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So What If It's A Little Rusty?

Members of the ISP-Wireless list grapple with the undeniable fact that some of the towers currently used for wireless services are rusty or even completely unsafe.

[September 11, 2001]

On the ISP-Wireless list in August, PT inquired,

"I just got back from the summit of a tower that the guys who work for me won't climb. It's an 80-foot self-supporting tower; the last section is quite narrow and sways when you are on it. I'm trying to verify the safety factor: the tower is 26 years old, and the bolts are quite rusty. Any advice on how to gauge how safe it is?"

A number of respondents advised caution:

[TI offered] "I don't think anyone can give you any advice other than to stay off that tower; anything else would make them liable if you were injured or worse. If the guys that work for you won't climb it, try some other tower climbing companies. Hire outside contractors with experience and their own insurance to climb. As ISPs, we can't afford lawsuits: I would never have an employee climb a tower."

[AG agreed] "Why risk it? If the guys that don't want to climb the tower are pros and have good reasons (and a good track record) not to, don't do it yourself."

[JS asked] "Do you have access to maintenance records? Do not climb until you know everything about the tower: it is not the age so much as the condition and integrity of the tower. The fall will not kill you; the sudden stop will."

Others offered a quick solution to the problem:

[BM advised] "Rent a boom truck (light crane) with operator that also has a manbasket to hang below. Usually we rent one of these for about $600 a day, with half day rates available. It's not much money when you consider the risks—and a tower company is probably going to charge you at least that to climb it."

[MK added] "Trade service with the local crane operator. Once you've got them on, if you have trouble with the tower, guess who will be right there to give you a lift up! The steel could be razor thin in places, and you might not know it until it's too late. Find that crane operator, get some customers on, and replace the tower once you get some money rolling in."

But PT didn't like the crane idea:

"I checked into this; in my area it's $900 a day. I don't like it as a solution since it means I need a piece of equipment anytime something goes wrong."

DL was the only one to suggest that the climb shouldn't be a problem:

"I'm not an expert climber: I have been climbing for two years and have an old tower that I climb regularly. It has rusty bolts and rusty, loose guy wires: it's 60 feet on top of a five-story building. I'd say to inspect the cross members and the vertical pipes. If you find them in good condition, not deeply rusted, I would go ahead and climb."

Others disagreed, to say the least:

[MS exclaimed] "You are crazy! Please have that tower inspected: the inside could very well be just as rusty as those bolts. It's not worth it."

[RB agreed] "Tower structures are devices that seem to be very misunderstood. They can be likened to a loaded .44 magnum; won't hurt or kill you unless you don't know how to work with the device. Leave this to a company that is knowledgeable and fully insured."

—End