Been doing sheetmetal and hvac for twenty-two years. I was fired from a job because I didn’t want to crawl through 6” of standing water under a double wide trailer several winters ago. I had no idea if there was random electricial hanging under this thing. The water was oil slicked and stinky... I was fired right then and there for saying I didn’t feel safe climbing under that thing. Small mom and pop shop. The boss was a hot head. Better job now, better, more understanding boss, better pay, less bullshit. Good speech. At the end of the day, I must decide what is right, safe, and smart. Thanks.
I was on a job and after a hurricane the underground electrical tunnel was full of water and a bundle of wires you couldn't put both arms around. They told me to go down there. I looked at the super and said, After you. Then I just walked away. They didn't fire me. I'm still laughing about that crap today. Go down there. Yeah you go down. I'm pretty nuts but there's some stuff that's over the line.
We lost a journeyman that crawled into a duct and cut wire without using a Toner. to see if it was hot. It was and he's gone. Another was crippled from falling off a 16 foot A-frame. He died later. I refuse to approach a panel that is surrounded by standing water. The hacked conditions make it too dangerous. My boss is fine with that. I recently read that an HVAC guy cut into the insulation to work on the refrigeration line. Guess what? He was almost killed because someone had placed a conductor inside. Enjoy your new job. It's been my experience that a new job is always better.
Sheetmetal Dad - My dad was the first & only person who ever fired me. I was 14. He owned a SERVICE station & when I refused to clean the restrooms, he fired me saying “ I don’t care if you are the vice president of a corporation, when the man who signs your paycheck says to do something, you do it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s digging ditches or shoveling manure, if you’re taking his money you do what he tells you on the job.” A very useful lesson which has helped me throughout life.
Even if you’re on to a better job, I hope you took the time to file a complaint with OSHA. Employers like that need to be outed so they can either be brought into compliance or shut down.
The is the type of comment one should expect to read on this type of channel. It is observant, complimentary without being rude, and grammatically correct.
I was a house painter for 30 years. I had a few rules about ladder safety but my top two were: Before standing up your extension ladder, always do a 360 with your head, looking for power lines. Do this even if you’ve only moved it a few feet. The other rule is for when you’re up on the extension ladder, reaching to one side or the other. Never allow your belt buckle to be outside the ladder’s uprights. It only takes a few minutes to get down and move the ladder and that could save your life.
My father fell almost 18 feet off a ladder only a little over a year before his retirement. Broke his back along with half the other bones in his body. He never fully recovered but it’s an absolutely miracle that he’s still alive. A highly experienced mason and was very respected as a foreman but the ladder still won in the long haul. Always take them seriously.
I've caught hell once or twice for refusing to do something I knew wasn't safe, and my response is always the same, "You want it done that bad, _you_ do it, I can get another job a whole lot easier than I can get another life."
Statistically speaking a ladder is more dangerous than a handgun, that’s why I keep 9 handguns in the shop, just Incase some psycho tries to bring a ladder in
March 1, 1978 That's when a ladder come down with me at 16 feet on it. When your tailbone and concrete meet from that distance it tends to cause some damage ! A lot of surgerys to be able to walk again but still live with a lot of pain every day as for the last 39 years. I really hope that none of you out there have an accident because of a ladder, but if you do I hope that it's a small one and that YOU LEARN FROM IT !! Thank you Scott for bringing this up, as you can see, it hits home with me for sure, maybe it can save someone else a lot of pain! Thanks for sharing and take care.
Ken Gamble -- I suffered from a crushed vertebra in my upper back due to an injury in 1967 and from a degenerated L5-S1 disc due to an injury in 1980. About four months ago I had them treated with Prolozone, and I am now pain-free day and night. This is also a great treatment for joint injuries and arthritis. There are several good videos on the topic here on TH-cam. Drs. Shallenberger and Rowan are excellent sources of information. I hope you can find the same relief I did.
Ken, I didn't know whether you'd ever see my reply, and I'm delighted that you did. Prolozone is the injection of an ozone solution into or close to damaged tissues. It kicks the body's repair mechanisms into high gear. I've sent several of my rough & tumble friends to a doctor here in Georgia, who uses this treatment. Everyone of them has benefited tremendously -- including those whose surgeries failed to bring relief. Georgia and a few other states have great medical-freedom laws, but this treatment may be hard to find in your state. Dr. Shallenberger publishes a list of doctors he has trained.
HarveyWysong Thanks, I'm doing some research on it now and will talk to my doctor about it in a few days. I'm in Arizona so not sure about it here. I've tried pretty much everything else but I have a lot of nerve damage that they ( doctors) say can not get any better. Thanks again!
Im An Electrician Who Once Worked For Directv And Let Me Confess Ive Made Some Stupid Decisions On Ladders On A Weekly Basis. Guys Please Listen To This Man He's Extremely Knowledgeable. Stay Safe☝
all great tips, I have been working safely on ladders for over thirty years now without mishap thankfully. If I could add one tip tho it would be to not ride your hands up and down the edges of the ladder as you climb or descend. Much safer to grip each rung as you go ....that way if you lose footing for any reason ie grease on boots or a rung breaks you will instinctivley grip the rung . Hands at side rails are impossible to grip and you will go down.
This seems fine until you step in dogshit. Putting hands on rungs means you'll only have 2 pts of contact often. If you try to climb using rungs, you'll naturally move one foot and the opposite hand, at the same time. Hands should be gripping the edge opposite your body.
Thank you for this video, you may have just saved my life and limb. Sometimes I seem unable to remember that I am 70, not 35, therefore, my safety tool, my brain, doesn't, on occasion, kick in as soon as it should. This video is a great reminder that you do not have to do a task that you do not feel safe doing. You can always hire someone to do that ladder job at a much lower cost than a hospital stay, or worse, a funeral, THANK YOU AND MY WIFE THANKS YOU!!!
Just want to say how grateful I am that you're sharing your knowledge in such a practical and clear way, I've spent my morning watching a lot of your videos, this is one of the best channels I've found so far, and I've been on this website for like 6 years. Thank you!! I will continue to watch and learn!
Being a professional roofer in my younger years, we always pinned the top of the latter with 16 penny nails . This insures that the the top wont slide off building. This tip has saved the crew countless times.
@Jason vorhees set the ladder where you want it, once you reach the top, put a 3 1/2" nail on either side tight to the ladder into the fascia, but don't drove the nail all the way in, leave it sticking out a out 1 1/2" - 2". I've used 3 1/4" nails as well. I wouldn't suggest this on anything that is already finished.
@DinkleDigeroo congratulations, you've just ruined two straps. They aren't designed to have nails through them and will simply tear out under load. There was a roofer who thought if he nailed his lifeline strap to the roof with 5 nails it would work just as well as one that has been fastened to an anchor which has been nailed to rafter/truss. He tripped and the strap ripped right off the nails and he landed on the ground.
I never seen a ladder without the L on the side of it. That's what the L is for. The upright of the leg should be vertical and the bottom leg should be horizontal. The L is at a bit of an angle on the ladder.
Was a volunteer firefighter for 5 years... we always practiced with our ladders. From how to carry them, move them around and safely operate them. Never got complacent when using them, respect the angles!!!
I am 72 and an amature at everything, but had good craftsmen /teachers at repairing my city town home. And as you have said I listened. So I listened to you and bought a Gorilla glxp-5 . What a difference a good sturdy ladder can make for doing small jobs around my house. Thanks for the advice.
My old next door neighbour fought the Nazis as a young man in WW2 for the Czech resistance. He was one tough old bird. On Father's Day in 1997, he fell from a ladder onto his concrete back steps and never walked again. As the first guy on the scene, I cannot stress the importance of ladder safety enough to people. Thank you for a very good video about a very important subject.
My scariest moment is always dismounting the ladder onto a roof, and re-entering the ladder coming down. I'd love to see a demonstration on how that's done, because it's terrifying to transfer my weight from one to another
I always try do re-mount the ladder in the same exact manner that I dismount, just in the reverse order (obviously). So, if I get off the ladder to the left of the ladder and step off with my right foot, then I will get on the ladder with the ladder to my right and lead with my right foot. At least this way you know that you are transferring your weight in the same way each time and you have some muscle memory working for you.
Slow is fast on a ladder. Maintain your weight distribution and balance slowly. On your butt, turn over on your knees and go slow. The higher you are the worst the tipping point.
As a CATV broadband specialist I was taught when raising and lowering an extension ladder you get more control of the ladder in the 10:1 vertical position. Also, the Ice cleats of the feet are good to use engaged on gravel, soil, and of course Ice to prevent the ladder from sliding outward. On solid surfaces such as concrete, etc. to use the rubber pad of the feet on the ground. And it is NEVER ok to climb a ladder in high winds 30mph or greater.
Hi Scott, great video! Wish we had youtube 32 years ago. I learned the hard way. lol. I was 16 when I was working on a ladder +10 meters high in a factory under construction, drilling holes through a thick concrete wall when the ladder foot slipped away. (Smooth tiles on the ground) for a quarter of a second I felt so helpless, knowing that I would hit the ground and the drill would follow me. After a few minutes on the ground I realized I had nothing broken. And the Hilti drill was still in the hole 12 meters above me XD. I was so happy that day! Now I'm a 48 year old firefighter. Not afraid of heights and ladders. And think the biggest risk of my work is the ladder;) Love your channel! greetings from the Netherlands (I apologize for any mistakes in my English)
I had a friend who left a scraper on his ladder, and when he moved it, it fell on his arm and severed his tendons. It only made a small mark when the corner of the blade hit. But he realized he couldn't move his hand. Scary shit.
very true! my uncle was on a small step stool 2nd rung/step up from the bottom,fell, hit his head just rite & passed away on site. take this mans advice people. a lil safety goes a long way & may possibly save your life
My grandpa was all drunked up on the job site and he fell off a 9 story building. The doc said he'd have been OK if he didn't try to catch a beam on the 2nd floor. But that did wrench his back out a bit. He still worked for years after that. Nobody is OG anymore these days.
Fantastic episode! Ladder safety was very seriously emphasized throughout my firefighter training. On a good day with perfect conditions (like in this episode), ladders are very dangerous. If you add any water, wind, dust, debris, heavy hand tools, etc. they immediately become extremely dangerous. Many men have died falling from ladders and roofs. Great episode!👍🏻
Consider expanding this just a little. Example 1: When extending a ladder to access another walking surface like a roof, or a beam. Ladder must be extended two, preferably three rungs above the surface you need to walk on. Far too many people set the last run to equal the walking height, just to kick the ladder out from under them as they transition off it. Example 2: Ladder stability and mother nature. Setting a ladder up "just good enough" to get the job done can bite you when a wind gust is enough to blow the ladder down. Especially when you are running solo on the other side of the roof and maybe mother nature is taking a quick turn for the worst. i know I would rather not hang out on a roof during a wind and or lightening storm just because I thought I could beat it by not taking the time for a thorough setup.
