Posted on 10/12/2011 10:57:14 PM PDT by buccaneer81
NEWTON (CBS) – A worker fell 1,000 feet to his death from a tower in Newton on Wednesday.
A veteran crew of three men, working for Ultimate Tower Service, was doing routine maintenance work on the tower when one of the men fell.
“The wind, you know, can be a factor, but today’s a pretty calm day, so the whole thing seems very bizarre and tragic,” said Brenda Loew, a neighbor.
Sources told WBZ-TV that the surviving workers were almost too upset to talk to investigators.
WBZ-TV’s Christina Hager reports.
Workers routinely wear safety harnesses to attach themselves to the tower.
The tower, located near Elliot and Needham Streets in Newton, is owned by American Tower and is used by two small TV stations and four local radio stations. American Tower has suspended work at the site.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our contractors. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and co-workers during this difficult time. We are working closely with the relevant authorities and cooperating fully with all inquiries into the cause of this tragic accident,” said American Tower, in a statement.
The tower, at its peak, is 1,347 feet high.
The tower’s contractor and owner have clean safety records that go back at least 10 years.
Somehow I don’t think a helmet will help you if you fall.
Once I got out of the enclosed section, I would be able to smell the excrement coming from my pants.
Just watched. I’m going to have nightmares for a week.
I know. I got all clammy.
Yup. That’s what we called the Channel 7 tower when I was a kid. I grew up about three miles from it in Needham.
There’s several points where he’s got only one hand holding him... with a swinging 30 pound tool bag below. One gust of wind and bye?
That is the scariest video
Isn’t it crazy?? I get high anxiety just watching it!
There’s not enough Gold pressed Latinum on all of Ferenginar to get me to do that job.
Some people aren’t wrapped to tight. I sure wouldn’t do that. I love in the vid how when the guy bothers to hook his safety harness, he just clips that big thing to the tiny foot pegs instead of the center trunk of the ladder. Why even bother?
Something tells me that if the dude in Boston was as cavalier with his safety, that might be a reason he took the express elevator down.
man...no way...not even in my wildest bulletproof youth
wow..incredible
The peak of the roof of my house is 34 feet high. I’ve been up there and damn near fainted.
As a kid we used to climb the outside girders of the light towers at the high school. (The ladders were caged and locked). What - 40 to 50 feet tall? Get me on my extension ladder though nowadays 12 feet up and I start getting nervous.
The main problem then was the fact that he was swinging at a pretty good rate of speed right beside a huge metal tower. He had arm guards on his forearms (they're intended for situations just like this), and was able to use them as shields to keep from smashing his face into the tower. He had some nasty bruises, but was otherwise okay.
I'm just guessing, but I'd bet they have two security lines, or whatever you call them, that clip on to the structure, that way you're always secured as you go up. I know I wouldn't do it without two.
I don’t know. Art’s told me the story several times, but it’s been a while. All I know is that you couldn’t pay me enough money to get me to go up one of those towers. I have a hard enough time getting near the edge of the observation points in Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge.
That is one of the scariest videos that I have ever seen.
My mom's people lived in the mountains (KY). Going home was like driving around the rim of the Grand Canyon. You look out the car window and see down into the valleys way below. I just heard they widened that road to 4 lanes.
I think that your reaction is an age thing. When I was a stupid, young teen, I along with some friends climbed a 100 foot water tower. Later in my life, I get anxious on top of my one story house.
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