Beware the top step on a ladder

Gene L

I know, the top step is not for standing, although I've gotten away from it before,  But not yesterday.

Got a mystery noise in my AC, so yesterday I decided to go up to my attic to see if I can fix it. With a short ladder. I know they say don't step on the top, but since I'm a rebel, I did anyway, the upper third of my body in the attic. Of course, the ladder failed me, and I was left hanging on a couple of wall 2x4s ceiling joists with my right leg through the ladder. I knew I couldn't hold on forever, so I eventually let go. Fell about 4 feet, my head hit the bedroom floor hard enough to get my attention. Bent the aluminum ladder, ruining it. I was lucky I didn't get really hurt, except for bruises on my wrists. I left my flashlight in the attic burning, and had to get my big ladder to go back up there, since it was getting hot.

Took a blow to the head, wrists, and leg.  A 73 year old man and a 4ft ladder and ignoring the basic rules; could have been a lot worse.

shush

You are a silly arse.

Glad you are ok though.

CHIRO1989

70 year olds on ladders keep the Neurosurgeons in central MN busy, that and falling out of skidloader buckets.
Glad to hear you still have some bounce in you Gene, might be feeling a bit more sore tomorrow AM.

earlyagain

Im glad you weren't hurt Gene. I was up on my roof thismorning. If I don't slow down and watch it better myself I may not make it to retirement. A timely reminder is better than a fall.

horselips

Whether it's cars, or plumbing or electrical or HVAC, people who work on their own stuff have stuff that never works. Always call a pro. The only thing you should ever fix on your own is dinner, and some shouldn't even do that. 

NCFUBAR

Knock on wood I’ve never fallen off a ladder but steps are another matter ... I’ve stumbled on too many to count especially the damn ones coming into our laundry room from the garage. For some reason their design just messes with my ability to navigate simple steps.

bisley

Glad you're gonna be OK.

I myself, am starting to get used to bruises and scrapes, after a bout with vertigo a couple years ago. I fell across the zero-turn lawnmower(in the garage) last week, with no chance for a roll-out - just splat! Bruised ribs and knees, scraped shins, and full-body sprain. Mrs. Bisley cuts me no slack on my chores, so I'm walking with a cane for a few days, to make her feel guilty.

Linefinder

My problem with a stepladder isn't the top rung...it's the bottom one. While I've never had great vision, one eye is way better than the other...meaning no stereoscopic vision and all that implies about fine depth perception. I've "stepped off" a stepladder while 3 feet above the ground more times than I can count. That'll jack your back for days. But with age comes painful wisdom. I now longer look down, and when both feet are at the same altitude and the substrate feels solid I figure I'm off the ladder. Mike

shush

Linefinder said:

My problem with a stepladder isn't the top rung...it's the bottom one. While I've never had great vision, one eye is way better than the other...meaning no stereoscopic vision and all that implies about fine depth perception. I've "stepped off" a stepladder while 3 feet above the ground more times than I can count. That'll jack your back for days. But with age comes painful wisdom. I now longer look down, and when both feet are at the same altitude and the substrate feels solid I figure I'm off the ladder. Mike

Have you pondered acquiring one of these?

Just for step ladders, of course.

Linefinder

That'd probably work better than what Nature provided me.

shush

Linefinder said:

That'd probably work better than what Nature provided me.

A biological need to stay off stepladders?

Linefinder

No, dip. Two eyes that work together. Next? Mike

shush

Dip?
Such wit.
Next?
Let me think, yes.
Know your limitations.

bisley

I successfully banned my dad from ladders at age 79, when I was adding on to my house. It wasn't pretty - he stomped off and didn't come back till the next day. Never said a word about it - just didn't climb the ladder again. I avoid them like the plague, myself, because I can't even look up without drifting off plumb.

Gene L

TrueTone911 said:

That could have been worse for sure...glad it was not. Any more or new symptoms from that blow the the head?

Not so farfarfarfarfarfar.

Make_My_Day

More senior citizens are killed or seriously injured from falls in and around the home. I'm always falling on my ass one time or another. Luckily I have lots of padding and non-brittle bones and haven't broken anything yet.

coolgunguy

 If you're like me, it's good you got conked on the melon, rather than someplace you might have gotten hurt.😉

Big Chief

Might be time to think about a First Alert emergency button to hang around yer neck!

Glad you are OK!

Big Chief

Might be time to think about a First Alert emergency button to hang around yer neck!

Glad you are OK!

shush

Big Chief said:

Might be time to think about a First Alert emergency button to hang around yer neck!

Not get it mixed up with his new the safety harness, eh?

NN

WOW   

orchidman

Glad you are ok Gene. Your experience is a timely reminder for me.

Last week I dragged the step ladder out to clean the chandelier in the theatre room. The room has an 18' stud and I spent about and hour on the top step cleaning the chrystal lenses...........got half way through and stopped cos I didnt feel comfortable. Still have the other half to do.

( Most chandeliers have a pulley system so you can lower them to ground level........but my Grandfather did things on the cheap and its bolted through the ceiling without any way to lower it)

shush

orchidman said:

Glad you are ok Gene. Your experience is a timely reminder for me.

Last week I dragged the step ladder out to clean the chandelier in the theatre room. The room has an 18' stud and I spent about and hour on the top step cleaning the chrystal lenses...........got half way through and stopped cos I didnt feel comfortable. Still have the other half to do.

( Most chandeliers have a pulley system so you can lower them to ground level........but my Grandfather did things on the cheap and its bolted through the ceiling without any way to lower it)

Just get the experts in mate.

https://youtu.be/LFuYIi5-igc?t=121

tennmike

Glad you didn't get more than some bruises and sore spots from the fall. Falling off a step ladder is enough to hurt you pretty good.

I got tired of those stupid step ladders a few years ago and bought one with rails that are around the side and top. You can use the top step safely as you have something to hold on to while you're up there.
I have one similar to this. Beats the devil out of falling!

https://www.wdrake.com/buy-folding-four-step-ladder-with-handrails-354173?sourcecode=WDSAVE2018&cmp=compare_shop&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrvGm1K2r2wIVUTaBCh1DVwjyEAkYBiABEgL-2_D_BwE

Big Chief

I reckon NO STEP means just that!

Teach

Sounds like that chandelier would be a good candidate for a pressure washer cleaning- - - - - -then when you install the replacement one you can rig it right!  Gene- - - -glad you're not too badly scuffed up!  My mind keeps writing checks my body has trouble cashing! 

Jerry

NN

Apparently the top step of a stepladder in approved in the roofing trade, as I came off Base
this morning I noticed roofers on the roof of the tattoo place across from the main gate.
One guy was on the top step holding onto the edge of the roof. 

tennmike

NN said:

Apparently the top step of a stepladder in approved in the roofing trade, as I came off Base
this morning I noticed roofers on the roof of the tattoo place across from the main gate.
One guy was on the top step holding onto the edge of the roof. 

That's a good way to get suspended between the edge of the roof and the ground, among other possible outcomes.

Axe

I learned a long time ago that ladders are not as bad as falling from them! When I first started in the fire service, we used to have "bail out" drills. This involved climbing out the window on the 2nd floor head first, tossing the air pack and sliding down the ladder on your stomach. If everything was done right, it was actually fun. Done incorrectly, this method of egress was a very painful lesson. Glad it all worked out fer you. 

Varmintmist

And the lesson is?

Get the right sized ladder for the job.