I got the impression that you were aiming more for a "Basic safety of working FROM a ladder" on the video. Now you have video content you can refer back to when you do your Ladder Safety Part 2 video - Accessing spaces and other risks. Lots more ladder safety content to go through, and lots of young people headed into the trades who could make some good use of solid TH-cam content. - How do you get on and off a ladder at the top? - How do you move equipment up a ladder safely? (Sometimes the answer should be: Don't.) - Look up! Swinging your ladder into a power line does not make for a great day. - Check your shimming and ground pressure: Using a large shim to level the ladder is a fun way to surprise yourself as your ladder tips the opposite way when the unsupported side digs into the ground - How stable are the conditions and can they change? Last summer we had a local contractor take a dive off a ladder when water from another job on the site ended up running into the hard packed dirt where he had his ladder placed - No one noticed the hard clay dissolving into mud until after the fall. The number of contractors in my area who still don't tie off their ladders when doing roof work, and don't carry safety rope gear with them, is amusing and sad at the same time. There is one guy who I think might become paranoid that I've been following him around and knocking his ladder over on him, as I've randomly come across him stranded on a roof while I've been out walking four times over three years.
Shain Andrews OSHA says three ladder sections or 3' extended at least. And three points of contact (two hands and one foot or two feet one hand) at all times.
So long as you're giving the definitive on ladder safety, extension ladder minimum overlap may be worth a mention. I am well impressed with your channel. I know you've a lot you want to pass along. Thanks for doing it.
Great video, your talk on being responsible for yourself etc every young person starting out in the trades needs to hear this! In part II please also talk about how to carry a ladder and how to load/unload and secure a ladder to a roof rack on a vehicle. Thanks!
I normally work alone. However, I hire a helper on any job that requires an extension ladder. He is a spotter and tosses up any necessary tools or supplies. Usually the job is large enough that a helper is beneficial and helps in many ways increasing efficiency. Thank you for your wisdom! I work safer because of your influential videos.
I don't watch a lot of TV. But I have enjoyed Tim the Tool Man and Al on "Home Improvement". The most common goof I noticed from them was placing a ladder backwards. You can tell this from the side if the round rungs have a flat side on top. So it became a habit to look there every time I see a ladder being used. Thanks for good safety tips about ladders.
What an excelent presentation. Clear consice instructions and you're clearly speaking from genuine concern, not 'talking down' to your audience. You've probably saved folks from serious injury or worse. My hat's off to you sir.
Thanks for making this video. For some reason it means so much more coming from a professional tradesmen like yourself than some clipboard worrier. And that opening scene...BRAVO!!! (applause) I'm an electrical foreman and nothing scares me more than ladders. I try to drill into my men's brains the dangers associated with ladders and how much of that goes away if we use them right. But theres two people I have to really look out for. The older more experienced folk who say I've done it like this a thousand times, and the new folks that either don't know any better, or worse yet think they're doing and extra good job by putting production over ladder safety. This video you just made will become part of my tool box talk on ladder safety. Thank you again for this. I benefit greatly from your superior knowledge and now my men will too. Please keep the videos coming.
Very much accurate, "means so much more coming from an expert"... great, professional, and knowing presentation... makes a huge difference.. great video... and great comment Mr. Milloy.
Post the OSHA fatalities and casualties list each week; and highlight the falls. It's always the case that 25 to 40% of these victims die in falls; show them the data, it's hard to ignore.
Great video and excellent info. I have a few things I'd like to add: When using an extension ladder on loose ground, as in this video, I always pivot the feet to the teeth and set them in the ground. The rubber foot is more suitable for hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete. Also, if using an extension ladder to climb on to a roof, for instance, always extend the ladder high enough past the roof so that when transitioning from the roof back onto the ladder, you can hold the ladder with both hands as you step back onto it. A tie-off point is also a great idea for an extension ladder, if possible. Just a few extras from a 32 year Electrician (we live on ladders). Oh and we had a fatality on a job - from the bottom step of a 6' ladder. The man fell back and hit his head. This would bring up my last "tip". If going up and down ladders frequently and trying to move quickly, it's easy to "miss a step", as I call it - where you go down and you think you are one step lower than you really are. You anticipate that you are stepping off the ladder onto the ground, but you are still 1 or even 2 steps up. That step is a doozy. I do this more than I care to admit. Be safe everyone.
I've done this too many times. Every time, when the foot doesn't stop, it just keeps going, and you realize you've missed that step, you have that microsecond to think, "AWW MAN! NOT AGAIN! HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO HURT THIS TIME!?" Another variation is the young buck who insists on skipping that last step, and jumps off from the second. That always stops after the first or second ankle roll/sprain.
most of my construction life as painter and remodeler was spent on a ladder and ladder safety cannot EVER be overemphasized--excellent video, i would add always wear proper footwear--flip flops are tempting when it's about 100 out there but even if you don't fall you will have permanently disfigured feet! when ascending and descending slide your hands up and down the side rails (as shown) and not on the rungs--you will miss eventually and hopefully just scare the living daylights out of yourself. if you work with inexperienced people, take the time to watch them -- they may not be as lucky as i was!
My best friend was a professional roofer for more than 40 years. Gordon could (& would) go anywhere a squirrel could, he was fearless. He did take chances on occasions & "lucked out" on a couple of mishaps. He had to inspect a roof above a porch that had a one inch pitch metal roof. He set up his ladder & climbed a bit over 10 feet, when the bottom started to slide out. He wasn't high enough to have something to grab, & went down with the ladder, (all the way to the ground,) he had a broken pelvis. He ultimately died from that fall about a year later from complications with surgery & infection. I deeply respect ladders, & appreciate your video.
Good practical advice as always. As a retired firefighter (UK) we placed the heel/foot of the extension ladder out from the building 1/5 of the working height. which we could estimate as each floor was about 10 ft. So if the top of the ladder was at 30 ft the base of the ladder would be 6 ft away from the wall. Most DIY ladders that I have seen in the UK have an angled red line on the side of the ladder. When the red line is vertical you have a safe climbing angle. If you have someone footing, heeling or as you say spotting the ladder make sure they have a hard hat and don't look up. No point in wearing a hard hat only for a dropped tool to hit you in the face. One other thing if you pitch a ladder with a view to climbing off the top on to a roof or similar, extend the ladder way beyond the step off point so that your first step is on to a round (rung) which is above the eves of the roof or whatever and you also have something to hold on to while you move back on to the ladder. To do this safely you need to tie off the top of the ladder or have someone securing the base
thank you for the safety tips. i lost my best friend 3 years ago this coming october 7th due to a ladder fall on concrete from 12 ft. was standing on top step. respect ladder safety. it can prevent serious injury/death
Ladder safety can't be understated. Your advice is invaluable. Thank you! Of all the tools I've ever used working with metal and wood, framing to fixing semis, ladders are the most terrifying. I'm a bit surprised you didn't mention weight limits though. I had an A frame bend under me with the added weight of an end of a 2x8.
Thanks for taking the time to inspire others to be safe. It's all too common, especially on TH-cam, to see people ignoring safety protocols and acting as though that makes them cool or tough. I would also like to add two points of concern regarding safe use of an extension ladder, both learned hard and painfully... First, if you're going to be using the ladder as an access point to another surface try to find a way to secure the top of the ladder to the anchor point. I've had a ladder blown over, even though it was on a secure footing. Second, when you were letting the ladder down towards the end of the video you were grasping the rope between the rungs; think about what would happen if you lost your grip on the rope. Best case scenario is you get a very bruised arm. That nylon rope is slick as hell when it gets wet and trust me when I say the extension falls very quickly with nobody holding the rope! Thanks again for all the informative content. Stay safe everybody.
I love that you emphasize our brain as the most important safety tool and how its is our own responsibility to say "no". The explanation of the reasoning behind every tip is excellent and helps people adapt to situations that might not be exactly covered. I think other good explanations to have would be on how to carry, open, setup, extend, etc. the ladder.
first day on the job tomorrow gutter cleaning and window washing ...ive never been up on ladders over 8 feet and I was guided by the boss to watch some videos on extension ladders. I came across essential craftsman and this wonderful gentleman showing a great respect for human life which is not a given as we know in today's world. Thank you for sharing these videos and putting the extra emphasis on how important safety is. The direct real ..beyond essential reminders this video conveys clearly concisely has really helped me to confidently and more importantly SAFELY approach my first day! May Jah watch over us all in the daily risks we take just being a human being. Im grateful for the care and effort that is put in to videos like this. Deep thanks JW
Another great video. Your emphasis on personal evaluation of safety is vitally important. We each have a different comfort level. I’ve often said to my crews “Just because I feel safe doesn’t mean you will feel safe.” Also I’ve often talked to people after accidents. 99% of the time they admit that right before it happened there was a little voice in their head warning them “I shouldn’t do this.” Its great to see that the macho willingness to take stupid risks is disappearing from sites. And much was we deride the OSHA safety classes for a lack of specificity, they do have an almost unnoticed effect. Cumulatively they help instill an overall sense that safety is an all-important issue every single day.
I used a 30 foot sectional ladder made just for window washing. I used my own sense of what felt safe for 20 years with one bad fall. That one bad fall was from a 6 foot step ladder and I was 3 steps up. It really comes down to confidence in what your equipment is capable of. Problems happen when pressing to get it done and being too cavalier. It sure doesn't hurt to slow down a bit a reassess.
I've watched this before, several other similar videos, plus an actual ladder training class, worked on ladders for years, and thought myself safe.. A couple weeks ago I had a momentary lapse and left a 20v drill in the drill pocket at the top of a 16' stepladder. Yes, it hit me in the head when I moved the ladder. Battery first, perfectly flat (I looked at the video from the camera I'd just installed). Still rang my bell, split my scalp nicely, and I bled all over the store I was working in. I got off easy. The belt hook could have been first. Or the 6" long phillips bit.
I believe you are correct about part 2. A pair of vice grips will allow tie down on almost any roof without damage to the overhang. Especially when the weather is icy.
Most buildings have gutters and clamps to hold them. I would clamp the gutter clamp with the rope inside the jaws and a knot tied so it wouldn't pull threw. thread the rope back around or threw the ladder and clamp the other side. The ladder has no where to go,unless it's like a tornado outside. I've even clamped the gutter itself or the overhang or a drain vent etc. Anyway to keep the ladder from moving sideways.
