Some jobs are so scary its mindboggling

[jpinard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txdv_oNq81I&feature=player_embedded

I knew transmission line work was challenging, but I thought they had a straightforward climb, and ample safety. This video literally stressed me out while watching.

Is there any reason they can't parachute down? Seems like it would be less dangerous, faster, and would provide an emergency safety option should they lose grip and fall.

[kerzain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txdv_oNq81I&feature=player_embedded

Is there any reason they can't parachute down? Seems like it would be less dangerous, faster, and would provide an emergency safety option should they lose grip and fall.
Dead bodies cost less to clean up than a rescue operation for a hung-up parachutist.

I bet lightning storms are fun up there.

The fisheye lens on that cam is distorting reality too, he's probably not more than 20 feet off the ground.

[jason]

The line that gets me is where they say "using a safety line slows progress, so it's free climbing from here" or something like that. If I'm 1700+ feet in the air, I don't care how slow it makes me, I'd be using a damn safety line.

[Rimbo]

The fisheye lens on that cam is distorting reality too, he's probably not more than 20 feet off the ground.

Hahahhaha...

that's damn scary

[Alan Dunkin]

It'd take you all day to get up using a safety line because of the way the tower/climbing stanchions are built. At which point it's time to go back down.

--- Alan

[AndrewM]

Aren't parachutes pretty heavy? I wouldn't want to have to do all that climbing with a giant parachute on my back, too.

The videos of people doing work on high-power lines from helicopters are also "fun" to watch. Not as high as this radio tower, but with the bonus of insane amounts of electricity flowing right near you.

[jeffd]

Yeah a parachute rig is quite heavy. Also probably not going to help if you fall, for various reasons - it's just going to get tangled up in the tower.

[CharlesC]

I like when he hooks hist giant safety hook on a tiny thin rung. Why even bother?

[jason]

It'd take you all day to get up using a safety line because of the way the tower/climbing stanchions are built. At which point it's time to go back down.

--- Alan

Depends on what you mean by a safety line. At one point in the video, the guy takes a break by putting a hook on the step/hand-hold. Why not simply use that every step of the way? Doesn't seem that hard, or even time consuming.

[Mark Asher]

The best Youtube comment:

"How does he climb with that giant set of balls?"

So true.

[Kalle]

Some minds are easily boggled.

[Tracy Baker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txdv_oNq81I&feature=player_embedded

I knew transmission line work was challenging, but I thought they had a straightforward climb, and ample safety. This video literally stressed me out while watching.

Is there any reason they can't parachute down? Seems like it would be less dangerous, faster, and would provide an emergency safety option should they lose grip and fall.

On big towers like that they take an elevator most of the way up. What you see in this video is the final climb, which isn't incredibly strenuous for someone in good shape and isn't stressful at all for someone with no fear of heights. Two reasons you'll never see me doing this.

For a more dangerous job, I'd vote cropdusting. Those bastards are insane. I about had the top of my car taken off by one when I was in high school as he popped out of a ditch after flying under a power line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ekyNGnl0MA&feature=related

[Tracy Baker]

Depends on what you mean by a safety line. At one point in the video, the guy takes a break by putting a hook on the step/hand-hold. Why not simply use that every step of the way? Doesn't seem that hard, or even time consuming.

Because you have to hold it in your hand, which is one of the few things you need to climb.

[AndrewM]

Why not simply use that every step of the way? Doesn't seem that hard, or even time consuming.

In the video, they said it would take too much time and also be tiring. I imagine there's a tradeoff for time and energy spent on safety. The more time you spend up in the air, the more time you are in danger of slipping, getting hit by lightning, birds, gusts of wind, etc. The more effort you have to expend, the more tired you will become, which will increase the chance of all sorts of accidents.

And as Tracy said, all the time spent clipping and unclipping is also time spent with only one hand on the ladder.

[Talisker]

I wonder what the pay is like for that job.

[stusser]

all the time spent clipping and unclipping is also time spent with only one hand on the ladder.
Yes, but when you do it right you have two lines, so one is always attached at any given time.

[Mark Asher]

I wonder what the pay is like for that job.

