Ironworker falls and lives to tell the story - Buck Rockafellow
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2013
- Buck tells the story of a workplace fall he suffered early in his career as an Ironworker. His story highlights the question of what is priority and what is value when it comes to safety. Priorities change from moment to moment while values are lifelong. If safety is truely a value, it can't be compromised. Too often, people learn to value safe practices after a tragic event. We hope you'll learn from Bucks experience.
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I was an iron worker for 25 Years and it’s by the grace of god that I’m still here because I had so many close calls and only lost one finger in those 25 Years. There are so many iron workers that don’t ever get to go home and some get to go home but they will never be the same after an accident. In my Years of doing the trade I know of four that never got to go home and several that got busted up so bad they couldn’t work anymore. I’m retired now because i wore my body out and I miss doing the job with the guy’s I worked with . I never liked being called a construction worker because iron working is art and to this day I never worked construction because I was a iron worker. If there’s any young guys reading this and thinking of going into the trade of iron work I wish you the best and always stay Union and enjoy building America like I did. Bad things happen know matter how safe you are so watch out for your brothers and they will always be watching out for you. Local 70
Calvin smith Local 55 its Everyman for himself, can’t tell you how many times I was forced to do something unsafe to keep my job and not get a “black eye” at the hall. I finally had enough and “blew the whistle” on something that was endangering a lot of lives. I haven’t been called for work now I’m over 4 months. My BM & GFs don’t care if I get hurt or die they will hang it around my neck and deny deny.
God bless you
U screw some beams together...lol art stupid sheep
Lol god wanted u be a debt slave
Rudy Straight Calm down man
You are very fortunate. I started in 1977, 4 days after graduating high school.I will have 42 years in this June and all good years. I feel when I was 46. Went over backwards 16’ landing on my head and splitting my hard hat down both sides. When I came to and sat up my left leg was at a 90 degree angle just below the knee cap and tore my bicep on my right arm some stitches on my right shoulder but the worst was the five broken ribs. Was out 5 months. Had my right knee replaced in 2009 and took 4 weeks off. Had my left hip replaced in 2013 and was out 5 weeks. When a wiremule cable snapped I was cranking on parted I held on to the handle to keep me from flying off the building by tore everything in there. Had that fixed but the doctor hit a few nerves and left my pinky and closest finger to it numb for life along with muscle apathy in my hand next to my thumb. Jumped off the bottom of the ladder 3 rongs up from the bottom when I was 26 and landed on a safety post angle snapping my tail bone. The doctor showed me the X-ray and said see these little gray lines, if that break was a half inch higher you would be paralyzed for life. Had many stitches and broken fingers over the years. Spent my first year and a half punking bolts and the next 8 years steady connecting. In 1987 the company made me a raising gang foreman and have been running that gang ever since. But I’m a working foreman and treat my men like we’re all the same. I will be 62 in a year and a half and getting a little anxious to retire but don’t know how I’m going to make it with out all the camaraderie that goes with the job. It is a hard job but we have fun doing it and will miss that the most. My body is telling me it’s getting near time to call It quits and hopefully I can make it to the end. Every one stay safe.
my step dad fell around 90 feet, hit a crane on the way down, and actually lived, it was all over the news, he was ina coma for months, recovery for years, he walks with a walker now, uses a wheelchair out in public cuz he cant walk fast and its hard to do. my literal iron man
Your are hot
Thanks for sharing your story Buck, I hope it serves as a warning for all those that think they can take short cuts. I erected steel in the UK for 40+yrs, and in that time only had one fall (about 20') when a ladder broke. I came down on my back into deep wet mud, and got away with the wind being knocked out of me. I've had more squashed fingers than I can remember (including 6 in one go), but I count myself as one of the lucky ones.
35 years, nothing but hard work being a union Ironworker. I love all the crazy shit and all the wild men.
it only takes a second. I am a sheet metal worker, retired now, unrelated to the accident, but I left a 60 story building and went to a tear out job in a two story building, no hard hat, it was what we called a "ball cap" job, we were tearing out small duct lines and we were standing on top of ten foot ladders. My partner was disconnecting the duct and I was cutting the hangers, but there was a hanger on there that had no business being there, someone actually put a hanger on the side of a columne. I got a concussion, a broke wrist, a separated shoulder I had to have surgery on later, a broken rib that punctured a lung. All that just falling off a ladder. God bless that guy in the video I hope he totally recovers and does well,. You guys be safe, ALL THE TIME.
Buck, Thanks for sharing your story! You are tough-willed, that's why you're still here. All the best!
