PSA —- Ladders

[fordson]

Well, may be more of a Warning then a true PSA.
There was a thread here, a month back or so, about back surgery. I even started a snarky thread about ladders and accidents a few weeks back.Combine these two topics and you have (how I see it) is a ND type scenario: an "Avoidable Accident" that better head work would have prevented.
If this seems like I'm rambling it might be due to the pains med I'm on and the fact that I just returned from an 8 hour hospital visit for back surgery: L4/L5.
On 30 March, this year, I stepped off my 8 foot folding ladder four feet from the ground. Messed up my right hip, groin area and back. Did not see a Dr until about three weeks ago, what with COVID-19 lockdowns and such. When the back heals, I see the hip Dr. - again.
Guys and girls —- a simple ladder can be almost as dangerous as a ND. Around firearms, we responsible gun owners keep our heads screwed on right, practice the basic safety rules for gun handling and avoid mishaps. You may never think about Safety with a ladder, but you need to. Don't get distracted, especially when you are on a ladder and moving up or down. Have a spotter if possible. Don't over reach from the top, get down and MOVE it. There's a lot of common sense practices that anyone of us overlooks to get the job done. But just don't, it ain't worth it.
Thanks for putting up with me on this - fordson, over and out

 

[carpriver]

I am not a person that likes ladders. the wooden ones break, aluminum ones can be slippery and can conduct electric current. They can all let you down (fall). I avoid working from ladders, step stools, chairs. ora dime. gravity is a law that you need to respect.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Physics prof said gravity is a constant. I say gravity is a .... female dog.
Worst injury I've experienced as an adult was falling two feet off a ladder. I'll remember that one for the rest of my life.

 

[hsguy]

Great post! Sorry Ladder 13 but as a 35 year Fire/Fighter ladders were always a challenge, gravity is not your friend, spoken as an Engine guy. Fordsen, hope you heal up well and stay off ladders!

 

[LVSteve]

I'll add something to this. If you have a helper/spotter who is supposed to be watching and maybe steadying the ladder under certain circumstances, get somebody who is not easily bored and can maintain the required attention.

 

[mckenney99]

After 2 serious falls from ladders, ladders and I have come to an arrangement.

I won't climb on them and they won't throw me off!

Seriously, I go out of my way to avoid climbing anything taller than a step stool without having someone else around in case I fall off again. Both times I have fallen, I was lucky to not have suffered incapacitating injuries, because there was no one else around to find me until the buzzards started to circle.

 

[BC38]

I slipped and fell off a ladder from around 6 ft high 7 years ago. I landed on my right leg with my knee locked.

The impact tried to shove my femur down through the top of my tibia. The orthopedic surgeon described it as a "bicondular (both sides) tibial plateau fracture". Basically the top of my tibia (bottom half of the knee) was broken in 4 places - more or less reduced it to chunks and pulp.

I had to wait a month to allow the swelling to go down enough for them to be able to do the repair surgery. I took two orthopedic surgeons over 4 hours work to install 2 T-shaped plates and 9 screws to hold everything together until it healed. I was unable to walk or put any weight on it for 4 months and then had 6 months of physical therapy and hyalgan shots into the joint every 6 months for the next 4 years.

I am VERY grateful to be able to say that I haven't had to get the shots in the joint for almost 3 years now, and I can walk normally with no limp. I can walk pretty much all day (I've done up to 18,000 steps in one day) and suffer a little stiffness and soreness, but nothing major.

So yes, a simple fall from a ladder can change the course of the rest of your life. Don't take ladder safety lightly.

 

[kenjen]

a friend of mine made over 50 parachute jumps and never got hurt, 4' fall off of ladder broke his ankle...

 

[tlawler]

I hear ya! I work on ladders constantly...of all heights. A few times I've forgotten I was on a 8 footer, thinking it was a 6 footer and fell the last couple of feet. Been very blessed in that respect; no major injuries. In every company I've worked for, ladder safety is #1. Closely followed by electrical safety. Juice will kill you quicker, but ladder mishaps outpace electrical injuries by probably 10 to 1.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Sorry to read of your mishap. Get well soon.
We stopped taking that chance and left our last Little Giant ladder for the buyers of the last home we sold.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[NYlakesider]

As a construction pipefitter/welder I spent a lot of time both being on a ladder (all heights and kinds) and being around other people on ladders.

You got to know what you are doing at all times. Old saying one hand for the boss, one hand for me will many times keep you out of trouble.

Many years ago working a major shutdown of a large chemical plant. Lots of work in the area and we took in helpers (gophers) to make our life easier. I was given this one person seemed intelligent and he only had one job to do to earn at today's wages about $44+ per hour. Ladder groundsman!

I was working on a very high extension ladder that was tied off by me. With that said things can move on a ladder like that.

I told my "helper' and had him repeat "under no circumstances were you to to leave the bottom of the ladder" All was well for a while, then I looked and he was nowhere in sight. I carefully came down and he reappeared said he had to hit the bathroom. I told him your lucky I'm in a good mood now get out of here before it changes. Grabbed a phone told my boss he is gone or I'm gone. He was escorted off site and fired.

 

[soFlaNative]

Make sure their are no tools left on the ladder before getting down.
Worked with a fella repairing 8 ft. fencing around a compound when he left a 2 lb. hammer atop his 8 ft. ladder when he needed to relocate. Luckily he had a hard head and only needed a handful of stitches but we were both bloody after I helped him back to the shop.

 

[MaricopaKid]

I have made my life more comfortable by giving up three things when I turned 70. Ladders, chain saws, and women that can out-drink me.

 

[grover99]

I have made my life more comfortable by giving up three things when I turned 70. Ladders, chain saws, and women that can out-drink me.

me and ladders parted ways when I turned 60. Same with motorcycles. I don't heal up like I did when I was younger.

 

[misswired]

Took a ladder spill climbing down from the roof. Went straight to the rental place and purchased scaffolding. Bought 4 sets at $100 apiece to reach the second story roofline. Pain in the butt to set-up for a quick inspection or job on the roof, BUT, it keeps me from climbing ladders at this age.

 

[wundudnee]

I am 81 years old and still in pretty fair shape. In May while sheltering in place I was fixing and repairing things like the energizer bunny. I got my garden in, repaired a couple screen doors, replaced some steel siding on my barn and.......started wiring my carport for lights. On my last trip down my six foot excellent Werner ladder I missed the last step. I lit on my left shoulder and totally destroyed my rotor cuff. They got me in for surgery on the 23rd of June. I had a total reverse shoulder replacement. They have been doing this operation since 2006 and it seems to be pretty successful. I just had my second PT today, only a couple more months to go.

I had had surgery on that shoulder before and it had staples in it. I tore one loose and the Dr removed that one. When I leave this earthly life the folks that cremate me are going to make out well on salvage with all the metal in me. I really doubt I'm done with ladders, but maybe I'll think a little better.