carabiner failure

Woodpecker,

Glad you brought up ladders.

I think ladder are one of our most dangerous tools we have.

It is a rule in my company that even if you put a ladder up to cut one little limb, you have to put on the saddle and lanyard.

That rule saved me once even. Ladder on a wet deck. Had saddle and layard on, ladder slipped out, no big deal.

However, still, i know a guy in another company. had saddle and lanyard on. ladder slipped out while making the top cut. Hand naturally reached for something to grab when ladder fell, thumb grabbed still spinning chain on 020. Lost some meat out of his thumb.

Ladders are very dangerous.

Most ladder accidents are when they are used to cut off a large limb, limb drops with tips first, butt kicks back and knocks out the ladder.

Be careful,
 
I have to laugh about a story I hered the other day. Although it was actually very serious.

This guy was flippin a tree removing limbs. Guess he got a little tired and thirsty, so he had his wife or girlfriend tie on the gallon water jug.Now for some reason , and I'm not sure why , he puts the rope in his teeth. Well the rope slips out of his hands while he's lifting the jug. Yeah you got it, eight lbs of water and rope weight shock load ol iron jaws.

I kind of laughed when the guy was tellig me this part of the story. However, I didnt laugh to much after the rest of the story came.

When the rope jerked in his mouth it damn near pulled out all his teeth from the front half forward, uppers and lowers.Now, as if that wasnt bad enough I guess the guy could get down on his own and dang near bled to death before the fire dept. got there and got him out of the tree.

I wounder if he has a set of metal teeth now. I bet he will never make that mistake agin if he's still climbing .

Greg
 
I've read about rock climbers doing the same thing with their ropes. The lead climber pulls up some slack with his free hand. Puts the rope in his teeth and reaches down for more slack to go to the next clip. In that time, the climber slips and rips teeth out...yuch!!! One person suggested that in that case, to grip the rope with your lips either puckered or kissing.

In Z133 it says that ladders can be used for access. When working from the ladder the climber needs to be secured. My interpretation of "working" is touching the tree. If the climber needs to push aside a limb with their hands on the way up the ladder they need to be secured. Gotta maintain contact.
 
personally if i need a ladder up against a tree to cut a branch off, i will have my harness on, get in position and then have the ladder removed.....safety aside, a decent aluminium ladder cost a lot of dough and i dont want a branch landing on it and denting a rung or 2
 
I'm dumb, but I avoid using ladders even when they seem the fastest and still safe option. I'd still prefer to just climb it.

I see ladders as seeming unprofessional. But I'm biased. I just like to climb.

love
nick
 
I work with a tree company as an intern in the summer months while off from school. My roomate (another intern) was using a 10 or 12' step ladder to pole saw a short stature tree. Our pole saws are at least 6' of wood and not the easiest to manuever with, especially on a ladder. He was not tied in and while in the process of trying to find a comfortable position, lost his balance and fell 10' or so. He shattered his elbow and was done working for the summer. He was wearing his Petzle climbing helmet, which saved him from very seriouse injury if not death. A photo of his helmet (infused with asphalt) was sent around to other offices in the company for safety reasons. Our produciton foreman was a little edgy on our use of ladders after that. I saw my former roomate at the WAA conference yesterday (1-30-05) and he was all healed up.

-Phil
 
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