Nah.. I'm always 100% comfortable with whatever I'm doing. Because I do ALL my own set-up's and I make sure im safe before I'm climbing a ladder or working on a roof
I am giving you full credit for saving my future life. I didn't know ANY of that ladder safety detail, even though I am 64.5 years old. I admit I never even knew what the ladder dogs were actually for! I was just planning to climb an extension ladder soon to do a minor roof edge repair. As I contemplated it, I was very afraid of that upcoming task. But now I feel markedly better about how to be much safer. MUCH much safer. Thank you.
This is the best safety video about the ladder's use I ever watched. Just so you know I often share this video with my employees as a way to remind them of safety with ladders. I'm doing that for more than a year now. Thank you!
The last time I was pruning branches in a tree I tied the ladder to the tree before I dropped this one branch. It is a good thing I did because when that branch went the whole tree snapped a few feet. If I didn't have that ladder tied to it, it'd have flicked me off like a flea. But I'm tenacious like a tick. You can't get rid of me that easily.
I grew up in the trades, just cruising youtube for boredom here but I wanted to add.... a few years ago one of my good friends had a landscaping company, his employee was doing something on a 6 ft stepladder, he fell off of the ladder onto thick mulch, my friend thought his employee had to be ok and just had the wind knocked out of him, after a few seconds of him not moving, my buddy rushed over there to discover the man had died.... a fall from a 6 ft. stepladder onto thick soft mulch... After that happened, I have been a real stickler for ladders and I flatly refuse to do some jobs now if they require too high of a ladder in any kind of questionable manner. My life, a permanent disability or even a broken leg/arm is not worth some green paper, there is other work to do and braver people to do that job. Never be ashamed to walk away, because, you will be walking!
Twice now, I've had a hammer zing just past my face while I was moving a ladder. I imagine the third time will be a charm, so I just bring the tools down with me.
Amen brother. Ladders are dangerous if not used correctly. I knew a man who somehow fell into the ladder causing him to hang upside down at the top of the ladder by his left leg at the knee with his foot wedged on the next lower rung. He broke his shin and hung there helplessly. He was never able to walk right again. Luckily he did not die. I have a great respect for ladder safety. You sir are giving life saving instruction. I hope everyone takes heed. It is extremely important. Yes you have the responsibility to say NO when you do not feel safe.
I am a carpenter of over forty years of every day experience and General Contractor. I have had several customers killed falling off ladders within the first few years of retirement. I sadly have to admit I fell off of a forty foot ladder broke my leg in two places then about five years later I fell again and broke the other leg in several places. I lived in a Lake Michigan community and it was normal for the ground to give way without expecting it ground conditions really matter to safety after I fell the second time I required several additional steps to be taken to keep people safe from ladder slideouts and ground collapses just to much to get into here. Anyway my point is this man and I are the same age and same in most if not all ways for the most part listen to him ladder safety is key to life when working on one.
Your very lucky I have lost two customers that fell from six foot step ladders shortly after their wives begged them to just call me and pay my company to handle their issues which sadly both died hitting their heads on the concrete driveway trying to reach up to reattach loose gutters that wouldn't have stayed anyway first both mens gutters were full of pine needles completely full and wet and secondly the nail holes were torn open from all the weight when just two years earlier I tried to talk both men into putting gutter anti clogging screens on neither would spend the money thought I was being unreasonable when I tried to tell both men they spend more twice every year just cleaning and resealing the gutters sadly I was told by both wives just a day before each of their funerals one street apart and played golf together a few times per week very heartbreaking. I didn't get to attend either funeral for work reasons had to send flowers and a card just didn't get enough notice for either man but I understood why and so did the women. I was hired by both wives to get their homes ready for sale after 30 years of raising their children and enjoying their lives and homes for them to tragically end in such stupid ways be careful death is quickly accomplished on ladders. I have actually lost six maybe seven customers in all all of them in their late sixties to early seventies it's very sad all was easily prevented with a phone call all of them could afford to hire my company to do their work for them.
@@No_bread-and-circuses I will look them up for you honestly speaking never thought about it until you brought it up but that's a great idea it's very true it happened in Granger, In approx 15 years ago the weird thing is it continued to happen several years in a row those older people in those communities think because they are in pretty good health for their ages they could do much of their own work it finally stopped after about a five year run of it happening several times a year before the county took action to educate the public of the dangers of climbing. The two I personally spoke about was very sad I worked for both of them several times from bathroom remodeling interior/exterior complete painting their last year of working so their houses were fresh for their retirement then that happened I was in such shock I just didn't know what to say to people just heartbreaking. Anyway I will take the time to find that info over the next couple of days depending on my own health I am dying myself now so it will depend on how I am feeling and doing but am happy to provide that information.
All true. You remind me of the guys that taught me everything i know. They came from the old school. And im blessed to have had them to guide me. 20 years later im now passing this knowledge. Great channel.
You know I've sat through so many safety meetings seen so many videos. And this is by far the best video that I've ever seen. The comment if you fall and end up loosing 2 paychecks because you didn't want to move a ladder 6 inches. That really hit home.
Again, another great vid. I just want to add a little bit to ladder safety I've been taught in my time as a carpenter. 1st rule is the "belt buckle rule". ALWAYS keep your belt buckle in between the legs of the ladder. If you reach over far enough to where your belt buckle moves past the outside of the ladder you WILL FALL. You are transferring your center of gravity outside of the ladder, and gravity always wins in that situation. 2nd is for extension ladder use. It is always recommended to "chalk" or "block" the feet at the bottom so they cannot slide out. Also, if possible, the ladder should be lashed or restrained at the top. If a extension ladder is used to access a roof or a landing, it should extend past that landing by at least 4' and MUST BE TIED OFF SO IT CANNOT MOVE. I've seen bad falls (watched an electrician fall 8' a few months ago and she was in bad shape). CAL OSHA is in the process of banning all ladders off of jobsites. Please be safe out there!
Rob Moab California is also banning plastic straws, that should make the job sites safer. How would you get anything done as a tradesman with out ladders on sites inaccessible to lift equipment..... just another ‘know it all California dream’.
@@highwatercircutrider I think Rob might have been mistaken. CAL OSHA aren't morons. They currently specifically recommend portable ladders for anywhere there aren't permanent stairs or similar: www.dir.ca.gov/title8/1675.html
I knew a guy who used to stand on a 10ft ladder and walk it around like stilts.. he fixed lights and changed bulbs up on a 12+ft ceiling and instead of going up and down and moving them, he just wiggled back and forth and walked them... all day. SO DANGEROUS! It scared the crap outta me! It looked hella cool and of course my idiot 13yo self thought "I could totally do that..." yeah... that was the first time I ever got knocked unconscious lol lucky nothing broke or seriously injured. So... ladder safety is important!
Let's hope a bunch of artsy fartsy, urban, Par-Core-ers, don't get all clever and do, a bunch of ladder, safe stunt falls and tricks, hell I want to see that, maybe there are some solutions, to falling, that is if inspired athletes discovered them,
Just wanted to say that I’ve only been watching your videos for the past couple of days and I am really intrigued by all of the knowledge you have and share with the world of TH-cam. I’m a huge fan! I work at a cemetery in Boston Massachusetts and I’ve picked through some of your videos that have helped me during some of our daily tasks and projects. It’s I little far fetched but I find you to be an inspiration, a mentor, a teacher, and someone I aspire to be like one day and hopefully get the chance to meet! Thank you for all the helpful information! - Boston Billy
Great work with this video, thanks for sharing. Have a LONG personal history working on ladders (personally and professionally), and you have provided great perspective on how to use ladders safely. In many many safety briefings, I have referred to "Million Dollar Ladders". That is because the cost after the injuries have healed, the hospital bills settled AND the Lawyers paid, is going to run you a million bucks. Buy a good ladder (I will ONLY use fiberglass ladders from a particular company that starts with W), secure them properly (I will tie off an extension ladder whenever possible) and ALWAYS listen to your 'Inner Voice'.
I want to thank you sir for this video. Ive been a painter for 22 years . i cant stress enough how much safety is involved in climing a ladder. Your video was explained very simple and to the point. We could all learn a few things from a man like you. Thanks again\.
I am a neurosurgeon. My biggest pet peeve in my professional life is "Men falling off ladders". Every year I see death, quadriplegia, disability and pain from ladder injuries. Life unfortunately is about winding down. You will not always have the coordination you had when your twenty. But, men refuse to accept this. I say men, because, these injuries don't happen to women. Be careful or your life will change.
Balraj Jhawar GREAT POINT!! We still think we have that athletic balance. I've had BPPV for a couple decades now - for those unfamiliar - calcium deposits build in inner ear and at worst moment break off to bounce on the sciillia and give you the most butt-kicking vertigo-dizziness you can imagine.) What I didn't immediately realize is that my body has been 'tuning out' inputs from these inner ear balance sensors over time. Bought a homestead needing lots of work and fell a couple times from ladders which were well supported and all because I can't sense balance anymore. Hire out anything really tall anymore.
Lol- In reference to these injuries not happening to women- I watched this video because I'm about to climb onto my roof. I am SO glad I did see it, because the info in this video is great. So probably this woman won't be injured either. :-)
When you're the one that has to do it your whole life it never stops. Everyone else expects it of you and you expect it of yourself too. Until one day you just drop dead. That's just how it goes. Thank God we don't live forever.
The Law in Ontario Canada is "do stand on the top or pail shelf of a stepladder". This should provide 4 point contact of 2 feet and 2 knee level. Keep your belly button inside the side rails, don't hyper extend from ladder. At 3 meters or 9 feet, fall protection must be provided. Great video I subscribed because you did a safety video. I had a verbal fight with Bob Vila about no fall protection on a roofing job. No safety = no respect !
Great video as usual. One thing missing. In your shot looking up the extension ladder you can see wires off to the left. A reminder about aluminum ladders and electricity would be a good thing to add!
I can't believe I just watched a 14 min video on ladder safety, you actually are quite captivating. One thing I'd add, although you did mention it, the ladder slipping,. My ladder slipped on leaves; the bottom was on leaves which took away all friction, and I almost got seriously hurt, the ladder slipped out underneath to the ground. Long story short, it seems obvious to not put it on leaves, lesson learned, just wanted to share. Thank you for a great video!
In addition to taking your instruction seriously, I was reminded of watching the Home Improvement (Tool Time) tv show. The edge view shows the ladder's correct orientation to the wall with the flat part of the rung being up. At least half the time, on that show, their ladder was wrong! I like their humor, but I prefer your instruction. I have done some mortuary work too. The stastistic is, half the people who fall 12 feet will die.
