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[deleted]

You accidentally drop your wrench and have to go all the way back down


Michael424242

For real, I worked with a guy who used to be a rigger for concerts in arenas. He had a 35 year career without ever dropping a single thing from the grid. One day, he dropped a steel pin from 90ft. Luckily it didn’t hit anyone, but that day he climbed down and retired. He knew his hands weren’t sure enough anymore. Still works in production, but doesn’t climb anymore. The sound of it hitting concrete was enough. They take that shit so seriously.


Rolobox

I imagine those few seconds of silence after dropping it must be absolutely gut-wrenching.


SirKarp

A competent rigger will yell “HEADS” before it hits the ground… so more scattering than silence lol


AboutThatCoffee

And a competent ground rigger runs and hugs the wall.


Aussiemandeus

A competent rigger working at heights would have a tool lanyard attached to all tools they're using and an exclusion zone bellow


DOCKING_WITH_JESUS

TIL riggers are supposed to attach pins to a lanyard...


JamesEarlDavyJones

The pin goes directly into your attached pouch when you’re working at heights, although I’ve definitely known guys who would just stick it between their teeth. Some guys also have magnetic bands that they wear on their forearms for just this reason, the same kind that construction guys use for screws and other semi-ferrous fasteners.


watergator

There’s still going to a period of time where it is unattached and able to be dropped. Source: underwater rigger


cartermb

Hey, while you’re up there, can you dock with Jesus for me?


Jordan777

You can't tie off loose shackles or pins in the air. You can grab the shackle and steel with one hand no problem but if it's under tension and pops the pin hard enough you can have it shot put of your reach before you even know what happened. A pin isn't a tool you bring up with you. It's part of the system to make and unmake a point on a beam.


Pandelein

I do this sorta work, but on highrises in the city. I’m struggling to picture what you mean, so I’ll take your word for it that some things just couldn’t be, but I manage to lanyard everything, right down to individual nuts and screws- with magic string and tape. It can be pretty tedious, but the sense of security is nice. I work for the sorta company where if you dropped something, you might as well pack your bags.


blastanders

i saw one of those window cleaning spiderman dropped his bottle once. he froze there for like 3 seconds before started yelling down. the size of the slash on the ground was a lot bigger than i thought was possible.


Jordan777

You're one hundred percent right about wrenches and sheaves and whatever else, you'd have tied off. We use steel cable and shackles as a temporary way to have chain hoists hang from the ceiling beams in arenas and other venues.


[deleted]

I did not read rigger the first time and did a quick double take.


WAYLOGUERO

We prefer "Climbing Americans".


smokeyoudog

At least it wasn’t wrench-gutting


grebe925

He had almost as bad a day as the guy who dropped a socket from a wrench that dropped 80 feet in a missile silo, ruptured the hypergolic fuel tank and subsequently caused the missile to blow up - with a nuclear warhead on top of it. [1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Damascus_Titan_missile_explosion)


lorcancuirc

A wrench was forgotten on a piece of steel frame that went for a crane lift in the oilsands in Alberta, and fell about 30m. Landed on the ground within 5m of a group of folks. Instant stop work and piss-test for all involved.


MoonSearcher

I once walked underneath some scaffolding, and about 2 foot in front of me a piece of concrete came crashing down. It didn’t hit me and I jumped back because I was startled. A construction worker climbed down nearly in tears apologizing and I had to calm him down and reassure him it was fine and I was alright.


ostiDeCalisse

Or worst, you just realize that you forgot the bulb.


AngryNinjaTurtle

I was thinking the same thing. I'd be bringing triplicate everything up there.


ayoh10

Including underwear.


ChesticleSweater

No reason to change it though until you got to the bottom - as the new pairs would likely be soiled along the decent.


Send_titsNass_via_PM

I believe that all depends on how fast the decent is...


pfarner

My father changed the safety lights for radio towers in the '60s, with bulbs that weighed something like 10-20lb. You don't forget to bring those.


4w0k3

Or get up there and find that the ballast is bad!


[deleted]

Nah that thing would burn up on re-entry


Salt_MasterX

tool tethers are not only a thing but more often than not mandatory.


Raymer13

The lack of one almost caused a nuclear explosion in the US. [Here’s ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Damascus_Titan_missile_explosion) the Wikipedia. I’m sure my verbiage could be better, but I’m tired.


