Harnesses, anyone?
Posted: February 27th, 2010, 11:31 pm
This is off the muddy path a bit, but, just curious if any of you have ever had to wear a safety harness? Back in October last year, (Yeah, I'm just getting around to writing about it!), my company had to do a quick experiment with one of the instruments we are developing. The idea was find out what our instrument would see from an overhead position... So, we rented a 40' boom lift, and due to the fact that I had operated one of these machines in the past, I was elected to be 40 feet in the air with the instrument. I was also assigned the task of photographer to have a better visual record of each data set. Well, on the appointed day, I was getting a refresher on the operation of the boom while my co-workers were dragging out the equipment.
Ever seen a boom lift? Pretty common at building construction sites in the US . They come in different sizes, but this one had 4 tires that were about 3 ft (1M) in diameter... The unit has a diesel-hydraulic power set up that features a telescoping beam with a railed platform at the end. You can move the boom in and out, up or down. Left or right. You can even tilt and move the platform itself, and they are self powered, so you can actually move the machine while you are 40' up (NOT recommended!!!! - wicked sway!)
I secured the instrument on the railed platform, and was handed a blue nylon bag as I prepared to go up- There was a yellow, full body safety harness inside. I balked at using it, but, the engineer in charge insisted. So, I put my legs in the leg loops, wiggled into the arm straps, then adjusted all the straps so it was comfortable, but snug. I hooked the tether onto the platform and when I clipped the strap across my chest, I got this feeling of -well- security... I found it curiously confining, but comforting in a really pleasant way. I was aloft for 3 hours or so- came down once for a bathroom break- but didn't take the harness off to walk into the building...
I seriously enjoyed being strapped up like that! I've worn a harness once before, when on a sailing trip, but it wasn't a full body harness like this was... After about 5 minutes of being in it, I thought to myself that the only thing that would make this better would be wearing a complete suit of vinyl foul weather gear and rubber boots under it!
Man, have I just developed yet another fetish????
-evad
Ever seen a boom lift? Pretty common at building construction sites in the US . They come in different sizes, but this one had 4 tires that were about 3 ft (1M) in diameter... The unit has a diesel-hydraulic power set up that features a telescoping beam with a railed platform at the end. You can move the boom in and out, up or down. Left or right. You can even tilt and move the platform itself, and they are self powered, so you can actually move the machine while you are 40' up (NOT recommended!!!! - wicked sway!)
I secured the instrument on the railed platform, and was handed a blue nylon bag as I prepared to go up- There was a yellow, full body safety harness inside. I balked at using it, but, the engineer in charge insisted. So, I put my legs in the leg loops, wiggled into the arm straps, then adjusted all the straps so it was comfortable, but snug. I hooked the tether onto the platform and when I clipped the strap across my chest, I got this feeling of -well- security... I found it curiously confining, but comforting in a really pleasant way. I was aloft for 3 hours or so- came down once for a bathroom break- but didn't take the harness off to walk into the building...
I seriously enjoyed being strapped up like that! I've worn a harness once before, when on a sailing trip, but it wasn't a full body harness like this was... After about 5 minutes of being in it, I thought to myself that the only thing that would make this better would be wearing a complete suit of vinyl foul weather gear and rubber boots under it!
Man, have I just developed yet another fetish????
-evad