As a ladder climber for the last 30 years, I'd love to splice in some techniques on extension Ladders that would make this video complete. Carrying and setting, multiple terrain, stabilizers, gutter and fascia lifting solo with ladder placement. How not to destroy gutters and shingles.
here's some copy and pasted advice that might help too: Use the 4-to-1 rule: Make sure the ladder is 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises. For example, if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet above the ground, the feet/base of the ladder should be 4 feet from the wall. (also each rung is spaced one foot apart, so count how many rungs are going up the wall to determine how high your ladder is reaching)
Quick way to gauge appropriate ratio: with toes snug to each foot of the ladder extend arms straight out. Adjust ladder so the rung nearest your hands rests below each palm
A few tips: watch for overhead electrical wires when setting up an extension ladder, especially if it’s an aluminum ladder. The ideal climbing angle is 70 degrees. When your toes are at the base of the beams, and arms extended forward to a rung, you’re there (70 degrees). Have your spot man stand behind the ladder, facing away from the building, and he will then grasp the beams of the ladder and pull the ladder toward the building with his body weight. When retracting the ladder sections, don’t reach through the beams between the rungs to pull the lanyard. Have the ladder orientation (on initial setup) so the lanyard is away from the building and right in front of you, way you can safely control ladder retraction with two hands on the lanyard and you can use your forearms to press against the beams for balance.
I'd recommend one hand on the rope(lanyard) and the other hand curled around the edge of the ladder, opposite your body. This will keep the ladder from catching wind and tipping laterally.
I just started a new construction job. Most of the injuries I've witnessed were people acting "tough" and "Manly" to show off to their boss thinking it somehow improved their chances in some mysterious competition I'm not aware of. I go at my pace, I give genuine effort, and I try to improve everywhere I can. If I truly don't feel safe- the boss, the crew, and the whole of the neighborhood we're working in can go screw themselves. From my fathers word, you'll fall, you'll get hurt. They'll swear up and down they were trying to keep you safe when in actuality they were the ones pushing you further than you felt comfortable. There's no "be a man" when you're 6ft down. Just thought I'd share. Love the videos and always studying to be the best carpenter I can be.
One use of a ladder you might have covered is using a ladder to get onto a roof. The issue is how high the ladder should extend above the edge of the roof. Stepping off the ladder and onto the roof is scary but stepping off the roof back onto the ladder is the scariest and most dangerous part. The ladder needs to be high enough to hold onto to steady yourself as you move around the edge of the ladder and step onto the ladder rung, but not so high that it blocks you from moving around the ladder. I think the ladder should extend about two feet above the roof.
Dan Braun Its worth thinking about tying the ladder to the roof in this situation if possible. Also, never use a step ladder to access a roof or platform.
...yeah...what to do when you need to actually exit the ladder to access a roof area..and the opposite...how to get on the ladder from a roof area...only reason I came here...
I do agree with this ,but If I'm going to climb on the roof, I try to line up the top rung with the flat of the roof making it easier to put your boot level. Take care
I’m surprised the rule on the extension ladder: 1 foot out for every 4 feet up , isn’t mentioned here. So if the top of the ladder is resting on the building at 16 ft up, you need to set the ladder base 4 ft from the building . 24 feet would put the base at 6 ft out from the building.I’ve used this equation for years installing signs. Maybe it’s a Canadian rule.
Now this video haunts me every single time I try to use a ladder, every single word you said in the video runs in my brain as a default mp3 file automatically playing to stressful state. So I'm not sure if I wanna thank you or complain to you, but I think it's in the middle, so : " Thank you for the stressful mind state that I have to endure every time I try to use a ladder " PS: I'm just kidding, but I'm way more carful than I used to be, more like scared carefulness, lol.
I work for a small maintenance company and i am always put under pressure to do at height jobs off of ladders. Im 55 now and have avoided accidents so far but looking back, i have done some stupid things whilst working off ladders. Recently said enough is enough, my luck will run out. I now insist on scaffold towers or cherry pickers. Ain't doing it any more. Oh, and the point about leaving tools on the top of the ladder and getting distracted is a great one. Done that myself resulting in a impact driver dropping onto my head. Great video. Thank you.
Great well considered advice. I used to work with a much older bloke and he would do things that really worry me on fold up, and extension ladders and scaffolding. To many scary stories. My big deal was to spot him and try to keep him safe. Occasionally he would manage to put my life as well as his own at risk. We worked on maintenance around a church, and that is the only reason I can see for our survival (from NDEs). I've been tempted myself to save time and have come close to tragedy on ladders. Ladders are extremely dangerous! Cheers!
A shout out to ladder stabilizers would have been nice as well. I mount one on my 32' ladder and it feels worlds safer than not having one. They work wonders - every extension ladder should have one.
Most of the time I don't like ladder stabilizers. There are situations where they are useful but they make the ladder top heavy. That makes it more difficult and dangerous to move and set up the ladder.
It appears that you already have a good deal of content (from the comments) for your 'Ladder Safety 2' video. The only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned (so far), is to make sure the top of the ladder is over the ridge of the roof, or on the other (side walls). Putting the top of the ladder where it is only touching on one side isn't safe (and also more likely to damage the eve/gutter). I would like to see companies licence your videos as safety videos ('Safety Videos' would be an *EXCELLENT* idea for a playlist). I look forward to part two.
Should you fall off a ladder, yes, you can survive a broken arm or broken leg; however if you crack your skull, this can be life threatining. My daughter recently suggested a brilliant idea - before you go up a ladder, put on a bicycle helmet and tighten the chin strap - then if you fall you are much less likely to suffer a fractured skull and potential death, simple solution!
I missed the bottom step a couple weeks ago. Hyperextended my knee and it hurt for 2 weeks. Ladder safety is very underrated. I've been in much worse positions but sometimes even the smallest step could hurt pretty bad
I keep oak wedges with my ladders to level the feet on uneven spots and I use a bucket to carry tools up the ladder or tie a rope to the bucket and pull it up when I get to the work position
You probably had your phone on you when you did it. Apps on your phone like youtube will listen to your conversations and pick up key words and phrases and it will carry over to any platform you use your youtube account on.
@@raurman4946 They also use google maps to track your location. So even if you don't say anything it'll track the stores you visit and shoot the most relevant ads according to that data.
Just wanted to say thanks. Im just an average guy who has never had any ladder training. Today i was doing a bit of a sketchy repair on the flashing and thought to myself there has to be a better way to adjust for this side slope. Turns out i learned a lot from your video. Better to fill the bag of experience without having to see if the bag of luck still has something in it.
Been doing sheetmetal and hvac for twenty-two years.
I was fired from a job because I didn’t want to crawl through 6” of standing water under a double wide trailer several winters ago. I had no idea if there was random electricial hanging under this thing. The water was oil slicked and stinky...
I was fired right then and there for saying I didn’t feel safe climbing under that thing. Small mom and pop shop. The boss was a hot head.
Better job now, better, more understanding boss, better pay, less bullshit.
Good speech. At the end of the day, I must decide what is right, safe, and smart.
Thanks.
I was on a job and after a hurricane the underground electrical tunnel was full of water and a bundle of wires you couldn't put both arms around. They told me to go down there. I looked at the super and said, After you. Then I just walked away. They didn't fire me. I'm still laughing about that crap today. Go down there. Yeah you go down. I'm pretty nuts but there's some stuff that's over the line.
We lost a journeyman that crawled into a duct and cut wire without using a Toner. to see if it was hot. It was and he's gone. Another was crippled from falling off a 16 foot A-frame. He died later.
I refuse to approach a panel that is surrounded by standing water.
The hacked conditions make it too dangerous. My boss is fine with that.
I recently read that an HVAC guy cut into the insulation to work on the refrigeration line. Guess what? He was almost killed because someone had placed a conductor inside. Enjoy your new job. It's been my experience that a new job is always better.
Sheetmetal Dad - My dad was the first & only person who ever fired me. I was 14. He owned a SERVICE station & when I refused to clean the restrooms, he fired me saying “ I don’t care if you are the vice president of a corporation, when the man who signs your paycheck says to do something, you do it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s digging ditches or shoveling manure, if you’re taking his money you do what he tells you on the job.” A very useful lesson which has helped me throughout life.
@@ronperkins1676 nobody cares about you or your father, you're both irrelevant.
Even if you’re on to a better job, I hope you took the time to file a complaint with OSHA. Employers like that need to be outed so they can either be brought into compliance or shut down.
I would watch a video of you explaining how you organize your sock drawer -- your presentation, vocabulary and depth of knowledge is very impressive.
+1 to sock drawer video
+1 xD
Agreed.
I'm a recent subscriber - this man's videos are extremely compelling.
I'm in. My sock drawer is a mess.
The is the type of comment one should expect to read on this type of channel. It is observant, complimentary without being rude, and grammatically correct.
I was a house painter for 30 years. I had a few rules about ladder safety but my top two were: Before standing up your extension ladder, always do a 360 with your head, looking for power lines. Do this even if you’ve only moved it a few feet. The other rule is for when you’re up on the extension ladder, reaching to one side or the other. Never allow your belt buckle to be outside the ladder’s uprights. It only takes a few minutes to get down and move the ladder and that could save your life.
My father fell almost 18 feet off a ladder only a little over a year before his retirement. Broke his back along with half the other bones in his body. He never fully recovered but it’s an absolutely miracle that he’s still alive. A highly experienced mason and was very respected as a foreman but the ladder still won in the long haul. Always take them seriously.
I've caught hell once or twice for refusing to do something I knew wasn't safe, and my response is always the same, "You want it done that bad, _you_ do it, I can get another job a whole lot easier than I can get another life."
Get a life 😁
Man. I know, its funny what people will tell you to do but won't do themselves.
Yeah I'm not down to die or get hurt for a wage . Lol
If only everyone had some sense eh?
@@dr.zoidberg5096 Are you talking about the Vax?
Statistically speaking a ladder is more dangerous than a handgun, that’s why I keep 9 handguns in the shop, just Incase some psycho tries to bring a ladder in
Best comment ever
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Jackie Chan might do that.
Better the devil you know!
goood oneee
March 1, 1978
That's when a ladder come down with me at 16 feet on it. When your tailbone and concrete meet from that distance it tends to cause some damage ! A lot of surgerys to be able to walk again but still live with a lot of pain every day as for the last 39 years.
I really hope that none of you out there have an accident because of a ladder, but if you do I hope that it's a small one and that YOU LEARN FROM IT !!
Thank you Scott for bringing this up, as you can see, it hits home with me for sure, maybe it can save someone else a lot of pain!
Thanks for sharing and take care.
Wow, thanks for sharing!