I was wondering about that too. I wouldn't be surprised if those guys get six figures. You not only have the possibility of falling, there's lightning strikes too.

[Lunch of Kong]

Why not simply use that every step of the way? Doesn't seem that hard, or even time consuming.

Well, I know enough about not knowing enough to know better than to declare something I'm not familiar with a triviality.

for example: I don't know how much force is required to squeeze the hook to compress its spring to open it enough to clip it into an eyehole. I don't know how cold it is up there or how fatigued finger muscles become after exposure to the elements. Is he wearing gloves? I don't know what kind of gloves they are given, if they are designed to maximize grip over weather-sealing. I don't know how much time they are allowed to be up there, or how much extra time clipping and unclipping after every step would add.

And so on.

So, I'm not gonna say 'hey, that's trivial.'

[Pogo]

"That's not a toolbag. That's his balls."

Kind of pisses me off that I was born with whatever (seemingly common) gene that makes me get anxiety during uncontrolled high height situations.

If I'm in a rollercoaster, I'm fine. If I'm standing at the edge of a cliff, I can't look out onto the world without having something close by that can "ground" my vision and prevent severe vertigo/anxiety.

[Coca Cola Zero]

If you fall 50 feet off an urban roof you're very likely just as dead as if you fall 1700 feet. The difference at extreme heights is all just psychological, really. Plenty of people have jobs that are just as falling-death-dangerous as what these guys are experiencing if you remove the "OMG SO HIGH" psychological factor.

[stusser]

The height part is psychological, but freeclimbing is just insane. You ever get a leg cramp? I got one last week. If that guy got a leg cramp, he would be dead.

[RepoMan]

Wow, nice skybox.

Oh wait, that's the sky?

I was fine with it until he got onto the fully exposed part at the very top. Brrrrr. Also I wonder what the wind sway is like on a tower that thin and that tall.

[Kalle]

If you fall 50 feet off an urban roof you're very likely just as dead as if you fall 1700 feet. The difference at extreme heights is all just psychological, really. Plenty of people have jobs that are just as falling-death-dangerous as what these guys are experiencing if you remove the "OMG SO HIGH" psychological factor.

This.

Atleast these guys are getting a nice view. My dad worked with theatre lighting and the guys who rigged those frequently were up high in the air with little regard for safety rules if it could save them time on the job.

[Zylon]

Some jobs are so scary its mindboggling
Its mindboggling... what?

[Tracy Baker]

I was wondering about that too. I wouldn't be surprised if those guys get six figures. You not only have the possibility of falling, there's lightning strikes too.

From what I've heard the money is decent, but you have to split it with a partner (it takes at least two people to make the climbs), mandatory insurance (plus certifications, other training, and equipment) takes a huge bite out of it, and it's nearly impossible to get steady work so you have to budget wisely to weather the lean months.

[MarchHare]

"That's not a toolbag. That's his balls."

Kind of pisses me off that I was born with whatever (seemingly common) gene that makes me get anxiety during uncontrolled high height situations.

If I'm in a rollercoaster, I'm fine. If I'm standing at the edge of a cliff, I can't look out onto the world without having something close by that can "ground" my vision and prevent severe vertigo/anxiety.

Yeah, I have that too. Staring out of an airplane window at 37,000 feet doesn't bother me at all, but leaning over the railing of my 5th story balcony and looking down makes my knees go weak.

[Talisker]

This guy gets $60K/year (http://www.e-shadow.com/interview-with-a-tower-climber-2/), but that's only for 200-500 foot towers. And this guy says $32K-$50K/year (http://www.e-shadow.com/interview-with-a-tower-climber/).

[jpinard]

If you fall 50 feet off an urban roof you're very likely just as dead as if you fall 1700 feet. The difference at extreme heights is all just psychological, really. Plenty of people have jobs that are just as falling-death-dangerous as what these guys are experiencing if you remove the "OMG SO HIGH" psychological factor.

Well, except it's not just psychological.

1. Working at 1700 ft you have to deal with massive sway
2. Much higher winds.
3. Greater risk of lightning
4. If you get cramps you're not a 2 second climb from the face of planet.
5. No rescue if something goes wrong.
6. Physical stress of working after you've expended most of your energy to get there.
7. No quick access to water... though I bet peeing is fun. What if you suddenly got diarrhea up there?