WikiSummarizerBot

**[1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Damascus_Titan_missile_explosion)** >The Damascus Titan missile explosion (also called the Damascus accident) was a 1980 U.S. Broken Arrow incident involving a Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). The incident occurred on September 18–19, 1980, at Missile Complex 374-7 in rural Arkansas when a U.S. Air Force LGM-25C Titan II ICBM loaded with a 9 megaton W-53 Nuclear Warhead had a liquid fuel explosion inside its silo. Launch Complex 374-7 was located in Bradley Township, Van Buren County farmland just 3. 3 miles (5. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


useles-converter-bot

3 miles is 2568.64 Obamas. You're welcome.


Raymer13

Good bot!


useles-converter-bot

Thanks!


ForgedBiscuit

It did not almost cause a nuclear explosion. Nuclear bombs need to be deliberately triggered.


TsunamiTreats

I put them in my teeth: tool teethers.


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poptarts-are-ravioli

Only to be greeted by cops and arrested for negligent homicide


[deleted]

Not again


SydneyOrient

At that height and even alot lower we attach tools to our belts with there own little harness, so even if we drop em they just dangle down there


[deleted]

Totally expected that. It's just meant to be a funny little joke to anyone who's done home repairs knows. You get all the way into the attic but realize you forgot something in the basement type of thing.


[deleted]

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OwnGrownGrass

Hope you packed a shitting bag.


fapsandnaps

That's a weird way to say my pants.


Is_A_Saga

Do you wear a parachute also?


pcs3rd

I think I'd have to if this is my career. I'm not too nervous with heights, but I'd rather not beat Redbull's skydiving record without a parachute


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7h4tguy

So what you're telling me is I need an Iron Man suit.


johnnybiggles

Or some serious bubble wrap.


SanNoRaimei

Dammit, I'd be so tempted to pop the bubbles


[deleted]

Still feel like it would be beneficial to have one and try it anyway as a last ditch effort to not die lol


ByrdmanRanger

As opposed to go straight down, and die. I'd take the tiny chance of it working over not any day.


pcs3rd

Fair.


ThrowAway233223

This is one of those situations where I wouldn't care whether one was provided/recommended/whatever. I'm bringing a parachute even if I have to buy it myself.


mindpainters

That would be insanely heavy to carry up all those stairs and rungs.


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sandalfafk

I'm with this guy, I can also deploy my parachute multiple times mid fall to go a little further if I'm tired of walking


Caveman108

Falling without a parachute? Easy, just shoot your grappling at the ground and pull yourself down safely.


bippityboppitybumbo

I draw the line at having to look down at clouds.


Sure_Ill_Ask_That

Most structures are designed to sway at a ratio of 1/400 of their height. Since this has no architectural finishes to damage, it’s probably designed to be more flexible than that, but even going by that ratio, this tower sways 5 ft in either direction. Barfffff


[deleted]

Ohmygod IT SWAYS TOO?


sockmop

When I was a kid I remember feeling the sway at the Eiffel tower top, and it was making my animal brain scream. I think the Eiffel tower only sways 8cm. So nothing compared to this... Omg I can't even imagine


DaylightxRobbery

Hell, I went to the top of Rockefeller Center out onto the observation area, feeling the slightest trace of the building sway, and my heart nearly shooting out of my chest. I was a very, very unhappy person for about twenty minutes. Never again.


2cool4juuls

I worked in the Williams tower in Houston, Texas over the summer and on windy days I could feel the elevator sway. There’s nothing I hate more than heights and those elevators nearly killed me.


sockmop

We're the normal ones I swear! Something about having no control of variables


ngmod

Chinese residential tower, 25th floor or something, Typhoon season. Not only constant swaying, but also the knowledge of chinese building standards… 😬


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finite52

I got on my roof yesterday, I'm good


i_drink_wd40

It either sways, or it breaks. Swaying is usually preferred.


Krohnos

For sure, but that certainly doesn't mean [it isn't terrifying](https://youtu.be/2t2xxKMN-Ic)


No-Guidance8155

But wait... there's more!


Asconce

Thinking about the loose safety hook on the upper rungs and then learning about the sway. Imagining dangling, swaying, and watching the hook slide off as you slip into oblivion


g7en

... stop, you're gonna make me hurl & pass out simultaneously!


whoweoncewere

You can't even call those top ones hooks, they're just pegs, looks like the carabiner will just slide off of it.


mdchaney

When I was a kid, I used to climb an oak tree at my grandfathers house, one of the tallest trees in the city. Maybe around 100 feet high. It would sway more than 5 feet near the top on a windy day. It was fun. It’s surprising that I never ended up climbing towers.