Ken Gamble -- I suffered from a crushed vertebra in my upper back due to an injury in 1967 and from a degenerated L5-S1 disc due to an injury in 1980. About four months ago I had them treated with Prolozone, and I am now pain-free day and night.
This is also a great treatment for joint injuries and arthritis. There are several good videos on the topic here on TH-cam. Drs. Shallenberger and Rowan are excellent sources of information. I hope you can find the same relief I did.
HarveyWysong
Just copied that name and will do some research on it, thanks !
Really glad that you found some relief, maybe I can also !
Ken, I didn't know whether you'd ever see my reply, and I'm delighted that you did. Prolozone is the injection of an ozone solution into or close to damaged tissues. It kicks the body's repair mechanisms into high gear. I've sent several of my rough & tumble friends to a doctor here in Georgia, who uses this treatment. Everyone of them has benefited tremendously -- including those whose surgeries failed to bring relief. Georgia and a few other states have great medical-freedom laws, but this treatment may be hard to find in your state. Dr. Shallenberger publishes a list of doctors he has trained.
HarveyWysong
Thanks, I'm doing some research on it now and will talk to my doctor about it in a few days. I'm in Arizona so not sure about it here.
I've tried pretty much everything else but I have a lot of nerve damage that they ( doctors) say can not get any better.
Thanks again!
Im An Electrician Who Once Worked For Directv And Let Me Confess Ive Made Some Stupid Decisions On Ladders On A Weekly Basis. Guys Please Listen To This Man He's Extremely Knowledgeable.
Stay Safe☝
Your dedication to capitalize the first letter of each word is impressive
@@TheyForcedMyHandLE🤣😂😂😂😂
all great tips, I have been working safely on ladders for over thirty years now without mishap thankfully. If I could add one tip tho it would be to not ride your hands up and down the edges of the ladder as you climb or descend. Much safer to grip each rung as you go ....that way if you lose footing for any reason ie grease on boots or a rung breaks you will instinctivley grip the rung . Hands at side rails are impossible to grip and you will go down.
I hate the fly on the front--------you have to step back --when you come to the end of the fly------------------
This seems fine until you step in dogshit. Putting hands on rungs means you'll only have 2 pts of contact often. If you try to climb using rungs, you'll naturally move one foot and the opposite hand, at the same time. Hands should be gripping the edge opposite your body.
Ask any professional climber. They will tell you that the correct way is to use the stiles for your hands, not the rungs.
Thank you for this video, you may have just saved my life and limb. Sometimes I seem unable to remember that I am 70, not 35, therefore, my safety tool, my brain, doesn't, on occasion, kick in as soon as it should.
This video is a great reminder that you do not have to do a task that you do not feel safe doing. You can always hire someone to do that ladder job at a much lower cost than a hospital stay, or worse, a funeral, THANK YOU AND MY WIFE THANKS YOU!!!
I'm 67 and I am not as flexible as I was in my 20's. I have to make my moves more slowly as I climb up and down ladders nowadays.
Just want to say how grateful I am that you're sharing your knowledge in such a practical and clear way, I've spent my morning watching a lot of your videos, this is one of the best channels I've found so far, and I've been on this website for like 6 years.
Thank you!! I will continue to watch and learn!
Essential Craftsman, u belong in a Union training center. great info! KEEP BUILDING
Please watch Fred Dibnah laddering a chimney on you tube.This is a man with no fear.Great vid's by the way
Being a professional roofer in my younger years, we always pinned the top of the latter with 16 penny nails . This insures that the the top wont slide off building. This tip has saved the crew countless times.
@Jason vorhees set the ladder where you want it, once you reach the top, put a 3 1/2" nail on either side tight to the ladder into the fascia, but don't drove the nail all the way in, leave it sticking out a out 1 1/2" - 2". I've used 3 1/4" nails as well. I wouldn't suggest this on anything that is already finished.
@DinkleDigeroo congratulations, you've just ruined two straps. They aren't designed to have nails through them and will simply tear out under load. There was a roofer who thought if he nailed his lifeline strap to the roof with 5 nails it would work just as well as one that has been fastened to an anchor which has been nailed to rafter/truss. He tripped and the strap ripped right off the nails and he landed on the ground.
Thank you for the tip about setting a leaning ladder at the correct angle. I'm glad to learn this!
I never seen a ladder without the L on the side of it. That's what the L is for. The upright of the leg should be vertical and the bottom leg should be horizontal. The L is at a bit of an angle on the ladder.
A good general rule of thumb is that the base of the ladder be 1 foot out for every 4 feet in height.
Yei boi if u can’t smell the shite on the ground you’ve got a bad ladder angle
Was a volunteer firefighter for 5 years... we always practiced with our ladders. From how to carry them, move them around and safely operate them. Never got complacent when using them, respect the angles!!!
I am 72 and an amature at everything, but had good craftsmen /teachers at repairing my city town home. And as you have said I listened. So I listened to you and bought a Gorilla glxp-5 . What a difference a good sturdy ladder can make for doing small jobs around my house. Thanks for the advice.
Man I never knew my real ladder. All I have is a step ladder.
No. This is too good
guy h it’s true tho
lol
So that was the busted up 8-footer I saw laying next to the convenience store with a pack of smokes.
LMAO!
Sir, You are the best teacher in the world!
Thank you.
Agreed sir.
My old next door neighbour fought the Nazis as a young man in WW2 for the Czech resistance. He was one tough old bird.
On Father's Day in 1997, he fell from a ladder onto his concrete back steps and never walked again. As the first guy on the scene, I cannot stress the importance of ladder safety enough to people.
Thank you for a very good video about a very important subject.
My scariest moment is always dismounting the ladder onto a roof, and re-entering the ladder coming down. I'd love to see a demonstration on how that's done, because it's terrifying to transfer my weight from one to another
Just search Fred Dibnah and check out his ladder skills. Legend.
Ladder should extend 4 rungs above edge of roof. This will allow you to hold on with your hands, as you get back onto the ladder.
I always try do re-mount the ladder in the same exact manner that I dismount, just in the reverse order (obviously). So, if I get off the ladder to the left of the ladder and step off with my right foot, then I will get on the ladder with the ladder to my right and lead with my right foot. At least this way you know that you are transferring your weight in the same way each time and you have some muscle memory working for you.
Its even worse when its a STEEP roof & you're carrying shingles lol.
Slow is fast on a ladder. Maintain your weight distribution and balance slowly. On your butt, turn over on your knees and go slow. The higher you are the worst the tipping point.
As a CATV broadband specialist I was taught when raising and lowering an extension ladder you get more control of the ladder in the 10:1 vertical position. Also, the Ice cleats of the feet are good to use engaged on gravel, soil, and of course Ice to prevent the ladder from sliding outward. On solid surfaces such as concrete, etc. to use the rubber pad of the feet on the ground. And it is NEVER ok to climb a ladder in high winds 30mph or greater.
Hi Scott, great video! Wish we had youtube 32 years ago. I learned the hard way. lol.
I was 16 when I was working on a ladder +10 meters high in a factory under construction, drilling holes through a thick concrete wall when the ladder foot slipped away. (Smooth tiles on the ground) for a quarter of a second I felt so helpless, knowing that I would hit the ground and the drill would follow me.
After a few minutes on the ground I realized I had nothing broken. And the Hilti drill was still in the hole 12 meters above me XD.
I was so happy that day!
Now I'm a 48 year old firefighter. Not afraid of heights and ladders.
And think the biggest risk of my work is the ladder;)
Love your channel!
greetings from the Netherlands
(I apologize for any mistakes in my English)
Your english is better than some of the people born and schooled in America.
@@im1who84u And in England.
It's certainly better than my Dutch!
I disagree with the board under one of the legs of the tall ladder. On gravel that would slide like it's on ball bearings.
You fell 30 feet and walked away fine? Sounds legit
@@JayDee-xj9lu what solution would you propose?
I swear as soon as you put a tool on the top of a ladder, it becomes invisible.
I had a friend who left a scraper on his ladder, and when he moved it, it fell on his arm and severed his tendons. It only made a small mark when the corner of the blade hit. But he realized he couldn't move his hand. Scary shit.
@Jen farmer A one edge sharp blade in a holder to remove stickers from glass etc.
because it is waiting to pounce on your hapless helper!
If you can't see it, it wants to kill you.
Kind of the first rule of any manual job.
I had screw driver landed on my head twice.
very true! my uncle was on a small step stool 2nd rung/step up from the bottom,fell, hit his head just rite & passed away on site. take this mans advice people. a lil safety goes a long way & may possibly save your life
My grandpa was all drunked up on the job site and he fell off a 9 story building. The doc said he'd have been OK if he didn't try to catch a beam on the 2nd floor. But that did wrench his back out a bit. He still worked for years after that. Nobody is OG anymore these days.
Fantastic episode!
Ladder safety was very seriously emphasized throughout my firefighter training.
On a good day with perfect conditions (like in this episode), ladders are very dangerous. If you add any water, wind, dust, debris, heavy hand tools, etc. they immediately become extremely dangerous. Many men have died falling from ladders and roofs.
Great episode!👍🏻
NEVER have I heard more sense spoken, on the subject of Health & Safety!
YOU are the person responsible for YOUR safety.
No one else.
Nonsense, your employers share the responsibility, at least that's true in Europe.
Consider expanding this just a little.
Example 1: When extending a ladder to access another walking surface like a roof, or a beam. Ladder must be extended two, preferably three rungs above the surface you need to walk on. Far too many people set the last run to equal the walking height, just to kick the ladder out from under them as they transition off it.
Example 2: Ladder stability and mother nature. Setting a ladder up "just good enough" to get the job done can bite you when a wind gust is enough to blow the ladder down. Especially when you are running solo on the other side of the roof and maybe mother nature is taking a quick turn for the worst. i know I would rather not hang out on a roof during a wind and or lightening storm just because I thought I could beat it by not taking the time for a thorough setup.
I got the impression that you were aiming more for a "Basic safety of working FROM a ladder" on the video.
Now you have video content you can refer back to when you do your Ladder Safety Part 2 video - Accessing spaces and other risks.
Lots more ladder safety content to go through, and lots of young people headed into the trades who could make some good use of solid TH-cam content.
- How do you get on and off a ladder at the top?
- How do you move equipment up a ladder safely? (Sometimes the answer should be: Don't.)
- Look up! Swinging your ladder into a power line does not make for a great day.
- Check your shimming and ground pressure: Using a large shim to level the ladder is a fun way to surprise yourself as your ladder tips the opposite way when the unsupported side digs into the ground
- How stable are the conditions and can they change? Last summer we had a local contractor take a dive off a ladder when water from another job on the site ended up running into the hard packed dirt where he had his ladder placed - No one noticed the hard clay dissolving into mud until after the fall.
