Posted: 11/30/2012 4:13:14 AM EDT
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I'm quite proud of my shed. Its made from 100% recycled materials, and didnt cost me more than the time it took to build it. Its 10x10, and the walls are tall - at 10', its got a nice high ceiling which I use for hanging tools, and animal traps, and materials like emt tubing and wire, hoses, and cables and stuff like that. Well, the roof developed a leak over the years, and yesterday, I got up on the roof to patch it. There were a lot of pine needles on the south side of the roof, and I lost my footing and off I went. I fell about 10 feet, and fell on top of the ladder, striking the bottom rung squarely across my shoulder-blades.
The fall didnt knock me out, but dazed me, and knocked the wind out of me. I laid on the leaves of the wooded forest floor about ten minutes looking up at the sky. I heard that there has been accident victims who were moved too quickly, exacerbating a serious injury that could have been prevented if they were stabilized, so I laid their and looked up at the sky through the tall pines. It was pretty, and kind of peaceful staring up at the grey sky, and as soon as I figured out I was okay, I shook it off and finished the job. Getting back on the horse, so to speak. After I took a shower and got ready for work I realized how bad I was feeling. The area between my shoulder blades was screaming in pain. I called my wife at the hospital, and asked her if she thought I should go in to the ER. After her giving me a few verbal slappings, I did go in. They cat-scanned my spine and all checked out okay. I was in an out of the hospital in no time, with a three-days-off note for my work in one hand, and a scrip for some oxycodone in the other, and here I sit this morning writing about it all. I think I started this thread to tell everyone how easily and quickly trouble can rear its ugly head. If we were without EMS service, and a real serious problem rose up, perhaps something that would require an ambulance, I'd have been fucked. I'm saying to practice safety, and work safely. Most people dont think about it. Wear your ear protection around loud stuff. Lift correctly. Wear eye protection when you should. And most-important of all: DON'T BE A DUMBASS LIKE ME! Just because you have the body of a 55 year old, and the brain of a 29 year old, does not mean you fit somewhere in between as an overall rating. A strong head does not mean your body will follow the commands you give it. Use some common sense, because lightning can strike. Yeah, I guess I sound preachy, but I'm thankful I didnt fuck myself up as badly as the doc said I could have. I could have become a quadriplegic easily yesterday, and as soon as I get done being sore from head to toe, and the black and blues leave me, I'll raise a glass and dance a fine jig in celebration. |
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Good ARR. When out doing stuff, even as normal as raking I always tell my SO where I am and when I should be back/done and with a phone in my pocket. Stuff like climbing, no matter how old you are, should be done with someone else there. Another funny story: An acquaintance traded my old kayak for a few bottles of ghost pepper powder (he's making it). Which was a good deal for both of us.  That old thing was not my style anymore and the SO was getting pissed at the space it was taking up. He proceeded to paint the kayak and break free of the bonds of finding a buddy to go duck hunting with. One week later, he told me he dumped it a mile into a swamp (which has depths up to about 10 feet) in 35 degree weather. Then had to dive for his gun. (Lost other stuff I think.) Hadn't told anyone where he went and his closest friends didn't really know he had a single man unpowered boat so finding his vehicle would have led them along the shore or in the nearby dog park, not out on the water. I don't know if he had a phone or not.The point being, got excited with a new adventure and forgot to install the fall backs that probably wouldn't be needed but should be there.
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| When I do any work up on a roof I use a fall protection harness setup, even 'Depot and Lowe's carry them these days for around $100. I know a couple folks who should have used them and instead spent weeks in the hospital and months recovering, I bet that cost a lot more than $100. I tend to avoid extension ladders as well, prefering to use either scaffolding or rent an aerial lift if I have any significant work to do in an elevated location. When working in my shop I always wear safety glasses and when rigging / moving anything heavy I am always carefull to pre-plan the work and identify what might go wrong from a safety perspective. In about 43 years I've managed to avoid any serious injuries despite doing a lot of potentially dangerous work. My biggest injury has been a broken toe from dropping a hunk of steel on it. Safety matters, especially when you work alone and have noone to save your butt. |
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1. Don't take pain meds if you can stand it without them.
2. Go to a good chiropractor if it's not better in a couple days, sooner is better than later. 3. Watch wear you step from now on 
All they tell you with a hospital CT scan is if you've broken something or if you've got a major dislocation, not if your spine is actually correctly aligned. |
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Quoted: I my name is Kibby and I am a new safety addict Originally Posted By The Group: Hi Kibby I am here to post solidarity with Kibby...Sorry about your pain, but I am glad that you are so ok and not worse...and my fellow brothers ans sisters at the safety addict club...Hi everyone. Kibby I would not fuss at you if you went armed with a broom to sweep the roof and fall protection next time. |
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I'm definitely NOT a safety addict.
wait... the first step in addiction is denial, right? Hmm... 
After falling, I went back up to do the job. Pfft, when I was a kid, NOBODY ever admitted to weakness. Any whining was met with such derision, you would not believe. Admitting you couldn't do something was a sign of being weak. That is why to this day, one of my most-serious character flaws is that automatically assuming I can do anything, and that I am indestructible is my natural default. In a post-collapse/eotw sort of thing, safety awareness could be a useful skill. There'll be a lot of Darwin Awards handed out... I'm going to try to not become one of them. |
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Boy does this strike home, for reasons far too numerous (and embarrassing) to mention. I am 54.