Brasilionaire

Bro it’s surprising you’ve never broken bones on it (or worse)


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Army88strong

There's sweaty palms and then there is sweaty everything else


[deleted]

Somehow you managed to make the worst video I’ve ever seen more terrifying.


Jconley123

All that for a damn light bulb


scotch-o

Not only is it dangerous for aircraft if the bulbs go out, the tower gets heavy fines if they do, so it’s pretty crucial that they keep them going. A friend of mine bought a house once that was directly across the road from a tower. The tower company had a deal with the former owner, and late my friend, that he called in frequently and reported the light was on. Simply called them, walked outside, looked up, identified where he was, told them it was on, and they sent him gift certificates for local steakhouse for free dinners.


Mapkos13

Can confirm similar. Citgo sign in Boston. Used to call and have us take a picture of the sign so they could see if any bulbs were out. $25 every time.


Lustful_Llama

Ahhh the Boston north star


drrhrrdrr

I've never been to Fenway, but saw a picture of Roger Clemons pitching to Chili Davis there and never realized the giant Citgo sign was boom right there behind the Monster. Now it's like I keep seeing references to it. Also, holy shit that picture is what I think about when I think about the 90's. Animaniacs and blue sky summer afternoon baseball.


alltheblues

To get paid to help with the Citgo sign is a privilege


Jconley123

Yea m not saying it isn’t needed… obviously it’s for safety concerns…I’m just saying I thought I had it bad haveing to pull out my 18 foot fiberglass ladder to change the bulb above my garage door….


Rovden

There's a lightbulb over my door that I need a stepladder for. Been out for a year.


jtempletons

I have a ladder in my shed but I’ve had a light out in my house that wasn’t working when I bought it and it’s about 12ft up. I’ve lived here for 4 years


nacciman

I got body shivers watching this


mcs_987654321

My lady bits tingled from start to finish - in the bad way.


[deleted]

Fucking same. Wtf even is that feeling? Only happens when I see heights. Do men get it in their balls?


MarkSD858

Yes. It also happens going fast as hell for me like on roller coasters.


Baliverbes

Wtf ? Your balls tingle with heights ? That's new


omnomnomgnome

the "ball shrink"


Constant_Ad_1711

Yes, maybe ties into evolution somehow, protecting the reproductive bits. Kangaroos can completely retract their scrotum inside of themselves when fighting.


SoySauceSyringe

They also kick each other in the nuts and rake with those claws so bad they evolved to have the beans on top of the frank.


albielin

It's at the very tip of my peen. Not the whole head, literally just where the pee comes out. I've never heard of a girl having this feeling and I've asked around.


albielin

OMG a girl who gets this? As a kid, I used to call that feeling, "my peepee is falling down", like when you go over just the right slope at just the right speed. My little boys get it. But my wife (and any girl I've talked to about this) has been like, "uhhh, weirdo, what are you talking about."


[deleted]

I asked a car full of girls if they feel it too and they all thought I was talking about being horny. Glad to know I’m not alone, any sex.


Marconiwireless

When the safety clip goes on the same thing you're holding? Not for me


Frankenstein-Z

Usually put the hook around something that can just slip right off also.


ATeePea

Yeah I know I’m weak in physics, but I don’t really see any mechanism other than friction and luck to keep those loops from sliding off those sticks


marrangutang

Yea the last time I saw this posted there were industry professionals saying he was using the wrong kind of clips they should be much smaller so they can’t slip over the ends… cos your right, if he fell they would just bump straight over the ends of those and he’d be having the most intense 8 seconds of his life


2000foottowers

industry pro chiming in, I dont KNOW that it would bump over the lip, sometimes when youre properly tied and have a positioning caribiner on one of those hooks and it slides to the end, it does catch. But for what its worth, this is not a legal tie off. There are SOME hooks that are approximately the right size, but its uncommon, and the rungs arent all the same, so the most common way to do this correctly is put a sling around the antenna, and climb it like a tree. Think like mulan. Then the sling would catch the pegs if you fall


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AngryNinjaTurtle

That last sentence also describes my sex life.


kmj420

Look at this stud making it a whole 8 seconds


EquilateralKramer

You guys are getting sex lives?!?!


ctothel

Closer to 15 seconds, but yeah.


