Lesson on using ladders

[Kiwi Phil]

I always regret giving Kenneth a serve long ago about some error he made with one of his kids. <br />Well just to prove I too am stupit listen to this.<br />5.30 am today I am up 3m fitting a pump to the top of a tank, standing on an alloy ladder (fold out type) which I hadn't taken the time to push down the 2 little side bars to sercure it.<br />I have to go up an extra rung and lean right out over the tank to get a bolt done up, and the blxxdy ladder, bent in 2 and moved OUT from the tank, very fast, leaving me dangling over the side hanging on with 2 hands (thru the hole I had cut in the top.) Feet were tangled in the rungs too, so I knew I could never drop to the ground safely. Also knew it was pointless yelling as everyone was still in bed up in the house and would never hear. After a lot of effort I managed to haul myself up on top of the tank. Ladder came too as i was still tangled. Managed to rectify everything, and get down. Very sore tho.<br />The moral of this story.....don't take short cuts with ladders.....they make paraplegics of people, and it happen real fast.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Bet you had to clean your shorts after that one. <br /><br />Bud at work was trimming trees on a 8ft ladder when it broke.<br /><br />His arm broke in 3 places. He was out of work for 6 weeks.<br /><br />Ken

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

This summer I was pruning a tree on top of my grandpa's old wooden ladder. That thing had to be at least 50 years old. The top step spun around and threw me off. Thank god my pickup broke my fall. <br /><br />It got me a prescription for vicodin though...

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Phil, sorry to hear of your trauma: ladders are dangerous and I'm really glad that you escaped with only bruises and a dented pride (which is usually the sorest bit )<br /><br />In the UK we have been doing a huge push in industry to stop ladder accidents. There are a couple of points that we make: <br /><br />1. A ladder is for access/egress only<br />2. A ladder is NOT a working platform<br />3. You should always maintain three points of contacts on a ladder at all times.<br />4. Ladders should always be inspected before use and defects put right before use or the ladders condemned.<br />5. Ladder working requires a minimum of two persons to be in attendance at all times.<br />6. Whenever possible the ladder should be secured firmly<br />7. Ladders should be used at the correct angle<br />8. If placed in one position for a long period the ladder should be subject to regular inspections<br /><br /><br />Of course, having been involved with a number of fatal accident investigations involving ladders I still managed to fall off one recently <br /><br />Not trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs, just pointing out how seriously we now take the problem.<br /><br />Hope your bruises heal quickly Phil and again I'm just glad you made it back to Terra Firma in one piece

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Did you ever notice that the new ladders seem to have the most warning labels? For each warning sticker there probably is several lawsuits behind each one.<br /><br />Personnaly, I think aluminum ladders are junk. Dang near got hurt on several brand new ones because of them bending and folding up where they weren't surpose to. I will not go on any ladder unless it is a fiberglass one.

 

[heycods]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

I dont do TALL well at all. I have an altimeter built into my bu!t. 6' above the ground is toooooo much. I would have had to clean pooo pooo from my trousers.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Glad you're okay Kiwi Phil.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Me too.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

My philosophy, If I can't reach it standing on a 5gallon bucket, I don't need it.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

One more funny thing, the insurance inspector came to look at my new house and while climbing his ladder, it collapsed. Luckily he wasnt hurt, but my weedeater was under it and was bent.<br /><br />Thought it was ironic an insurance guy almost getting hurt. I wonder if he could have sued me.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

With regards to warning labels on ladders: Did you evr notice that the white guy is using the ladder correctly & and the black guy is always using it wrong/falling off? Why is that? Just an observation..... ......JK

 

[jtexas]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Maybe think about using a lawn chair next time, or two stacked lawn chairs if needed.<br /><br />Some more good safety tips:<br />Whenever you have to stand on the very top of a stepladder, be sure there's something besides an electrical wire up there to steady yourself with.<br /><br />Using a step ladder on uneven ground, lean out a little to the uphill side, to reduce your likelyhood of falling downhill.<br /><br />Be sure to wrap electrical tape around your extension cords where the insulation is worn, if you're going to be using 'em outside in the rain, especially if they are indoor-only cords. Or duct tape if ya don't have electrical.<br /><br />When forcing a 3-prong plug into a 2-prong outlet, don't just bend the third prong back out of the way - go ahead and break or cut it off completely.<br /><br />After securing the on-button of your electric hedge trimmer with a bungie cord, check the orientation of the blades before plugging it in.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Those 8 points you made Stan, are they from some publication on saftey?<br /><br />I failed the litmus test on all 8, so feel I had better do something about correcting our work procedures around here regards Work Place Health and Safety.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> Maybe think about using a lawn chair next time, or two stacked lawn chairs if needed.<br /><br />Some more good safety tips:<br />Whenever you have to stand on the very top of a stepladder, be sure there's something besides an electrical wire up there to steady yourself with.<br /><br />Using a step ladder on uneven ground, lean out a little to the uphill side, to reduce your likelyhood of falling downhill.<br /><br />Be sure to wrap electrical tape around your extension cords where the insulation is worn, if you're going to be using 'em outside in the rain, especially if they are indoor-only cords. Or duct tape if ya don't have electrical.<br /><br />When forcing a 3-prong plug into a 2-prong outlet, don't just bend the third prong back out of the way - go ahead and break or cut it off completely.<br /><br />After securing the on-button of your electric hedge trimmer with a bungie cord, check the orientation of the blades before plugging it in.

Thanks jtexas, all common sense, but bears repeating.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Originally posted by Haut Medoc:<br /> With regards to warning labels on ladders: Did you evr notice that the white guy is using the ladder correctly & and the black guy is always using it wrong/falling off? Why is that? Just an observation..... ......JK

I just went to the garage and looked, 7 warning labels on the aluminum ladder, no two alike!!! I got me some reading to catch up on.<br /><br />And yes, the white guy is doin' it right and the poor black guy is, well, he is caught in a state of perpetual falling.<br />

 

[jtexas]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Get a lawyer Phil!!! Y'all do that down under, dontcha?<br /><br />In the 80's I worked for a company that makes agricultural equipment, grain elevators, augers, stuff like that, and also ladders. The in-house lawyer's office was close to mine, he used to share some of the more ridiculous lawsuits with me.<br /><br />Farmer puts his ladder on a frozen cowpatty, ladder slips, some broken bones. Label didn't say "Don't put it on a frozen cowpatty." We settled cheaply for low 5 figures.<br /><br />The worst ones of course had to do with the augers, customers taking a torch to the safety bars and consequently getting limbs caught trying to overstuff 'em with grain. S'why so many farmers answer to "Lefty".

 

[MYTJC]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

That's why i purchased a Little Giant ladder......its safer and has a lifetime garrentee!!

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

I don't know if you were talking about this Kenneth or not but it serves you right. Rich white honkeys always palying on ladders! <br /><br /><br />Glad to hear ya turned out alright. I've been there not just once but three times. For that I'm a dang fool.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

Had a similar thing happen to me recently.I just cant figure out why my wife keeps telling everybody I fell off of a ladder.I didnt fall off of it!!! It fell !!!!!! and I had no-where to go but down!!

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Lesson on using ladders

My uncle is a slow learner with ladders too. First many years ago he was on a scaffold that fell breaking both legs. <br />Then about 15 years ago he had a ladder buck him off breaking one arm. <br />About 2 years later happened again breaking both arms.<br />About 2 years later once again. This time the ladder was on a sloping driveway. He was nailing siding above the garage door. The ladder decided to head down the driveway. He broke both arms that time.<br />He is still in construction. About time for another one.