AM Press Exchange #98 has a brief entry on Ralph, W2WME if that helps anyone with the timeframe. Under the SPAM column:
Safety First
How sad it was to read about the passing of W2WME. He was electrocuted while working on his amplifier. Working late into the night, we sometimes forget just how dangerous some of the equipment can be if we are not careful. I have had my fair share of near misses; most have come when I should have gone to bed hours before. This kind of thing doesn't just happen to appliance operators, it can happen to anyone. Ralph will be missed by us all. We should not forget Ralph, or how he died.
Had a recent discussion with G over the phone about this thread along with the thought of have a simple 'safety' forum or such meant for posting tips such as shorting stick designs and so on for the newbies, as well as reminders for the old salts. As mentioned several times, it's often not the lack of knowledge that gets ya, but the complacency of time vs. strikes.
The concern is that the good information as much as the personal experiences ends up getting buried over time in the QSO section. Here's a thread from last year as an example:
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=10677.0Having a 'SAFETY FIRST' heading or similar in the Handbook section as a resource and constant reminder sounds like a good idea.
My favorite quote, instilled in me by my parents while growing up, applies:
"It's what you learn
after you know it all, that counts"
In this case, it could save your life.