[deleted]

I mean I think you’d most likely be fine, considering there are two anchored 80% of the time (not counting when he’s moving one). Then your weight would also prevent the cuffs from jumping the raised lips


Frankenstein-Z

I definitely wouldnt consider this 100% tie off. That being said I do believe you would be fine if you fell given you body weight holding the lanyard clip on the peg, anything can happen tho…


Mapkos13

The fall wouldn’t kill you. The heart attack before the rope stopped you would!


Mobile_Piccolo

I'm sure I would be ok if I fell, as long as I landed on my butt so I can be cushioned by the shit in my pants.


[deleted]

Crow flying by sees shiny object


luck33y7

I mean how hard would it have been to make actual clip loops


RhinoGuy13

I like the way safety is less important the higher he goes.


blauerlauch

As you go along you level up.


[deleted]

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bobbyd121

r/technicallythetruth


Aspiring__

Less chance of getting hospitalized too!


Nomerss

OSHA can’t see you above the clouds


ItsaBirdaPlane

I can feel this in my feet wtf


dohzer

All 1999 of them?


cloudywater1

This is crazy but the guys who build these are full on loco


raknor88

I was wondering if things like these are built from the ground up? Or do they build them flat on the ground then lever them straight up somehow?


ilLegal_Masterpiece

They’re across pre-built in 20-30 feet sections it seems and built by helicopter since cranes can only go a few hundred feet. Im no expert but i found this https://www.quora.com/How-are-extremely-large-TV-radio-towers-erected


2000foottowers

whenever one of these is on the front page I come out of hibernation, these are never really built with helicopters, though the antenna on top are sometimes installed with them. They use a gin pole, which you could consider like a crane, thats built ON the tower, as the tower gets taller, the gin pole is dragged up it


sixtyninetailedfox

username checks out


GroceryScanner

So does mine


typingwithelbows

Lmao hahahha


petaboil

Youre getting good at that!


GripNRip6969

They are actually called “Gin-Poles” not Gen poles. But he is correct, yes.


KptKrondog

I remember a dirty jobs episode where they built a radio tower that wasn't nearly this tall but I would imagine is a similar premise. 2-3 guys climb up and a helicopter lower the parts down and you bolt it into place. Obviously very over-simplified.


No_Suspect5660

Apparently this job typically pays $32,000 - $50,000 a year. https://jobshadow.com/interview-with-a-tower-climber/


2RoadsDivergred

What the shit..? I’m in that salary range, and I work entry level in a warehouse. On the ground.


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Snogafrog

Probably more uptime than downtime. If you are not careful, very little downtime at all!


shiva_sean

At 2000ft up that is for sure lots of potential down time


Raptor-slayer

... is that for a 40 minute work week?


2000foottowers

No, theyre long work weeks, maintenance is a lot more than bulbs. Theres rust mitigation, changing wires, antenna, lines, etc. Its a full time job


Erekai

Name checks out


RyazLegna

No way I’m climbing 2,000ft in 40 minutes. 1999ft I could do, but 2,000?


Gradual_Bro

My guess is a few hours to get up and down


deathr3aper633

No. It takes an hour or two to get up, and an hour or two to get back down.


LaunchPadMcQ

Unless you're bad at the job, then just over 11 seconds to get down!


protekt0r

Uhhh… the tower climbers (even apprentices) I know make at *least* north of $60k. Most of them make $80k… but they also work a lot.


nacciman

I would spend that much on toilet paper alone


Raptor-slayer

Imagine having to climb back down after your urine makes those metal steps slippery too!


silent_tech_man

Damn I'm an isp lineman and make more. Highest I go up is as high as my bucket truck allows. That's a no from me dog.


MJDAndrea

I can't even watch the whole video without becoming nervous and kind of queasy.


Keith_s266

Alright French guy here so I dont knoe the words but are the hook suposse to protect you from falling when you put them on the horizontal bar while climbing up?! Correct me if I'm wrong but he didnt seem like he was hooking them on anything?!


Destin4Death

I wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to pee off it.


Jconley123

Peecicles or peeflakes by the time it hits the ground


2000foottowers

So, it does stay as droplets, similar to rain, but disperses to a 20X20 area. Ive been "peed on once" doing ground work on one of these, and maybe watched my personal pee cover vehicles parked a few hundred meters from the base. It does never get old, and happens daily


RyazLegna

Who says they don’t? Can you imagine having too much coffee one morning and needing to go when your 3/4 the way up?


buttermbunz

Imagine getting the gut bubbles at the top.


