‰ NOW 35 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM MARCH 2017 QST PAGE 45 ‰ SAFETY FIRST PART 3 CLIMBING SAFETY THIS ARTICLE IS THE THIRD OF A MULTI PART SERIES ON SAFETY EXCERPTED FROM THE 2017 EDITION OF THE ARRL HANDBOOK. PART 1 CAN BE FOUND IN THE NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE ON PAGES 39 43. PART 2 CAN BE FOUND IN THE DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE ON PAGES 39 41. TOWER CLIMBING IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACTIVITY, SO YOULL NEED TO USE THE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES. OSHA, THE FEDERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, PUBLISHES RULES FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY. ALTHOUGH AMATEURS ARE NOT BOUND BY THOSE RULES, YOULL BE MUCH BETTER OFF IF YOU FOLLOW THEM. THE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES YOU USE ARE UP TO YOU. SAFETY AWARENESS AND PREPARATION ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SAFETY IS HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS TO DO A JOB SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. YOU MUST HAVE THE MENTAL ABILITY TO CLIMB AND WORK AT ALTITUDE WHILE CONSTANTLY RETHINKING ALL CONNECTIONS, TECHNIQUES, AND SAFETY FACTORS. SAFELY CLIMBING AND WORKING ON TOWERS IS 90 MENTAL. MENTAL PREPAREDNESS IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE LEARNED. THIS IS AN OCCASION WHERE THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE FOR ANYONE IS MAKING THE MENTAL ADJUSTMENT. PROPERLY INSTALLED TOWERS ARE INHERENTLY SAFE AND ACCIDENTS ARE RELATIVELY RARE. YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT EVERY TIME BEFORE YOU USE IT. INSPECT IT FOR ANY NICKS OR CUTS TO YOUR ‰ END OF 35 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