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Old November 19th 04, 12:22 AM
Cory Scott
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"Craig" wrote in message
om...
"Cory Scott" wrote in message

...
Does anyone know who is responsible for maintaining those red flashing
beacons on towers and hilltops? Government agency? County? State?
Federal?

This may sound weird, but I want that job. The whole outdoor aspect of

it
interests me. The rural mountain roads, climbing high towers, the

views! I
just don't have a clue who to talk to about it. Does anyone here know
anything about this?

Cory


The tower or building owner or their management company is tasked with
that job. Most farm it out to tower or maintenance companies.

Being a steeplejack is not for the faint of heart by any stretch of
the imagination. You have to be able to work at great heights, in all
kinds of weather while hanging onto the structure with just your
safety belt and whatever footholds there are. You have to be able to
divorce your instincts to hold on to the structure from your constant
sight picture and forget about the fact that what you are holding onto
is or can be swaying in the breeze up to 20 feet or more in any
direction.

I've been to a little over 2000' up on towers by a combination of
internal elevators and climbing the stairs and external ladders and
structure. It gives you very mixed and strange feelings at that kind
of height.

After wrestling with a 15'dish broken loose in 60+ mile an hour winds
on a tower and days later watching a crew that I knew, ride an antenna
stack 2000' into the ground during a tower collapse, I decided to get
out of the business.


Craig C.


Wow, what a story. Sorry about your buddies. It must have been terrible.
I'm hoping those events are the exception and not the rule. I don't seem to
have a problem with acrophobia as long as I'm secured to something (and the
weather conditions aren't insane). I appreciate your input. Could you tell
me anything about the skills/education/experience you needed to get the job?
Do you know the names of any companies in Washington state? If not, how do
they categorize themselves in the business pages? Thanks for the help.

Cory