[Tracy Baker]

This guy gets $60K/year (http://www.e-shadow.com/interview-with-a-tower-climber-2/), but that's only for 200-500 foot towers.

Keep in mind that for those towers you often have to climb the whole thing, while you don't have to do that with the really big ones like the one in the video. "Only" doesn't really apply.

[Pogo]

What if you suddenly got diarrhea up there?

Well... you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Lunch of Kong]

7. No quick access to water... though I bet peeing is fun. What if you suddenly got diarrhea up there?

You'd get the proverbial shit storm.

[Talisker]

Keep in mind that for those towers you often have to climb the whole thing, while you don't have to do that with the really big ones like the one in the video. "Only" doesn't really apply.
And the only difference between a 300 foot fall and a 1700 foot fall is gonna be what, eight seconds?

That you can spend 60 hours a week climbing those things and only make $60k is absurd.

[stusser]

That you can spend 60 hours a week climbing those things and only make $60k is absurd.
Why? It's unskilled labor. The alternative is cleaning the fryolator at burger king for minimum wage. This is why you stay in school, kids.

[Matt Bowyer]

Haven't seen the video, I'm at work. But I spent a summer climbing radio towers in Virginia. If you have to pee while you're at the top of a tower, you bring a bottle up with you. You don't trust the wind to stay put.

Nothing we did had any freeclimbing, though, so I can't imagine how ridiculous this is.

[Charles]

Why? It's unskilled labor. The alternative is cleaning the fryolator at burger king for minimum wage. This is why you stay in school, kids.

Nominated for best post of the week.

[Pogo]

Actually, $60k a year seems rather high for a job like this.

[Kalle]

Why? It's unskilled labor. The alternative is cleaning the fryolator at burger king for minimum wage. This is why you stay in school, kids.

Well, not entirely unskilled. You need to have a very good tolerance for heights and that means most people aren't qualified.

[Pogue Mahone]

Actually, $60k a year seems rather high for a job like this.

Tough crowd. Me, I get vertigo just looking at photographs of the tennis match Andre Agassi and Roger Federer had on top of that building in the Middle East.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z47/pog_mathone/153011390.jpg

Good thing I'm sitting down.

[Pogo]

Well, that being said, the job pays as much as the labor market demands it to pay. If $40k isn't enough to make non-acrophobic people consider the job, then so be it.

[serling]

What if you suddenly got diarrhea up there?

What if you get the urge to herbal?

[fire]

I was glad to see he had a friend climbing up with him. I'd hate to die alone.

Edit: I meant to type: I'd hate to do that alone.

[Rimbo]

Keep in mind that for those towers you often have to climb the whole thing, while you don't have to do that with the really big ones like the one in the video. "Only" doesn't really apply.

Wait, what? In the video, it looked to me like they went all the way up.

[Kalle]

Wait, what? In the video, it looked to me like they went all the way up.

If you had paid attention to the voiceover you'd hear them say that they took an elevator up and only climbed the very last part.

[AndrewM]

Yeah, they "only" have to climb up the last 168 feet.

[Skipper]

I think the safety line quote from the voiceover is a bit misleading. You can clearly see he looks like he is attached to his climbing buddy, or at least attached to something via the line going down. I thought OSHA does indeed require a fall arrest lanyard, but perhaps not a positioning lanyard which is what he was clipping in?

Either way, I'm assuming the first time you went to that job you spent quite a while overcoming the situation, no matter how accustomed those guys seem to have been. I noticed he carefully look at his leading foot each time he moved it up, then back to his hands as they moved up as well. Fascinating video.

[AndrewM]

Doing some searching (http://www.workerscompinsider.com/2010/09/you-think-your.html) around I found this comment on the video:

If free-climbing is allowed by OSHA; why is the other climbers face blurred? He would not want to be identified or have his company ID'd either (that's why).
OSHA does not allow free-climbing EVER on towers. Special PPE has been designed to eliminate the need to free-climb. We have double lanyards with fall arrest to "crab walk" up the tower for example. Free-climbing has been banned since 1994. Sombody has been filling somebody with misinformation.
These climbers are putting themselves and other climbers at risk.