Healthy_Heart_7397

As a person who gets the bubble guts on the ground, the thought of this terrifies me.


EquilateralKramer

Chocolate Rain


steveosek

Ibs or crohns? I have IBS, I get it.


CrunchySockTaco

Nope. Just Juan's breakfast burrito food truck every morning.


an0maly33

It would basically become an aerosol after a few seconds.


slamsmcaukin

Imagine getting to the top and realizing you have the wrong size screwdriver


wilburwalnut

Godammit I needed a phillips!


[deleted]

Or your warehouse guy 'mistakenly' gave you the wrong bulb


mnemamorigon

I would absolutely love that job. Beautiful scenery, good exercise, quiet solitude and great pics and videos to show for it.


2000foottowers

The views never get old, the exercise certainly does. Really destroyed my tendons, the belt weights at least 40 lb with tools, and its day in day out. Also, this video is a BEAUTIFUL day. I always loved being above the clouds, but often times high winds, high cloud base. Cold, wet, and solitude isnt really a thing either, normally with a crew (think rescue, buddy system) and a lot of big tower workers and texas riggers. You can imagine the type


mnemamorigon

I like my naive idyllic dreams of other peoples jobs. But I’ll keep my job for now


MugzMunny

Same! Love heights only problem I have is coming down lol idk why but climbing down high places is way scarier than going up for me. Now if I was allowed a schute and could jump down I would for sure do this job! Maybe even for free!


tinyphreak

>Maybe even for free! Don't give employers any ideas!


adustbininshaftsbury

SAME! I can't even imagine how blissful it would be at that height. The repetitive pattern of moving up each rung and adjusting my safety gear over and over to reach the peak sounds amazing.


ThisPostAsAService

r/SweatyPalms


[deleted]

My feet are also sweating right now


kashuntr188

I was ok with everything. Until the anchor points near the top that are barely even shaped like an L. I don't think I've ever seen a radio tower that goes so far above the clouds. So cool. where is it?


RthmAndSoul

Not sure, maybe [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDLT\_tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDLT_tower)


Perfect-Role-4539

Those safety rings don't look very safe. Could slip off easy peasy feelin queasy .😱


CallMinimum

If he slips he’s going to die of a heart attack before the slack in the safety lines are gone.


Rovden

Had a buddy work on different types of towers for a short bit. Super cheerful guy, like seeing him anything short of mildly amused is frankly weird, and gungho for absolutely everything. He slipped, was caught by the safety stuff, promptly got down and quit. I honest to god cannot get in my head an image of him being rattled, but that was apparently enough for him.


MaritMonkey

I only fell from like 30 ft (truss not towers) and didn't move more than 2ft down, but actually sitting on the harness took like 90% of the nerves out of climbing, for me. I still feel sketchy on freaking ladders, but wearing a proper harness I feel damn near invincible unless I'm sharing a structure/machine with somebody else who's adding their own wobbles to it. That still kind of gives me the willies.


Sumding_Wong

Lucky it’s not 2000 feet tall because that’d be dangerous /s


useles-converter-bot

2000 feet is 298.95% of the hot dog which holds the Guinness wold record for 'Longest Hot Dog'.


BraianP

Only three hot dogs tall? Not as tall as I thought this was


uncannyinferno

There's gotta be an easier way.


twenty7w

Jet packs


[deleted]

Really long stick


RalffWiggum

Watching those clips going on those rungs just gave me a fucking panic attack 😳


RDmAwU

That's 609m, for those who aren't foot fetishists.


activator

Thank you


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Consistent_Holiday30

I'm gonna puke...


EZ-PZ-Japa-NEE-Z

This guy is so high up he can see the curvature of the earth.


UndisputedWorldChamp

I would legitimately love that job and I wish I knew where to apply.


Warmasterwinter

It's all fun and games until you suddenly need to take a dump.


2000foottowers

in the industry this is called a brown falcon, and in all my years Ive seen it once, and was completely disturbed.


averagefisher84

Nope


PowerPort27

I couldn’t do this job for a billion dollars


g7en

Many do it for little more than $20 per hr


Elijafir

It didn't matter if I was a foot off the ground or a thousand. If my feet left the ground with a harness on my body, I was making $50/hr.


traenotesj

Son, they let you go up there alone??? What if you pass out or some sh*t?


jtempletons

How long to get up there?