A Plea for Safety

Marcus

Marcus

Well-known member
All: installing an outside drain on one of my outbuildings, trusty aluminum ladder with no apparent issues. Standing on the fourth rung of an 8-rung ladder, the unit suddenly “scissored” and I fell straight onto my back. L3 vertebra has a compression fracture; doctor says very limited activity plus physical therapy for next 6 weeks and all shall be well. I am very, very blessed. However, the point of this: close inspection of said ladder revealed the rivets on the top rung (which attach the sides) are worn nearly through, with one that sheared and resultant twisting of the others. Please inspect ALL of your equipment ~ I need your expertise readily at hand!!
 
Marcus, I am sincerely sorry for your suffering. I am glad that the doc believes you will heal well.
 
Marcus said:
All: installing an outside drain on one of my outbuildings, trusty aluminum ladder with no apparent issues. Standing on the fourth rung of an 8-rung ladder, the unit suddenly “scissored” and I fell straight onto my back. L3 vertebra has a compression fracture; doctor says very limited activity plus physical therapy for next 6 weeks and all shall be well. I am very, very blessed. However, the point of this: close inspection of said ladder revealed the rivets on the top rung (which attach the sides) are worn nearly through, with one that sheared and resultant twisting of the others. Please inspect ALL of your equipment ~ I need your expertise readily at hand!!
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Hi Marcus; I know you've been in way more difficult situations and you'll be OK but this still sucks. May you heal quickly, and God bless,Craig.
 
Marcus,
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Yikes that sounds really scary to fall like that! Take your time and rest!
Regards,
Chris
 
Been there, but worse.
Plan to exercise as much as possible, when you get stability. That TV is a slow killer.

Think about building bone density. Best Wishes
 
Sorry to hear about you fall , When I worked in construction aluminum ladders were outlawed . The are only good for scrap. use only wood or fiberglass
 
I also remember aluminum being outlawed. Wood will creak and flex a little. Aluminum justs breaks. Also aluminum pipe wrenches.


Bruce
 
Sorry to hear this Marcus. Thank GOD you weren't hurt worse. Keeping you in prayer & inspecting my ladders.
 
I'm sorry to hear of your accident. It is a reminder of how quickly health and life can change. I'm praying for your fast and uneventful recovery.
 
I had a wooden ladder break, when stepping on the 3rd rung it broke. With a bundle of composition shingles on my shoulder I went down through the first 2 rungs. I was fortunate, no injuries.
Marcus, I know about compression fractures. They have severely limited my ability to do much. Be very careful and don't further injure yourself.
 
Marcus, sorry to hear about your injury. Ladders always seem to be dangerous. Take care and give yourself time to heal. I get up on ladders more than I should at my age. Mostly doing gutter repair and cleaning, and roof work on my two story home. My wife always yells at me for doing this, but I can't find anyone local to me who is willing to do this work.
 
Marcus, prayers and best wishes on a speedy and complete recovery.

JM, I still get up on ladders to work on my old house. We both should listen to our wives on this one.

I would not use a wood ladder anymore, they fail suddenly.

Also, check the load rating on your ladder and look at the reading on your bathroom scale.:)
 
That really sucks. I hope you recover well.


ladders and accidents always remind me of my grandma taking down a air conditioner shroud. The step ladder braces buckled. Took off the skin of 3 fingers trying to grab the angle arm support of the ac was on. She was a librarian. They were amputated, but she said she could move them when they were just bone. Holy smokes!


My uncle said to sue. Grandma wasn't into that. Come to find out yrs later they were selling under designed ladders.



A good ladder is a good thing.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Marcus, sorry to hear about your injury. Ladders always seem to be dangerous. Take care and give yourself time to heal. I get up on ladders more than I should at my age. Mostly doing gutter repair and cleaning, and roof work on my two story home. My wife always yells at me for doing this, but I can't find anyone local to me who is willing to do this work.
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Could not agree more!! And Marcus, my hopes for your complete recovery.


And addition to Marcus' issue with the ladder condition, make sure the base is on firm footing. Mine wasn't during a cutter cleaning job and broke my elbow when I hit the concrete. In a cast for 6 weeks and PT after that. Lucky I didn't hit my head!!


And John, my dear wife doesn't yell, but she's not happy when I'm up on a ladder!!
 
Marcus, sorry to hear the report. Rest the body and let it heal. I have been a painter for over 40 years. Don't buy cheap ladders. They are heavier for a reason. Here are good tips for setting up your ladder. If you are not on concrete, feet are always up. Never put a brick, rock or 2x4 under a foot to level it up. Go get your shovel and dig a plug out of the ground. You can put it back when you are done. I am 65 and still moving them around safely. But anything can happen. BE SAFE
 
Marcus; Hope you heal quickly without complications.

My Doctor absolutely forbids me getting on the roof or even on a step ladder and my wife enforces that mandate. Probably good advice but it makes me feel OLD. I suspect most of the members here are about my vintage. I'm 76, or as I like to tell my grand kids 25 with 51 years experience. When I was a kid that was old but not now.
 
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