I was recently present at an antenna and tower take down. I observed that the people climbing the tower were using a “Shockwave Lanyard” as a safety rope. This is a dangerous procedure. The shockwave lanyard is a folded up and sewn together lanyard. If one falls of a tower the thread is meant to break thus slowing the fall of the climber. If this lanyard is used as a safety rope it is conceivable that the stitching may give away and the climber will find himself “falling” away from the tower.

Shockwave Lanyard

The lanyard above is clipped to the large D-Ring at the back of the harness. The lanyard below is clipped to the rings on either side of the belt.

Safety Harness

The lanyard below is a safety working rope. The large clip is clipped to the leg of the tower and the two smaller clips are clipped into the safety belt.

Safety Webbing Lanyard