I don't have the answer, I am home alone every weekday, from about 7am til 5. I try to pay attention, and little reminders like this always help. I hope you get better soon. I have a trick I pull to avoid getting on the roof. I wait until one of my sons need something welded, or want to use one of the machines in my shop, and when they come over I strike. "Say son, since you are already here would you mind....." |
| Glad you're ok, and as you pointed out, the best medicine is not getting injured in the first place, especially post shtf. Don't go getting any "alignments" just yet, chiropractic is unproven science at best, and pseudo-science, witch doctor nonsense at the worst. |
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Quoted:
Glad you're ok, and as you pointed out, the best medicine is not getting injured in the first place, especially post shtf. Don't go getting any "alignments" just yet, chiropractic is unproven science at best, and pseudo-science, witch doctor nonsense at the worst. *BINGO!* The correlation of pay day lenders, strip mall churches and chiropractors with the least educated populations is no accident. |
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I always pointed out to my students (especially the young men) that you thought you were INVINCIBLE until either: 1. you turned 40 2 you got shot at for the first time I resemble this. When I turned 40, I was 4 days out of surgery putting steel plate and screws in my ankle because I had thought I was young enough to be riding a wheelie on a mountain bike to show off for my buddies little kids. Couple broken bones, dislocated foot.
I also live solo on some wooded acreage, and have learned to go get the cell phone, to tie stuff off, to stop and think about what I'm about to do if there is danger involved, to take a break when I get winded so I can be thinking clearly as I proceed, and sometimes even to call a buddy and say "I'm about to put up this 20 foot ladder stand in an oak tree, so if I don't call you back in 30 minutes, call me and/or come check on me or call the police for a welfare check." 
eta: speeling errors |
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Take it easy for a few....
Glad to hear you're ok... A little late for the "don't be a dumbass" advice (for me anyway) ...
Your prescription is as follows: 1600 hrs. - Vicodin, 750mg 1800 hrs - Jameson, 2-fingers 2000 hrs - Jameson, 2-fingers 2015 hrs. - 30 minutes of threats, F-U's, and belittling in GD |
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It's not the fall that hurts you. It's the sudden stop.
Seriously though, I've seen two nasty falls at work over the years and both of them put the fear of God and physics in me. I get some ribbing from the iron workers or riggers when I actually use my harness and tie off to something solid or hook up to a fall arrester. None of that phases me, I'm not 20 and invincible, call me an old man but I take shit seriously. Glad you're OK Kibby. Thanks for sharing and reminding folks to be safe. |
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This is why I am afraid to get on my roof and clean the gutters! I am glad you are ok man, it could have been BAD! You know, if someone drives around cleaning gutters for a few ucks, and that means a) I get to spend that time doign something that is either more productive/more fun b) I dont risk breakign my neck c)I get to give someone money for some honest work. It just checks all the ricght boxes in my book. Seriously, I try doign things ymself an all, and I oftne do, but when there's a greater chance of getting hurt and its just not worth it I'l have someone else do it if I can. And to the OP, I agree 100% Eye protection, ear protection, respirator when sanding, gloves, especially when making knives or even just belt sharpening or reprofiling, insualted shoes wen working with electricicty. It avoids some nasty surprises. FerFAL |
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This is why I am afraid to get on my roof and clean the gutters! I am glad you are ok man, it could have been BAD! You know, if someone drives around cleaning gutters for a few ucks, and that means a) I get to spend that time doign something that is either more productive/more fun b) I dont risk breakign my neck c)I get to give someone money for some honest work. It just checks all the ricght boxes in my book. FerFAL Sounds like someone with no insurance who will end up being your problem when they fall and injure themselves cleaning your gutters. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: This is why I am afraid to get on my roof and clean the gutters! I am glad you are ok man, it could have been BAD! You know, if someone drives around cleaning gutters for a few ucks, and that means a) I get to spend that time doign something that is either more productive/more fun b) I dont risk breakign my neck c)I get to give someone money for some honest work. It just checks all the ricght boxes in my book. FerFAL Sounds like someone with no insurance who will end up being your problem when they fall and injure themselves cleaning your gutters. True here, but FerFAL don't live under the US legal system... |
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This is why I am afraid to get on my roof and clean the gutters! I am glad you are ok man, it could have been BAD! You know, if someone drives around cleaning gutters for a few ucks, and that means a) I get to spend that time doign something that is either more productive/more fun b) I dont risk breakign my neck c)I get to give someone money for some honest work. It just checks all the ricght boxes in my book. FerFAL Sounds like someone with no insurance who will end up being your problem when they fall and injure themselves cleaning your gutters. True here, but FerFAL don't live under the US legal system... Indeed, but for those of us in the US it's an important consideration. Someone else getting hurt is generally better that you getting hurt, but either way it can be really expensive. |
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Glad you're OK OP.
It's worth pointing out that in a SHTF situation everyone is likely to be scared, rushed and tired and all of those things contribute to accidents. Accidents add more S to the F and further increase stress levels. In a survival situation remind your fellow survivors to slow down, watch where you put your hands and feet, maintain situational awareness. This is also probably not the time to learn to use a chain saw, better to assign that task to someone already familiar with the tool. We can all probably think of more examples. |
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Quoted:
Glad you're OK OP. It's worth pointing out that in a SHTF situation everyone is likely to be scared, rushed and tired and all of those things contribute to accidents. Accidents add more S to the F and further increase stress levels. In a survival situation remind your fellow survivors to slow down, watch where you put your hands and feet, maintain situational awareness. This is also probably not the time to learn to use a chain saw, better to assign that task to someone already familiar with the tool. We can all probably think of more examples. Training - Acquire the skills *before* they are critically needed in an emergency situation. |