Climbing up a ladder today

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

Henry, I've never tried a Red Bull. I like to sip a Seven-and-Seven (or two) when I'm dining out with She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed, but I'll give one a try soon.

[rpaul]

Keith,

I was there last year but not on a ladder attached to a building. I was climbing on a free standing ladder from one roof to another. I fell 8 feet to the lower roof when the ladder kicked out. I landed on my stomach and rolled up the roof. It was one of the scarriest days of my life. The buyer came running around the bushes, yelling! I just sat there for a minute.. Thinking... I just did this inspection for free! The ladder landed on a Hot Tub. I was ok, except for my pride. I also learned a very good lesson. Do every thing safely! I only have one life and the family would not be happy if I was around but they had to take care of me! So safety is first!
Think safety always! I did a couple of building this year with steel ladders on the buildings for Fire Escape, I would not climb on them or recommend anyone to climb on them. They were bolted into the concrete and brick walls but I would not trust them. The owner told the local police was giving them a fit about the ladders being over grown with vines. I said, your reason for being mad? I personally knew the owner. He said I was as big of .............. as they were. ( you can fill in the blank) I told him I was paid to be and he taught me to be! We laughed together but he did take me serious. But I did tell him to have those ladders fixed. He agreed! Safety! No safety, Law Suits. Guess who would be the one who climbs down them, some guys selling drugs trying to get away from the cops.

Be Safe and have a Happy New Year!

Rick

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

Glad that you're here to tell the tale, and to make NACHI proud. Thanks.

[dfogleman]

Congratulations on your successful ascent/decent.

Up and down a ladder daily for years...down is always the scary part.

I often reminded my employees (and myself in doing so) no one ever fell off of a roof, a ladder, a scaffold, etc. until they did! Corny but it made them think a moment about what I said.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Bad experience this summer myself with ladders. Those things are treacherous.

I was painting the back side of the house, which is a story and one-half, and my ladder was actually 3 feet two short from what it should be. So, I ran a rope over the house and tied it to the top of the ladder and the other end to the hitch of my truck.
I then proceeded to secure the bottom of the ladder and tied it to the corner post rail of my deck. I then took extra precaution and tie myself to the ladder should I loose my balance.

Things seemed to work just great and I felt real secure, until the mishap that was caused when my wife decided to go shopping and my truck was in the way , so she forwarded my truck to the front lawn to get it out of the way.

Well, I'll tell you what, this was the most hectic experience in my life excluding the pain that I suffered.
When the truck pulled up, the ladder proceeded to climb the roof along with the porch rail post and me on it. Over the roof I go, ripped out the ridge vent on my way by, the ladder and the porch post hit my chimney and knock out the top course of brick and down I went to the other side of the house and landed straight for my Crab Apple tree and breaking every branch on the way down between my legs. The pain was too much.
Just when I thought that I would sustain this fall and pain, the bricks off my chimney came off the roof along with the ladder and porch post and hit me over the head.
I got up miraculously, with contusions to the head, but controlled the bleeding with my handkerchief, in the meantime my wife walks up to me and said (why and how in Gods name could you be so stupid to fall off the roof. I always knew you were pig headed and hard headed enough to not damage those bricks, now go fix the chimney and finish painting the house. )
Yes dear.

Moral; If you do decide to tie the safety rope to the hitch of your truck, hide the keys. ha. ha. ha.

Never and I mean never is enough precaution made when using ladders, and remember, that besides having a secure ladder, remember the 3-point contact.
Work safe.

Marcel


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[jwisecup]

My new ladder rule added today.

Do not step off the ladder onto the back of the sofa trying to reach that one spot! Normally-a nice soft landing is the worse that could happen, but bad idea when you have a pan of drywall mud in your hand.
Oh well, it cleans up pretty easy and my husband thought it was hilarious.

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

Marcel,
Talk about truth being stranger than fiction. That might be the damndest story I've ever heard, and it certainly beats my whimpy tale. (There's a moral here that has something to do with your wife, but I'm not sure what the moral is).

[Michael Larson]

Ahhhhhh, heloooooo, I'm quite sure Marcel was pulling our leg.

[wforsyth]

People take things too seriously around here.

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

I haven't mastered the use of emoticons, but did get a "B-" in Physics, know all about gravity and falling bodies, and was quite able to reason for myself, but thanks Wendy

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by kswift

I haven't mastered the use of emoticons, but did get a "B-" in Physics, know all about gravity and falling bodies, and was quite able to reason for myself, but thanks Wendy

Me?

Don't you mean thanks Michael?

[Keith Swift, PhD.]

Thanks Michael, thanks Wendy, and a great big thanks to Marcel, because he's good story teller and, oh, yes, he bought my book. Be healthy and happy, and stay safe.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by kswift

Thanks Michael, thanks Wendy, and a great big thanks to Marcel, because he's good story teller and, oh, yes, he bought my book. Be healthy and happy, and stay safe.

Speaking of your book, I followed the link in the e-mail you sent and could not find any discount for Inspect and Protect.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Can't wait to read it Keith, and thanks for all the help you have provided NACHI, and yes, I was pulling your leg on this ladder deal. ha. ha.

Marcel

[wforsyth]

I thought it was a very funny story!