This Brother went in the hole and is lucky to be alive. Late 1998, I remember having my tool belt with my bolt bags and spuds slung over my shoulder and my cup of coffee in my hand at about 7:00 AM. Fast forward to about 8:30 AM, and I am laying in the mud. My shoulder is out of it's socket (it was also fractured), I was shaking uncontrollably and vomiting. Had my partner drive me to the ER. Some head trauma, broken bone in shoulder, two cracked ribs, memory loss. The memory sorta came back after about three years but there are still parts of my life I can't quite remember (THANK GOD!)!!! Had a couple other injuries to the shoulder including catching a broken grinding disc which cost me 65 stitches. Had my eyes drilled out on four separate occasions. Tear under the knee cap. Broken foot. Many, many stitches from cut off wheels exploding. Torn cartilage in the shoulder. Lots more; too many to list. But it was a great career! I miss the field! I miss the grubby, smelly, rude, loud, obnoxious ironworkers!
Carry on, brothers! Be safe!
Would you consider telling your story for my camera?
Not so much to tell ... just what I relayed here. But no, I wouldn't mind
Get in touch with me: rpierce@haskellcorp.com
Getting hurt happens to the best of Ironworkers. I put 4 years in the Navy before joining the Ironworkers in 1973. The Navy tried to kill me a few times. The Navy gave me the mean mouth and ready to fight . Retired now, only came off the Iron once I was tied off , never got use to being tied off and pull myself right off. Glad 1 was in when I was, because I can't stand anyone but a brother talking to me. F a bunch of safety people and office boys. Whatever it's easy to get kill .
Your a fucking scumbag Pierce. You went out your way to screw me over when I fell. I'll get even. Always do!!!!!!!!!!!!
Current iron worker I just wanna tell you your a survivor and a medical miracle bro you opened my eyes I’m gonna drink 4 big beers instead of 5 after work now
Crazy story. Glad you’re still here. I worked with a rock driller that fell 60ft of a cliff and lived
Worked out of 433 from 87 to 05. Had several close calls. It took its toll on me body but it was very rewarding. Miss the brotherhood and comraderie. Work safe and watch out for your partners. Big Iron Forever.
509 and 433 from June of 88 to May of 03 had a few close calls but ZERO lost time injuries in my career. Last year on the Hyatt in Pasadena some Mexicans decided to drop some lumber on me. Broken shoulder denied claim denied medical attention. After all the safe years in iron I get this building wooden stairs.... Anyways Regards from Palmdale
I work with a guy who used to set towers, and while they were riding a section of the tower up the crane turned over and they fell 80ft and lived. They pretty much broke every bone in their body but the crazy thing was they landed inside of a cemetery
Great video...
My dad was an iron worker . I told him when I grow up I'm going to be like you and be an iron worker. He told me no your not. its to dangerous . I told him I'll be careful. He told me Well then they'll fire you.
I also worked as a iron worker back in 86 to 88 until I got hurt on the job, I fractured a disc and sprained two other disc's I couldn't go back to work anymore and I really miss that job and another thing I miss about that job is the pay was good and the overtime was great. the last time I worked on that job was a easter weekend it was a Friday and I felt so good but around the time it was to lunch I started feeling wierd and the crew manager just happened to start at our crew and as the manager left to do another inspection and I also went back to work but I started to feel the sole of my boots slipping as if it had soap on them. but to make things short I slipped and got hurt on the job. and spent the Easter weekend in the ICU and awoke about three days later.
I fell from a drilling rig(triple )derrick first time up. Finished my tour.
Every breath is a miracle praise God
I did iron working for 2 years, I was told to do stuff on a regular basis that was not safe that put my body and life in danger and if I complained refused or “blew the whistle” I would be let go from the job and would be given a “black eye” through the hall. These GF’s do not give a damn about you because if you get hurt doing something dangerous (that they are pretty much forced you to do if you wanted to remain employed ) guess what they deny it and hang it around your neck & the the hall backs them. Seen it happen quite a few times has happened to me countless times only ever got caught by safety and hung out to dry once.
just started the trade about 3 months ago never liked heights but it's always fun to be off the ground. but it's always in the back of my head that I could fall. but it's extremely fun doing ironwork.
Keep with it, Duncan! Learn as much as you can; the more skills you have the more employable you are
What made you want to be an ironworker? So many other trades with better pay and working conditions. I understand sometimes we gotta take what we can get. I'd take a look at the elevator constructors or electrical trade if I had stayed in the trades.
