Ladders, you skeered?

[bricker]

I had removed a rain gutter to replace some water damaged fascia board. I replaced the board and painted it and asked my college age son to help me re-hang the gutter. He couldn't reach the fascia from the second rung of a six foot stepladder, and could barely bring himself to climb to the third rung so he could help his dear old dad accomplish the mission. That got me to thinking, how many people just don't climb ladders? Certainly took him out of his comfort zone.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Ask me about my back fracture. Nope, don't climb any distance I wouldn't be afraid to fall - about 6 inches

 

[BrianE]

I climb ladders for a living (step and extension). Fallen more times than I'd like to. After a fall can make you slightly hesitant. I'm also afraid of heights if that makes any sense.

 

[arjay]

Ive climbed a lot of ladders and buildings over the years for my job,but never really lost my fear of heights.I avoid it now as my sense of balance ain't what it used to be.

 

[bricker]

I have not fallen from a ladder, but have had several scaffolds fall from under me. I was never scared of heights, but I always try to be sure of any scaffold or ladders I climb on lately. I don't mend as quickly as when I was younger.

 

[Wes Smith]

I used to do roofing when I was about 20. We were stripping all the shingles off a house and I started to slide. Grabbed a hold of a shovle in time handed to me and then pulled to safety.Im not to crazy about heights. I get nervous on the roof, but I will climb in a tree to bow hunt go figure.

 

[Bekeart]

Carried shingles for a roofer one summer when in college.
I was not comfortable above 20 feet.

Been 140 feet up a broadcast tower to hang an antenna.
Tower was very solid - no wiggle - did not need to go higher - would have if needed.

ONLY use GOOD ladders.



A good ladder is cheaper than a trip to the Emergency Room!

 

[DWFAN]

I don't do roofs very well either. Now trees are different. There's that feeling of security from the branches. Plus I don't get vertigo in a tree.
DW

 

[Marshwheeling]

I used to go up on ladders to paint houses, but in those days I could jump off a second-story roof onto a grass lawn without ill effects. These days, I weigh about twice as much, and my knees are about four times as rotten. I'd kill myself or worse, so I try to leave the ladder work to the younger generations.

 

[bigchuck83]

Always been a bit uneasy when going up a ladder or scaffold but once i am up there it is no problem and i've done some pretty stupid stuff from a ladder before.

 

[ralph7]

Used to help in construction when I was a teenager. I always had to hang on to something when walking on the second floor joists. One of the older brothers whom I worked for, thought that was funny and nicknamed me "falling star".
About a year after I left, a fall from a 6 foot ladder killed him.
That fact never helped my fear of heights.

 

[feralmerril]

I hate heights, scared to get on a roof yet years ago flew some light aerobatics. Somehow its different than standing on a roof or edge of a cliff.

 

[Old Corp]

Never really had a problem with it.
I'll always remember about 20 years ago, trying out for a sniper position at work. One of the requirements was to do a vertical climb on a 100' fire department ladder truck. Once at the top, you had to cross over the top and descend. Had a large carabiner safety harness, but it was still exciting. I had no idea that laddertruck's ladders got that narrow at the top!

 

[A10]

Coach him on how to use it. Show him how to inspect it, and how to set it up on a solid footing. Show him the ratings so he will know what the capacities are. Tell him that as long as he stays centered on the ladder (belt buckle between the rails) he'll be OK.

 

[RaceBannon]

Climbing ladders doesn't really bother me, but If I'm on the roof, I can get pretty nervous trying to get back on the ladder. I don't like that part at all.

 

[arjay]

Walking the walls and joists was easier than gettIng back on that ladder

 

[shouldazagged]

I do not like heights. Put two pairs of socks on me and I get a tad uncomfortable. But I was a volunteer firefighter many years ago. I could and would do ladder work, but hated it. One of the scariest things I ever had to do was step off a roof overhang thirty feet in the air onto a ladder I couldn't see because it didn't reach the edge but came up below the ledge. Blinded by smoke and had guys on the ground telling me where to put my boot. Almost had a laundry bill I hadn't expected.

But I can ride a glass elevator up the outside of a 75-floor building or ride a cable car up Stone Mountain without trouble. Being enclosed makes all the difference.

 

[TucsonMTB]

I am not.

But, I probably should be after falling a couple times while painting my own house.

Yes, I am an old guy. I guess some of us are just slow learners.

Admittedly, I did buy a good and heavy Werner fiberglass ladder after the first cheap, aluminum ladder let me down, literally.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Had one bad fall from a typical cheap ladder. I purchased a professional ladder rated for 300# and I am glad I did- many years ago now-It's a Davidson.

 

[Dennis The B]

Ladders and I have a common respect. I leave them alone, and they leave me alone.

I've never gotten comfortable around ladders, either step or extension. I've always followed all the safety rules, but I just don't like them. I use them, but only begrudgingly. I can get up to the second floor roof and gutters, but I will not climb onto the roof.

My father could climb up and down, do all kinds of work from them. He could work off the ladder itself, any kind of staging, etc. He could work three floors up on the roof of their home (120 yr old Victorian), and never had a problem, even into his seventies.