Ladder safety

[Radio]

Two quick points, even though we old farts have climbed our share of towers...

1. If the roof is wet, whatever needs to be done up there can usually wait until the roof is dry. The only time I nearly fell from an RV roof was transitioning from the roof to the ladder (coming down) and the roof was wet.

Lesson learned. I figure (but can't prove) most falls occur when transitioning from/to the ladder. It is true in the airline industry, so stated in the training video they make us watch once a year.

2. Put all your stuff in a bucket, and haul the bucket up with a rope. One end of the rope tied to bucket handle, the other just tossed over your shoulder. Or throw one end of the rope over the RV. NEVER try to haul tools up there in your hands while climbing a ladder.

See picture. All that stuff came up and went down in the bucket.

I just had the notion someone was going to fall off a ladder this weekend.

[NN5I]

Haven't heard of anyone's falling off the ladder this weekend, but I have some old friends who fall off the wagon every weekend.

Wade, all your advice above is golden. If everyone would follow it, every time, most climbing accidents would never occur.

[W7JZE]

Originally Posted by NN5I

Haven't heard of anyone's falling off the ladder this weekend, but I have some old friends who fall off the wagon every weekend.

Wade, all your advice above is golden. If everyone would follow it, every time, most climbing accidents would never occur.

Hey, hey, hey! I resemble that remark, Carl!

Cheers!

[Radio]

And I just climbed my ladder in the rain.

I didn't get on the roof though. I had a leak around my fridge vent that I fixed last week. This is the first time it's rained since then. Water would pond on the curb side of the vent but not the street side. The leak would drain it away.

So I poked my head up there just far enough to check and it seems water is ponding on both sides now. After it rains a while I'll check the formerly damp places inside to see what's (not) happening there.

But I think I finally got the leak under control.

[wa8yxm]

Another issue with RV ladders is that the factory ladder is a VERTICAL ladder..now..A couple things about me.

1:I am acrophobic..So I have to have a good reason to get on a ladder
(I have mostly got it under control but it still remains)

2: For 7 years I was a professional ladder monkey.. (I told you I mostly had it under control)

Now back to ladders.. The Vertical laddre is very hard to mount from the top..I seriously do not like them.

A properly sloped ladder (IE:Extension ladder) is way easier to get on from above.

(Also the RV ladder is strained by 200 pounds.. My Step ladder is TESTED to 500 (Double it's rating). I'm over 300 pounds.

How to tell if a step ladder is properly slanted.

Put your toes against the foot of the ladder.

Stand straight

Extend arms straight out and lower till hand either lands on a rund (proper) misses it (too flat)or wrist hits rung (Too steep) Hand should grip round naturally. (fingers is too flat, heal is too steep)

IF using a safety harness (Common on pitched (house/building) roofs) do NOT attach end of safety line to a vehicle.

Story of man wearing harness working on roof..Wife drove to grocery store.. You can figure out the rest.

[ke0me]

like others, I'm no lightweight.

I have a multiple config ladder similar to the Little Giant models. Think I got it at Home Depot.

Safety rated to either 250 or 300 labs, which covers me. It was weighs 29 lbs but it is solid, I have no fears with it collapsing.

As a rule of thumb, I set the ladder to slope at 1 foot out for every 4 feet up. That gives me a nice secure weight distribution so it wont fall backwards.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Another issue with RV ladders is that the factory ladder is a VERTICAL ladder...

AH! That's why it's such a pain to climb and get on/off of. Or just use in general, since that's all you do with a ladder, climb and get on/off...

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

IF using a safety harness (Common on pitched (house/building) roofs) do NOT attach end of safety line to a vehicle.

Unless the only key is in YOUR pocket!

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by Radio

AH! That's why it's such a pain to climb and get on/off of. Or just use in general, since that's all you do with a ladder, climb and get on/off...





Unless the only key is in YOUR pocket!

There is not a motor vehicle I can not start without a key and I am not a professional car thief.

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

There is not a motor vehicle I can not start without a key and I am not a professional car thief.

You're an amateur?