was also concerned that it was entitled as a tutorial. "I'm unaware of any guidance by OSHA that allows for free climbing as an acceptable method of accessing elevated work," Coleman said . . . The man that shot it using a helmet camera, and who approved the edited version, said "he was getting calls from colleagues telling him that they were concerned about what the video showed," according to [The Online Engineer site] owner, Russ Brown. It was removed due to Brown's concern for his friend who provided the climbing footage.

Apparently they are concerned that it gives the impression free climbing to 1700+ feet is common and acceptable in the industry. Most contractors' SOPs would specify tied off at all times, but as we know in this forum, SOPs are not always followed. And you have to admit, it would be very hard to climb this particular tower that way. Why they're allowed to build them without fall arrestors is beyond me.

Watching it was particularly heart stopping for me, because I've had a rung break while climbing in a manhole, and when when he was on the top section I was thinking, "sure hope the welder wasn't hung over the day he put this together".

[The Old Fogducker]

One of my acquaintances is a certified tower rigger for broadcast work and has a great oversupply of guts in my opinion.

He does my ham radio tower work at 80 feet and watching him do his work is quite something. To us who seize up with fear of heights at 6 feet above roof height, it may seem foolhardy, but those guys are well aware of their SOPs and nothing ... nothing ... is left to chance nor is this fella chintzy on equipment.

Further, he is in really great shape, as climbing is very demanding on the body ... needless to say.

The Old (call the fire dept and get me down) Fogducker

[ahramin]

The fact is there are very few people who can free climb like that safely.

Which doesn't change the fact that those people really can free climb safely, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

Most people think I'm nuts when I climb a boat mast, and I found that guy nuts. Does 2 degrees of nuttiness count for anything ?

[Darkwing Duck]

Why they're allowed to build them without fall arrestors is beyond me.

I thought the same thing too. If and when you have to access the top there should be provisions for a tie off every few feet. And would not a back pack be easier for the tools as opposed to the swinging tool bag that could potentially throw you off balance.

I have climbed ladders lots with the "guard" over them. Gives you a false sense of security. But a free climb like that...WOW

[albertdesalvo]

You don't even need multiple tie offs, there are arrestor systems that slide on a rail. The braking device travels up the rail with you as you climb, and if you fall it locks to the rail. Kinda like the way a car seatbelt works. Such a system could easily have been welded to the pole he was climbing. You can see this type of arrestor in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GPWkbLVw04

[North Shore]

Yah, that gear bag swinging away looks a little sketchy to me. You'd think that a backpack would be a better way to go.

Funny thing, heights. No worries zooming about all day at various different altitudes, but the glass floor at the CN Tower, and some of these vids get me a little nervous.

[albertdesalvo]

I suspect that's the purpose of his climbing partner, to keep the tool bag from swinging or getting snagged. I mean, there sure isn't room for both of them up there!

[trampbike]

Maybe a backpack would put is center of gravity too far back while a bag hanging down a rope does not?

[into the blue]

Maybe a backpack would put is center of gravity too far back while a bag hanging down a rope does not?

I showed this video to my father who used to be an avid mountaineer. You guessed it right, it's precisely the reason according to him.

[Stian]

I m praticly born with an harness, And That is the most stupid thing I never saw before ! I worked on towers, the max was 130 m. And trust me at that hight on a small tower with wind you are not confortable.
We have different technics for climb a tower safely! You can use the climbing technics like on this tower where you don t have any safety line. Pres install safety line when you make the tower. or by helecopter. Doing a free climbing is not a fast way to climb!!
We don t do a landing at an airport without clearence because is faster!

In Canada, US, England etc... a diplome exist IRATA. For train people like in the video.

Stian.

[bandaid]

I got a nose bleed watching that.

[jet a1]

came across this after having my interests peaked by the climbing vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68fJP35F ... re=related