The number of contractors in my area who still don't tie off their ladders when doing roof work, and don't carry safety rope gear with them, is amusing and sad at the same time.
There is one guy who I think might become paranoid that I've been following him around and knocking his ladder over on him, as I've randomly come across him stranded on a roof while I've been out walking four times over three years.
RealLuckless. All excellent speaking points.
Shain Andrews OSHA says three ladder sections or 3' extended at least. And three points of contact (two hands and one foot or two feet one hand) at all times.
So long as you're giving the definitive on ladder safety, extension ladder minimum overlap may be worth a mention.
I am well impressed with your channel. I know you've a lot you want to pass along. Thanks for doing it.
Great video, your talk on being responsible for yourself etc every young person starting out in the trades needs to hear this!
In part II please also talk about how to carry a ladder and how to load/unload and secure a ladder to a roof rack on a vehicle.
Thanks!
I normally work alone. However, I hire a helper on any job that requires an extension ladder. He is a spotter and tosses up any necessary tools or supplies. Usually the job is large enough that a helper is beneficial and helps in many ways increasing efficiency.
Thank you for your wisdom! I work safer because of your influential videos.
This is my 2nd of your videos. Much to appreciate, including no bad language and no hyperbole. Just good sense well stated. Amen!
I don't watch a lot of TV. But I have enjoyed Tim the Tool Man and Al on "Home Improvement". The most common goof I noticed from them was placing a ladder backwards. You can tell this from the side if the round rungs have a flat side on top. So it became a habit to look there every time I see a ladder being used.
Thanks for good safety tips about ladders.
What an excelent presentation. Clear consice instructions and you're clearly speaking from genuine concern, not 'talking down' to your audience. You've probably saved folks from serious injury or worse. My hat's off to you sir.
Idiot has the ladder setup withing 10 feet of the power line.
Thank you very much for sharing your How to Not Fall Off A Ladder and we love it!!!❤❤❤
Thanks for making this video. For some reason it means so much more coming from a professional tradesmen like yourself than some clipboard worrier. And that opening scene...BRAVO!!! (applause) I'm an electrical foreman and nothing scares me more than ladders. I try to drill into my men's brains the dangers associated with ladders and how much of that goes away if we use them right. But theres two people I have to really look out for. The older more experienced folk who say I've done it like this a thousand times, and the new folks that either don't know any better, or worse yet think they're doing and extra good job by putting production over ladder safety. This video you just made will become part of my tool box talk on ladder safety. Thank you again for this. I benefit greatly from your superior knowledge and now my men will too. Please keep the videos coming.
Very much accurate, "means so much more coming from an expert"... great, professional, and knowing presentation... makes a huge difference.. great video... and great comment Mr. Milloy.
Post the OSHA fatalities and casualties list each week; and highlight the falls. It's always the case that 25 to 40% of these victims die in falls; show them the data, it's hard to ignore.
Great video and excellent info. I have a few things I'd like to add: When using an extension ladder on loose ground, as in this video, I always pivot the feet to the teeth and set them in the ground. The rubber foot is more suitable for hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete. Also, if using an extension ladder to climb on to a roof, for instance, always extend the ladder high enough past the roof so that when transitioning from the roof back onto the ladder, you can hold the ladder with both hands as you step back onto it. A tie-off point is also a great idea for an extension ladder, if possible. Just a few extras from a 32 year Electrician (we live on ladders). Oh and we had a fatality on a job - from the bottom step of a 6' ladder. The man fell back and hit his head. This would bring up my last "tip". If going up and down ladders frequently and trying to move quickly, it's easy to "miss a step", as I call it - where you go down and you think you are one step lower than you really are. You anticipate that you are stepping off the ladder onto the ground, but you are still 1 or even 2 steps up. That step is a doozy. I do this more than I care to admit. Be safe everyone.
I've done this too many times. Every time, when the foot doesn't stop, it just keeps going, and you realize you've missed that step, you have that microsecond to think, "AWW MAN! NOT AGAIN! HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO HURT THIS TIME!?" Another variation is the young buck who insists on skipping that last step, and jumps off from the second. That always stops after the first or second ankle roll/sprain.
really enjoy your channel. thanks for sharing
Thank You
most of my construction life as painter and remodeler was spent on a ladder and ladder safety cannot EVER be overemphasized--excellent video, i would add always wear proper footwear--flip flops are tempting when it's about 100 out there but even if you don't fall you will have permanently disfigured feet! when ascending and descending slide your hands up and down the side rails (as shown) and not on the rungs--you will miss eventually and hopefully just scare the living daylights out of yourself. if you work with inexperienced people, take the time to watch them -- they may not be as lucky as i was!
i found his channel thanks to yours, love your channel as well
The Finish Carpentry guy!
My best friend was a professional roofer for more than 40 years. Gordon could (& would) go anywhere a squirrel could, he was fearless. He did take chances on occasions & "lucked out" on a couple of mishaps. He had to inspect a roof above a porch that had a one inch pitch metal roof. He set up his ladder & climbed a bit over 10 feet, when the bottom started to slide out. He wasn't high enough to have something to grab, & went down with the ladder, (all the way to the ground,) he had a broken pelvis. He ultimately died from that fall about a year later from complications with surgery & infection. I deeply respect ladders, & appreciate your video.
Good practical advice as always. As a retired firefighter (UK) we placed the heel/foot of the extension ladder out from the building 1/5 of the working height. which we could estimate as each floor was about 10 ft. So if the top of the ladder was at 30 ft the base of the ladder would be 6 ft away from the wall. Most DIY ladders that I have seen in the UK have an angled red line on the side of the ladder. When the red line is vertical you have a safe climbing angle. If you have someone footing, heeling or as you say spotting the ladder make sure they have a hard hat and don't look up. No point in wearing a hard hat only for a dropped tool to hit you in the face. One other thing if you pitch a ladder with a view to climbing off the top on to a roof or similar, extend the ladder way beyond the step off point so that your first step is on to a round (rung) which is above the eves of the roof or whatever and you also have something to hold on to while you move back on to the ladder. To do this safely you need to tie off the top of the ladder or have someone securing the base
thank you for the safety tips. i lost my best friend 3 years ago this coming october 7th due to a ladder fall on concrete from 12 ft. was standing on top step. respect ladder safety. it can prevent serious injury/death
Essential Craftsman you are the best teacher on utube. Im a painter and you are the best
Paul Bissonnette Sorry for the loss of your friend💙
Ladder safety can't be understated. Your advice is invaluable. Thank you!
Of all the tools I've ever used working with metal and wood, framing to fixing semis, ladders are the most terrifying. I'm a bit surprised you didn't mention weight limits though. I had an A frame bend under me with the added weight of an end of a 2x8.
D:
Thanks for taking the time to inspire others to be safe. It's all too common, especially on TH-cam, to see people ignoring safety protocols and acting as though that makes them cool or tough. I would also like to add two points of concern regarding safe use of an extension ladder, both learned hard and painfully... First, if you're going to be using the ladder as an access point to another surface try to find a way to secure the top of the ladder to the anchor point. I've had a ladder blown over, even though it was on a secure footing. Second, when you were letting the ladder down towards the end of the video you were grasping the rope between the rungs; think about what would happen if you lost your grip on the rope. Best case scenario is you get a very bruised arm. That nylon rope is slick as hell when it gets wet and trust me when I say the extension falls very quickly with nobody holding the rope! Thanks again for all the informative content. Stay safe everybody.
your comment was cut off!
I love that you emphasize our brain as the most important safety tool and how its is our own responsibility to say "no". The explanation of the reasoning behind every tip is excellent and helps people adapt to situations that might not be exactly covered. I think other good explanations to have would be on how to carry, open, setup, extend, etc. the ladder.
first day on the job tomorrow gutter cleaning and window washing ...ive never been up on ladders over 8 feet and I was guided by the boss to watch some videos on extension ladders. I came across essential craftsman and this wonderful gentleman showing a great respect for human life which is not a given as we know in today's world. Thank you for sharing these videos and putting the extra emphasis on how important safety is. The direct real ..beyond essential reminders this video conveys clearly concisely has really helped me to confidently and more importantly SAFELY approach my first day! May Jah watch over us all in the daily risks we take just being a human being. Im grateful for the care and effort that is put in to videos like this. Deep thanks JW
Another great video. Your emphasis on personal evaluation of safety is vitally important. We each have a different comfort level. I’ve often said to my crews “Just because I feel safe doesn’t mean you will feel safe.” Also I’ve often talked to people after accidents. 99% of the time they admit that right before it happened there was a little voice in their head warning them “I shouldn’t do this.” Its great to see that the macho willingness to take stupid risks is disappearing from sites. And much was we deride the OSHA safety classes for a lack of specificity, they do have an almost unnoticed effect. Cumulatively they help instill an overall sense that safety is an all-important issue every single day.
I like the buckshot ventilation in the far end wall.
Got me fascinated as well.
Some kind of Battle Damage?
hahahahaha good eye!!!!
always leave one shoulder in-between the rungs when reaching to the side... pro tip from a painter/taper
This, and several other of his videos has saved my life I'm certain..Sir, you are truly a God send...
I used a 30 foot sectional ladder made just for window washing. I used my own sense of what felt safe for 20 years with one bad fall. That one bad fall was from a 6 foot step ladder and I was 3 steps up. It really comes down to confidence in what your equipment is capable of. Problems happen when pressing to get it done and being too cavalier. It sure doesn't hurt to slow down a bit a reassess.
I've watched this before, several other similar videos, plus an actual ladder training class, worked on ladders for years, and thought myself safe..
A couple weeks ago I had a momentary lapse and left a 20v drill in the drill pocket at the top of a 16' stepladder. Yes, it hit me in the head when I moved the ladder.
Battery first, perfectly flat (I looked at the video from the camera I'd just installed). Still rang my bell, split my scalp nicely, and I bled all over the store I was working in.
I got off easy. The belt hook could have been first. Or the 6" long phillips bit.
CHECK FOR OVERHEAD WIRES BEFORE THROWING A LADDER!!!!!!!!!!! Yes all caps on purpose. Even with a fiberglass ladder.
I thought you were throwing the ladder next to your power line to point that out and just had an oversight.
I believe you are correct about part 2. A pair of vice grips will allow tie down on almost any roof without damage to the overhang. Especially when the weather is icy.
Absolutely, always look up for power lines and also check your surroundings. Great video!
EFD620G -- I'd appreciate it, if you would elaborate on this. To what do you clamp, and do you tie off to the jaw of the vice-grip?