ELIRAXPRT u think electricity is safer than heights?
My brother fallen 30ft as a roofer yrs back landed flat on his feet was in bad shape he pulled through and still walking today it's weird how the god lord picks people.
I fell 33ft also when I was 20 took me 3-4 years of recovery
it was u that fell because u are sending out a message to be safer and who knows maybe one person just one is about to slip but they remember this video and dont
I was riggin core deck off a 40'flatbed with 18'' of free deck at the back of the trailer crane operator came up on the load it drifted back pushed me off falling backwards I threw out my right arm to catch the fall shattered my elbow broke my wrist two days earlier same operator pinned my knee between a fence post and the outrigger shredded the cartridge in my knee the operator had back issues on pain pills not saying it was his fault but always be aware work smart and for God sake slow down
In my country workers are killed in the workplace and critically injured every year.We have 8 states of which several have introduced industrial manslaughter laws.Against Companies and Individuals found negilgent in the death of workers .One state which recently introduced such laws.Has charged a manager with I.M.Having operated a forklift on sloping ground tipped over.On top of a 25 year old subcontractor killing him.Hes facing a possible 25 year jail sentence.Those states yet to introduce such laws.Give plead deals and fine those responsible for the death of workers.We had 3 workers killed in the month of November 2022 within 3 days.And a female farm worker working alone was critically injured on a farm.Operating a tractor with a hay cutting attachment.She lost her legs and a arm.Dispite her herrendous injuries she was able to use her mobile to call emergency services...saving her life.
God had mercy on him. 🙏
Not enough money
And the rich get richer at others sacrifice
Exactly fuck that
Or wow a very nice sad and lucky story 😇
hopefully joining the local 67 in DM, Iowa. I can't wait i love heights.
Goodness. Wisdom is earned in struggles and good times.
Local. 377 here much respect to the old timers
Wow
Any chance of getting a hold of Buck Rockafellow for an interview these days?
I see him every day at work, he would probably do it if you contacted him
Almost 30 yrs for me, I did some sketchy shit over the years, and luck was with me. That's all it was , luck.
At 18yrs old, I got a job in a steel fab' workshop. using a 7ton mobile crane to drop sheets of steel into a vertical storage rack, I thought it would be quicker to get out of the rack by holding onto the crane hook & get the driver to reverse & put me on the ground.
I DIDN'T MAKE IT.
As the crane reversed, the boom shook & jolted, & me with leather gloves on couldn't keep my grip. I fell about 5 feet & as I did I saw 1 bit of jagged steel protruding from the end of the rack. I figured I was gonna land on that bit of steel as I fell & see it rip my chest open.
How the hell I missed it & landed on dirt I'll never know. I near had a heart attack afterwards too.
Consider carefully...... every step you take. It could be your last one !!
Don’t take short cuts
PS it really was God's will for I am now a new creation in Christ
As an apprentice
i have fell too. now i freeze up all the time, 15 feet. now im trying to pound nails, ??????????
I am a IW that fell 34' back in the 90's. I landed on a existing stone and rubber flat roof. I went head first, hit hard and impacting on my right shoulder. No black out ,laying on my back I moved my fingers and toes, thinking to myself damn I'm not dead. I started to get up but the other trades rushed over to keep me down. Went to the ER in a ambulance. They found nothing broken. I went back to work same day. I'm tough & The Man up stairs likes me for some reason. It was around his sons birthday(Christmas) I went to church to thank him. I don't freeze up now days walking Iron (just older and slower ;), but I always remember how lucky I am. Rain Man IWAL 88-17
Good luck, be safe.
Construction ain't light duty
Wow, i once broke a nail,
Hit it on the head with a hammer.
It's a young man's game, any thing over 30 yrs your out to pasture.
30 huh???? Im 40 and still hanging and banging!!!
Bullshit work with 50 plus warriors that can work circles around most
I worked iron well into my 40s
Made it to 61 ladies, buc the fuck up....
@@roddiener salute!!
no need of this music that pollutes this video, this story deserves better treatment... no thumb up.
How do you work twoyears then go into supervision lolll
James Jones if that's all you got out of this, I hope you're not in construction. Also, he grew up in an ironworker family. It's who you know.
4thcornervideo if you think working a trade for 2 years then fuck up then go into supervision you shouldnt be in construction.
Grow up Jimmy
Anyone can do it smartass its who you know, super spot for the contractors requires 2 or more years for assitant super, But hd did say he had schooling to
I hope this man has come to know the Lord if he doesn't already.