Standing On Toothpicks Atop Toothpicks

[dr_phil_physics]

Climbing The Ziggurat or There Is Video Of Everything

This via The Register in the U.K..

Those of who you who get a bit wobbly at the top of a stepladder are strongly advised to look away now, because here's a helmetcam vid of just how you get to work when your office is at the top of a 1,768ft TV mast:

What I find amazing is that every time you leave one section, the hand- and footholds become less and less substantial looking.

Then you have to do the work.

Then you have to climb down.

(grin)

Dr. Phil

Comments

[aloysius7.livejournal.com]

Not. A. Prayer. I do NOT like heights (although it doesn't bother me to fly, even in small planes.)

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Yeah, not going to be a job that I'm qualified for. (Thank goodness!)

Still, it's amazing. Saw a piece on History or Nat Geo or something about how they haul a crane up to the top in order to add or change out major pieces. Adds all sorts of lateral stresses and it could snap the top off and they'd all fall. Lovely. "And what did you do at work today?" "Oh I screwed up the lift so when the wind blew I killed five of my co-workers. But we've got a new team coming in on Monday."

Dr. Phil

[albogdan.livejournal.com]

It was exhausting just watching.

55 miles! That's a nice view.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, where's the nice comfy elevator up to this scenic overlook?

Dr. Phil

[albogdan.livejournal.com]

Where's our space elevator? Now that would be a great view.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

I ain't climbin' no space elevator!

Dr. Phil

[(Anonymous)]

I couldn't watch that without getting squeemish. Yikes! And that little square he gets to stand on at the top? No way in hell.

Do you suppose they flip a coin to see who gets to go up first?

-mattw

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

No doubt they run for it and try to beat the other guy to be the first one up -- the second guy has to dodge the tool belt hanging down from the first guy's strap. (grin)

And I watched it with the sound off, so I don't know if that makes it better or worse, but the Then It Gets Worse aspect of the narrowing top of the tower is definitely out there.

Dr. Phil

[(Anonymous)]

Dr. Phil,

I was reading some comments on this video when I first saw it about two weeks ago or so, and what was worth noting is that a fellow tower technician said this team could easily be completely "roped off" at all times, according to OHSA standards. Do you know anything of these safety precautions and maybe why these technicians don't use them?

-AlexP

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Dunno. I haven't looked at the details -- is this antenna even in the U.S.? If not, then it's not subject to OSHA rules. If it is, then there's lots of workers who (a) don't follow all the rules or apply the standards and (b) many workplace videos end up highlighting all sorts of casual disregard for all the technical rules.

Dr. Phil