Most buildings have gutters and clamps to hold them. I would clamp the gutter clamp with the rope inside the jaws and a knot tied so it wouldn't pull threw. thread the rope back around or threw the ladder and clamp the other side. The ladder has no where to go,unless it's like a tornado outside. I've even clamped the gutter itself or the overhang or a drain vent etc. Anyway to keep the ladder from moving sideways.
The day you start feeling too comfortable on a ladder is the day you should start looking for a desk job.
Complacency is when we get hurt, I agree
I climb utility poles for a living. And honestly the ladder work to connect the house is the sketchiest part of my job that is height related.
@A Twinspark Exactly!
Nah.. I'm always 100% comfortable with whatever I'm doing. Because I do ALL my own set-up's and I make sure im safe before I'm climbing a ladder or working on a roof
I am giving you full credit for saving my future life. I didn't know ANY of that ladder safety detail, even though I am 64.5 years old. I admit I never even knew what the ladder dogs were actually for! I was just planning to climb an extension ladder soon to do a minor roof edge repair. As I contemplated it, I was very afraid of that upcoming task. But now I feel markedly better about how to be much safer. MUCH much safer. Thank you.
This is the best safety video about the ladder's use I ever watched. Just so you know I often share this video with my employees as a way to remind them of safety with ladders. I'm doing that for more than a year now. Thank you!
For safety, when I get to the top of the ladder, I tie my shoelaces to the rung so I don't fall off.
I love the comment, I'm going to use it at my next health and safety meeting.🇨🇦👍
Because it's funny
🍻🇨🇦
I don’t think it works that way.
Good idea
The last time I was pruning branches in a tree I tied the ladder to the tree before I dropped this one branch. It is a good thing I did because when that branch went the whole tree snapped a few feet. If I didn't have that ladder tied to it, it'd have flicked me off like a flea. But I'm tenacious like a tick. You can't get rid of me that easily.
I grew up in the trades, just cruising youtube for boredom here but I wanted to add.... a few years ago one of my good friends had a landscaping company, his employee was doing something on a 6 ft stepladder, he fell off of the ladder onto thick mulch, my friend thought his employee had to be ok and just had the wind knocked out of him, after a few seconds of him not moving, my buddy rushed over there to discover the man had died.... a fall from a 6 ft. stepladder onto thick soft mulch... After that happened, I have been a real stickler for ladders and I flatly refuse to do some jobs now if they require too high of a ladder in any kind of questionable manner. My life, a permanent disability or even a broken leg/arm is not worth some green paper, there is other work to do and braver people to do that job. Never be ashamed to walk away, because, you will be walking!
How old was he? Did he have preexisting conditions? Seems like a soft fall to die from unless u just bent ur neck perfectly
Or did he die... And then fall off the ladder...??
It's like dying in a 5 mph fender bender.
Twice now, I've had a hammer zing just past my face while I was moving a ladder. I imagine the third time will be a charm, so I just bring the tools down with me.
drill left up there, broke the bit in my skull. Had to pull it out....
I'd leave a water balloon at the top on a hot day for a pleasant surprise cool off later 💦
Amen brother. Ladders are dangerous if not used correctly. I knew a man who somehow fell into the ladder causing him to hang upside down at the top of the ladder by his left leg at the knee with his foot wedged on the next lower rung. He broke his shin and hung there helplessly. He was never able to walk right again. Luckily he did not die. I have a great respect for ladder safety. You sir are giving life saving instruction. I hope everyone takes heed. It is extremely important. Yes you have the responsibility to say NO when you do not feel safe.
Sir you are the best teacher I ever had! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
3:18 I've never lost a day of work due to injury. I've broken a few ribs (but keeps on working). You sir, are awesome!
you gotta love the family first mentality 😄 good job E.C
I once fell off a ladder, but I was lucky. The ground broke my fall.
Wow close call my friend
I am a carpenter of over forty years of every day experience and General Contractor. I have had several customers killed falling off ladders within the first few years of retirement. I sadly have to admit I fell off of a forty foot ladder broke my leg in two places then about five years later I fell again and broke the other leg in several places. I lived in a Lake Michigan community and it was normal for the ground to give way without expecting it ground conditions really matter to safety after I fell the second time I required several additional steps to be taken to keep people safe from ladder slideouts and ground collapses just to much to get into here. Anyway my point is this man and I are the same age and same in most if not all ways for the most part listen to him ladder safety is key to life when working on one.
Your very lucky I have lost two customers that fell from six foot step ladders shortly after their wives begged them to just call me and pay my company to handle their issues which sadly both died hitting their heads on the concrete driveway trying to reach up to reattach loose gutters that wouldn't have stayed anyway first both mens gutters were full of pine needles completely full and wet and secondly the nail holes were torn open from all the weight when just two years earlier I tried to talk both men into putting gutter anti clogging screens on neither would spend the money thought I was being unreasonable when I tried to tell both men they spend more twice every year just cleaning and resealing the gutters sadly I was told by both wives just a day before each of their funerals one street apart and played golf together a few times per week very heartbreaking. I didn't get to attend either funeral for work reasons had to send flowers and a card just didn't get enough notice for either man but I understood why and so did the women. I was hired by both wives to get their homes ready for sale after 30 years of raising their children and enjoying their lives and homes for them to tragically end in such stupid ways be careful death is quickly accomplished on ladders. I have actually lost six maybe seven customers in all all of them in their late sixties to early seventies it's very sad all was easily prevented with a phone call all of them could afford to hire my company to do their work for them.
@@No_bread-and-circuses I will look them up for you honestly speaking never thought about it until you brought it up but that's a great idea it's very true it happened in Granger, In approx 15 years ago the weird thing is it continued to happen several years in a row those older people in those communities think because they are in pretty good health for their ages they could do much of their own work it finally stopped after about a five year run of it happening several times a year before the county took action to educate the public of the dangers of climbing. The two I personally spoke about was very sad I worked for both of them several times from bathroom remodeling interior/exterior complete painting their last year of working so their houses were fresh for their retirement then that happened I was in such shock I just didn't know what to say to people just heartbreaking. Anyway I will take the time to find that info over the next couple of days depending on my own health I am dying myself now so it will depend on how I am feeling and doing but am happy to provide that information.
I fell off a ladder once but it wasn't my fault, the ladder moved.
All true. You remind me of the guys that taught me everything i know. They came from the old school. And im blessed to have had them to guide me. 20 years later im now passing this knowledge. Great channel.
You know I've sat through so many safety meetings seen so many videos. And this is by far the best video that I've ever seen. The comment if you fall and end up loosing 2 paychecks because you didn't want to move a ladder 6 inches. That really hit home.
Again, another great vid. I just want to add a little bit to ladder safety I've been taught in my time as a carpenter. 1st rule is the "belt buckle rule". ALWAYS keep your belt buckle in between the legs of the ladder. If you reach over far enough to where your belt buckle moves past the outside of the ladder you WILL FALL. You are transferring your center of gravity outside of the ladder, and gravity always wins in that situation. 2nd is for extension ladder use. It is always recommended to "chalk" or "block" the feet at the bottom so they cannot slide out. Also, if possible, the ladder should be lashed or restrained at the top. If a extension ladder is used to access a roof or a landing, it should extend past that landing by at least 4' and MUST BE TIED OFF SO IT CANNOT MOVE. I've seen bad falls (watched an electrician fall 8' a few months ago and she was in bad shape). CAL OSHA is in the process of banning all ladders off of jobsites. Please be safe out there!
Rob Moab California is also banning plastic straws, that should make the job sites safer. How would you get anything done as a tradesman with out ladders on sites inaccessible to lift equipment..... just another ‘know it all California dream’.
@@highwatercircutrider I think Rob might have been mistaken. CAL OSHA aren't morons. They currently specifically recommend portable ladders for anywhere there aren't permanent stairs or similar: www.dir.ca.gov/title8/1675.html
I knew a guy who used to stand on a 10ft ladder and walk it around like stilts.. he fixed lights and changed bulbs up on a 12+ft ceiling and instead of going up and down and moving them, he just wiggled back and forth and walked them... all day. SO DANGEROUS! It scared the crap outta me! It looked hella cool and of course my idiot 13yo self thought "I could totally do that..." yeah... that was the first time I ever got knocked unconscious lol lucky nothing broke or seriously injured.
So... ladder safety is important!
Seems like something I'd still attempt because I've always had that temptation
Seen that in a circus. Brilliant
Hey. I like how Jackie Chan uses lsdders,
Let's hope a bunch of artsy fartsy, urban, Par-Core-ers, don't get all clever and do, a bunch of ladder, safe stunt falls and tricks, hell I want to see that, maybe there are some solutions, to falling, that is if inspired athletes discovered them,
Walking ladders saves so much time. It's horrible for the ladder though, so just don't let the guy who payed for the ladder see you do it.
Just wanted to say that I’ve only been watching your videos for the past couple of days and I am really intrigued by all of the knowledge you have and share with the world of TH-cam. I’m a huge fan! I work at a cemetery in Boston Massachusetts and I’ve picked through some of your videos that have helped me during some of our daily tasks and projects. It’s I little far fetched but I find you to be an inspiration, a mentor, a teacher, and someone I aspire to be like one day and hopefully get the chance to meet! Thank you for all the helpful information! - Boston Billy
Thank you Billy and welcome to our little community!
Great work with this video, thanks for sharing.
Have a LONG personal history working on ladders (personally and professionally), and you have provided great perspective on how to use ladders safely.
In many many safety briefings, I have referred to "Million Dollar Ladders". That is because the cost after the injuries have healed, the hospital bills settled AND the Lawyers paid, is going to run you a million bucks.
Buy a good ladder (I will ONLY use fiberglass ladders from a particular company that starts with W), secure them properly (I will tie off an extension ladder whenever possible) and ALWAYS listen to your 'Inner Voice'.
I want to thank you sir for this video. Ive been a painter for 22 years . i cant stress enough how much safety is involved in climing a ladder. Your video was explained very simple and to the point. We could all learn a few things from a man like you. Thanks again\.
I am a neurosurgeon. My biggest pet peeve in my professional life is "Men falling off ladders". Every year I see death, quadriplegia, disability and pain from ladder injuries. Life unfortunately is about winding down. You will not always have the coordination you had when your twenty. But, men refuse to accept this. I say men, because, these injuries don't happen to women. Be careful or your life will change.
Balraj Jhawar GREAT POINT!! We still think we have that athletic balance. I've had BPPV for a couple decades now - for those unfamiliar - calcium deposits build in inner ear and at worst moment break off to bounce on the sciillia and give you the most butt-kicking vertigo-dizziness you can imagine.) What I didn't immediately realize is that my body has been 'tuning out' inputs from these inner ear balance sensors over time. Bought a homestead needing lots of work and fell a couple times from ladders which were well supported and all because I can't sense balance anymore. Hire out anything really tall anymore.