[Rimbo]

If you had paid attention to the voiceover you'd hear them say that they took an elevator up and only climbed the very last part.

Oh... I misread Tracy Baker's comment to mean that they didn't go all the way to the top. I get it now.

Need more sleep.

[Skipper]

Doing some searching (http://www.workerscompinsider.com/2010/09/you-think-your.html) around I found this comment on the video:

That makes a lot more sense to me. On wireless and mobile towers a fall arrest lanyard is required. I've never even seen a tower as high as what these guys were on though. How do they even construct and raise one that high? Amazing to see.

[Alan Dunkin]

More than likely assembled in sections on the ground horizontally, then lifted into place by helo.

As for the climbing part... I did think the comment about OSHA allowing free climbing a little odd, but just passed it off to a rules oddity that these guys could use to get away with. The hook looks like it's attached to a simple safety rig that you wouldn't want to fool around with every few rungs... but whatever.

It's not just fear of heights, it's fear of heights being attached to something on the ground. There's kind of a difference. For instance, flying around in a plane or whatever there are no issues with vertigo or heights generally. But if I'm on top of a building looking down, that can cause issues.

--- Alan

[Pogo]

I noticed he carefully look at his leading foot each time he moved it up, then back to his hands as they moved up as well. Fascinating video.

I assumed he was looking down at his toolbag which was attached by rope, making sure it didn't twist around the pole and get entangled, which would have made going up one more rung very dangerous.

[Rimbo]

It's not that I'm afraid of falling. I'm afraid of landing.

[Skipper]

That would also make sense Pogo. It was just the extreme attention to detail during the climb that I noticed.

[slikster]

The video linked in the OP is already gone.

[ElGuapo]

As I read somewhere about falling from great heights:

"A mouse walks away, a squirrel gets bruised, a man gets broken, a horse splashes."

[Rimbo]

The explanation (http://www.theonlineengineer.org/TheOLEBLOG/?p=551):


I sent out an email this weekend advertising a new video about tower climbing. It was a great video and I wish I could show it to you but the person I got it from expressed some concerns about how it reflected on the tower industry and ask me to take it down. So I did. But not to worry, we have agreed to work on more videos in the near future and I am sure they will be as good or better than the one I had to take down.

Sorry if you feel mislead or cheated but it was the only thing I could do.

I will let you all know when we have more videos on tower climbing, hopefully in the very near future. Thanks for tuning in. Russ

[Pogo]

That would also make sense Pogo. It was just the extreme attention to detail during the climb that I noticed.

Indeed. Either way he was blissfully aware of his own mortality.

[jerri blank]

Is this the same video? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uccjrp5NRYE)

[Martin Guerre]

Yes. How did u find it?? R u psychic??

[Vesper]

Yes. How did u find it?? R u psychic??
Excellent first post. Bravo!

[Talisker]

Yes. How did u find it?? R u psychic??
Dude -- this isn't twitter. You have a keyboard, spell out your words.

[Martin Guerre]

Ok, just trying 2b polite, hoping Jerri isn't Darbyte6's (uploaders) friend, bc looking at his other profile contents... "sexy hot anime girls ecchi" NSFW not safe for humans not safe for sanity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Qmh70lGE4

[Enidigm]

The explanation (http://www.theonlineengineer.org/TheOLEBLOG/?p=551):

IE we checked and discovered how many safety rules we just violated.

[Pogo]

Ok, just trying 2b polite, hoping Jerri isn't Darbyte6's (uploaders) friend, bc looking at his other profile contents... "sexy hot anime girls ecchi" NSFW not safe for humans not safe for sanity don't quote spam

I... I don't know whether to report this or just facepalm or what.

[robsam]

Ok, just trying 2b polite, hoping Jerri isn't Darbyte6's (uploaders) friend, bc looking at his other profile contents... "sexy hot anime girls ecchi" NSFW not safe for humans not safe for sanity when you quote spam the spammers win


REPORTED

For multiple reasons. That whole chain, plus text message quality writing, etc...

