Never too old to learn new tricks. I had a learning experience yesterday that will not be forgotten. I was finishing up for the day trying to get one one last electric line in before quitting. Down in the garage 12' up with the ladder against the wall. Was pulling wire through the trusses, not leaning sideways nor at the top of the ladder though I was at the ceiling height. All of a sudden the feet of the ladder slip outward and I found myself headed to the floor, ladder underneath me. Slowly got up. Leg banged hard in a couple places. Blood coming down my face from a couple gashes. But I could move. Climbed up a ladder to get out of the garage and drove home. Sandra appraised the situation and made the call to go to the ER in Taos. X-rays, CT scan and 25 stitches later we finally left for home.
Daughter who is a safety engineer sent loads of stuff on ladder safety products. They look good and we'll order a couple.
It was a lesson that ultimately was inexpensive from what I could have been. Between running umpteen wires and setting the garage door tracks, I've been up and down the ladder on that same floor a hundred times. All over a bare floor without a wall to slow the decent. Same slip could have happened and the result would have been far worse. Someone was watching over me but knew I needed some lesson to get through my hard head. So He gave me one with just enough hurt to get my attention.
I'll make some changes to how I work in the future including making sure the ladder is secure. My advice to everyone else is to pay attention to securing it as well even if you are on a level and what seems to be a safe surface.
Posted by Mark in Provo, UT on 1/15/2017
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Mark's Forum Posts: 153 Interview Answers: 248
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 Randomly Selected Image 1/15/2017 |  | I'm so glad you're okay, Larry. One more step is to have someone with you on site as you work.
All the best,
Mark
Mark Smith Editor OwnerBuilderBook.com
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Posted by Larry in Angel Fire, NM on 1/16/2017
Larry's Forum Posts: 1 Journal Entries: 271 Interview Answers: 67
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 Larry's Selected Image 1/16/2017 |  | Thanks much Mark. The incident has given me a new found appreciation of life. Difficult to have someone else on site when you are doing most everything by yourself, but Sandra will certainly be at the bottom of the ladder until I get the new safety tools |  |
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