Lol- In reference to these injuries not happening to women- I watched this video because I'm about to climb onto my roof. I am SO glad I did see it, because the info in this video is great. So probably this woman won't be injured either. :-)
That's true but women don't go into the trades as much as men
It seems like Ladders make you a lot of $. You should have down voted the video. Lol jk
Thanks for sharing :D
When you're the one that has to do it your whole life it never stops. Everyone else expects it of you and you expect it of yourself too. Until one day you just drop dead. That's just how it goes. Thank God we don't live forever.
The Law in Ontario Canada is "do stand on the top or pail shelf of a stepladder".
This should provide 4 point contact of 2 feet and 2 knee level.
Keep your belly button inside the side rails, don't hyper extend from ladder.
At 3 meters or 9 feet, fall protection must be provided.
Great video I subscribed because you did a safety video.
I had a verbal fight with Bob Vila about no fall protection on a roofing job.
No safety = no respect !
Great video as usual. One thing missing. In your shot looking up the extension ladder you can see wires off to the left. A reminder about aluminum ladders and electricity would be a good thing to add!
I can't believe I just watched a 14 min video on ladder safety, you actually are quite captivating. One thing I'd add, although you did mention it, the ladder slipping,. My ladder slipped on leaves; the bottom was on leaves which took away all friction, and I almost got seriously hurt, the ladder slipped out underneath to the ground. Long story short, it seems obvious to not put it on leaves, lesson learned, just wanted to share. Thank you for a great video!
Doing my own handyman company and these safety videos are great to brush up on
In addition to taking your instruction seriously, I was reminded of watching the Home Improvement (Tool Time) tv show. The edge view shows the ladder's correct orientation to the wall with the flat part of the rung being up. At least half the time, on that show, their ladder was wrong! I like their humor, but I prefer your instruction.
I have done some mortuary work too. The stastistic is, half the people who fall 12 feet will die.
As a ladder climber for the last 30 years, I'd love to splice in some techniques on extension Ladders that would make this video complete. Carrying and setting, multiple terrain, stabilizers, gutter and fascia lifting solo with ladder placement. How not to destroy gutters and shingles.
here's some copy and pasted advice that might help too:
Use the 4-to-1 rule: Make sure the ladder is 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises. For example, if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet above the ground, the feet/base of the ladder should be 4 feet from the wall. (also each rung is spaced one foot apart, so count how many rungs are going up the wall to determine how high your ladder is reaching)
Quick way to gauge appropriate ratio: with toes snug to each foot of the ladder extend arms straight out. Adjust ladder so the rung nearest your hands rests below each palm
Thanks for putting this up. Most of the time, small things make a BIG difference. This is so helpful. Cheers!
Thank you for taking the time to create this video, it was very helpful and simple to understand what you were referring too.
Can you be my grandpa
Dat Tepo hahaha
Sameee
Can I be your grandson?
Trumps grandpa
@@thomasbritzman6793 trump never had a grampa that's why he is so messed up in the head
Pro-tip the less time you need to be on a ladder the better.
Exactly! Just use a bucket
@@mrpanda2655 or a chair!
Or a barrel of rum!
Or ask someone else and tell them that you are afraid of heights
A few tips: watch for overhead electrical wires when setting up an extension ladder, especially if it’s an aluminum ladder. The ideal climbing angle is 70 degrees. When your toes are at the base of the beams, and arms extended forward to a rung, you’re there (70 degrees). Have your spot man stand behind the ladder, facing away from the building, and he will then grasp the beams of the ladder and pull the ladder toward the building with his body weight. When retracting the ladder sections, don’t reach through the beams between the rungs to pull the lanyard. Have the ladder orientation (on initial setup) so the lanyard is away from the building and right in front of you, way you can safely control ladder retraction with two hands on the lanyard and you can use your forearms to press against the beams for balance.
I'd recommend one hand on the rope(lanyard) and the other hand curled around the edge of the ladder, opposite your body. This will keep the ladder from catching wind and tipping laterally.
Thank you for your sage counsel, not only on this subject but also on many others. I appreciate your professionalism and concern.
I just started a new construction job. Most of the injuries I've witnessed were people acting "tough" and "Manly" to show off to their boss thinking it somehow improved their chances in some mysterious competition I'm not aware of. I go at my pace, I give genuine effort, and I try to improve everywhere I can. If I truly don't feel safe- the boss, the crew, and the whole of the neighborhood we're working in can go screw themselves.
From my fathers word, you'll fall, you'll get hurt. They'll swear up and down they were trying to keep you safe when in actuality they were the ones pushing you further than you felt comfortable. There's no "be a man" when you're 6ft down.
Just thought I'd share. Love the videos and always studying to be the best carpenter I can be.
One use of a ladder you might have covered is using a ladder to get onto a roof. The issue is how high the ladder should extend above the edge of the roof. Stepping off the ladder and onto the roof is scary but stepping off the roof back onto the ladder is the scariest and most dangerous part. The ladder needs to be high enough to hold onto to steady yourself as you move around the edge of the ladder and step onto the ladder rung, but not so high that it blocks you from moving around the ladder. I think the ladder should extend about two feet above the roof.
Dan Braun Its worth thinking about tying the ladder to the roof in this situation if possible. Also, never use a step ladder to access a roof or platform.
I had to do this once it scared the life out of me I'm not fond of heights
...yeah...what to do when you need to actually exit the ladder to access a roof area..and the opposite...how to get on the ladder from a roof area...only reason I came here...
I do this a lot for work and I like it chest high standing off the roof
I do agree with this ,but If I'm going to climb on the roof, I try to line up the top rung with the flat of the roof making it easier to put your boot level. Take care
I’m surprised the rule on the extension ladder: 1 foot out for every 4 feet up , isn’t mentioned here. So if the top of the ladder is resting on the building at 16 ft up, you need to set the ladder base 4 ft from the building . 24 feet would put the base at 6 ft out from the building.I’ve used this equation for years installing signs. Maybe it’s a Canadian rule.
I thought it was 1 foot out for every 3 up
@@Saaranv I thought Canadians measured everything in meters
It's a lot simpler than that. Make sure the top of the rungs are flat. If the rungs on your ladder are not flat on top, get a different ladder.
Now this video haunts me every single time I try to use a ladder, every single word you said in the video runs in my brain as a default mp3 file automatically playing to stressful state.
So I'm not sure if I wanna thank you or complain to you, but I think it's in the middle, so :
" Thank you for the stressful mind state that I have to endure every time I try to use a ladder "
PS: I'm just kidding, but I'm way more carful than I used to be, more like scared carefulness, lol.
I work for a small maintenance company and i am always put under pressure to do at height jobs off of ladders. Im 55 now and have avoided accidents so far but looking back, i have done some stupid things whilst working off ladders. Recently said enough is enough, my luck will run out. I now insist on scaffold towers or cherry pickers. Ain't doing it any more. Oh, and the point about leaving tools on the top of the ladder and getting distracted is a great one. Done that myself resulting in a impact driver dropping onto my head. Great video. Thank you.
Great well considered advice.
I used to work with a much older bloke and he would do things that really worry me on fold up, and extension ladders and scaffolding. To many scary stories. My big deal was to spot him and try to keep him safe. Occasionally he would manage to put my life as well as his own at risk. We worked on maintenance around a church, and that is the only reason I can see for our survival (from NDEs).
I've been tempted myself to save time and have come close to tragedy on ladders.
Ladders are extremely dangerous!
Cheers!
A shout out to ladder stabilizers would have been nice as well. I mount one on my 32' ladder and it feels worlds safer than not having one. They work wonders - every extension ladder should have one.
So true, and at least you can flip one of the feet to level if you don't have stabilizers.
Most of the time I don't like ladder stabilizers. There are situations where they are useful but they make the ladder top heavy. That makes it more difficult and dangerous to move and set up the ladder.
I work at a level one trauma center for 4 states (in the emergency room) and I approve this message.
It appears that you already have a good deal of content (from the comments) for your 'Ladder Safety 2' video. The only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned (so far), is to make sure the top of the ladder is over the ridge of the roof, or on the other (side walls). Putting the top of the ladder where it is only touching on one side isn't safe (and also more likely to damage the eve/gutter).
I would like to see companies licence your videos as safety videos ('Safety Videos' would be an *EXCELLENT* idea for a playlist). I look forward to part two.
I think a good addition to this video if you havent done so already is ladder safety when getting onto and off of roofs as well.
Probably one of the most useful TH-cam channels
Should you fall off a ladder, yes, you can survive a broken arm or broken leg; however if you crack your skull, this can be life threatining.
My daughter recently suggested a brilliant idea - before you go up a ladder, put on a bicycle helmet and tighten the chin strap - then if you fall
you are much less likely to suffer a fractured skull and potential death, simple solution!
I like it!
I missed the bottom step a couple weeks ago. Hyperextended my knee and it hurt for 2 weeks. Ladder safety is very underrated. I've been in much worse positions but sometimes even the smallest step could hurt pretty bad
My grandfathers last words were, “STOP SHAKING THE &$&))! £\€€~£ LADDER YOU LITTLE &$&@@&!!!!
lmao
Thank you for the very clear, accurate description of how to use a ladder safely. It only takes one fall for tragedy to occur.
Best teaching video I ever saw 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 informative, realistic and funny at the same time
I work off ladders every single day, always flip those feet out, it keeps the ladder from slipping out on ya
I keep oak wedges with my ladders to level the feet on uneven spots and I use a bucket to carry tools up the ladder or tie a rope to the bucket and pull it up when I get to the work position
i just fell off of a ladder and got this on my suggestion ?
internet is creepy
Agree.... I had a tick on my knee after a hike this summer and when we got home, there were ads for how to remove ticks!!!! SO WEIRD!!! K
You probably had your phone on you when you did it. Apps on your phone like youtube will listen to your conversations and pick up key words and phrases and it will carry over to any platform you use your youtube account on.
Law of coincidence. Or blame your microphone.
@@raurman4946 They also use google maps to track your location. So even if you don't say anything it'll track the stores you visit and shoot the most relevant ads according to that data.
I had a great remodeler fall off one last week.... Climbs a ladder like it's going to fall to pieces right now.... Maybe this is for him.
This was first video I saw of the Essential Craftsman! Been watching ever since.
Just wanted to say thanks. Im just an average guy who has never had any ladder training. Today i was doing a bit of a sketchy repair on the flashing and thought to myself there has to be a better way to adjust for this side slope. Turns out i learned a lot from your video. Better to fill the bag of experience without having to see if the bag of luck still has something in it.