Sure as hell looked reportable to me, and for the record...My FIRST ever attempt to Report was apparently wrong...I'm going back to the sidelines.

[stusser]

Actually, looking through his other posts, I don't think this guy is a spambot. I apologize for the edits, Martin.

[Gunmetal]

Almost everyone is making the same mistake, stusser. I almost reported him the in the cure for AIDS thread

[stusser]

Yes, someone else actually did.

[jerri blank]

For the sake of clarification, the link I posted is for the video BoingBoing has embedded in a post there. I think the uploader just mirrored it and is also an anime freak. I didn't visit his Youtube profile before posting.

I would advise not watching the toons on his profile at work.

[Morberis]

I find it disturbing that that climb isn't designed with a rigid rail system (http://www.patersonsafetyanchors.co.uk/photos/1.199597RailokII.jpg) in mind. It's dead easy to use and requires very little effort.

[minjungeee]

I heard somewhere that the most dangerous job is the Alaskan crab fisherman.

[Raife]

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9931/giantcrab.jpg

[serling]

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9931/giantcrab.jpg

I used to bullseye Alaskan Crabs in my T-16 back home. They're not much bigger than two meters.

[Strato]

I know this thread is about some what was on the outset some hardcore shit, but, when I read the title initially, it made me think of my brother's job.

Basically, he's a paramedic. Everytime I ask him about work, he'll tell me about driving at high speed along motorways and city roads (they can only do 60km/h above the speed limit) transporting patients, and I suddenly get this image of the game Crazy Taxi. I guess it probably is a bit like that. Fun aside though, apparently if an ambulance rolls at high speed, then it becomes a coffin for the people in the back. I understand that, it is just the way they are. Physics is a bitch. Secondly, they don't carry guns, pepper spray or tasers, so if the shit hit the fan when they attend to some drug fucked whacko on ice (crystal meph) for instance, then, quite simply, I do get a little concerned for his safety. Sure, if there are concerns for safety, then police can come in to escort, however, just going to people's homes can be all it takes.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there. Also, the other difference about falling from a height of say 1500 feet? There's a good chance the heart will go into arrest before you hit the ground. I can not imagine too many people being calm falling from that height. And when the heart is pumping furiously, those poor coronary arteries aren't getting much oxygenated blood (heart muscle has to relax to let blood through the coronary system) and so a little vicious cycle takes place and thus cardiac infarct/arrest occurs.

[jpinard]

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there. Also, the other difference about falling from a height of say 1500 feet? There's a good chance the heart will go into arrest before you hit the ground. I can not imagine too many people being calm falling from that height. And when the heart is pumping furiously, those poor coronary arteries aren't getting much oxygenated blood (heart muscle has to relax to let blood through the coronary system) and so a little vicious cycle takes place and thus cardiac infarct/arrest occurs.

So I really could die on a huge rollercoaster like the Millenium Force at Cedar Point? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Force
I always thought I was just a sissy.

[Strato]

Are there not warnings about going on said ride, such as not riding whilst pregnant, or have a known heart condition etc? But uh yeah, my point is, if you are going to fall from a great height, vs a lesser height, then the cardiac muscle is more likely to be damaged, not that it is a concern for the person falling from a great height. You won't necessarily die. All humans are different of course, and outcomes vary.

[CLWheeljack]

Basically, he's a paramedic. Everytime I ask him about work, he'll tell me about driving at high speed along motorways and city roads (they can only do 60km/h above the speed limit) transporting patients, and I suddenly get this image of the game Crazy Taxi. I guess it probably is a bit like that. Fun aside though, apparently if an ambulance rolls at high speed, then it becomes a coffin for the people in the back. I understand that, it is just the way they are. Physics is a bitch. Secondly, they don't carry guns, pepper spray or tasers, so if the shit hit the fan when they attend to some drug fucked whacko on ice (crystal meph) for instance, then, quite simply, I do get a little concerned for his safety. Sure, if there are concerns for safety, then police can come in to escort, however, just going to people's homes can be all it takes.


You, too can experience the thrill, thanks to the power of games!
http://www.segaarcade.com/archive/emergencycall.aspx

Seriously though. That game is impossible. And the patients get more disturbing as the game progresses.