Be careful on your ladders people

F

Fogg

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Aug 4, 2020

• #1

I was fishing for the ground with my feet, without looking, when coming down a step ladder last week. My left foot felt something firm so I hopped back with my right foot expecting that to find the ground with that too. Unfortunately the left foot had struck an electric motor I'd taken off and I managed to catapault myself backwards at a surprisingly terrifying velocity.

Broken wrist, but my head missed concrete blockwork by a whisker. It could so easily have been game over for me. From a height of about 9 sodding inches.

It makes you think.

 

ajcc

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

N.Devon 45 miles (most) by boat from Walter.

• Aug 6, 2020

• #2

Age related injury?

 

F

Fogg

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Aug 6, 2020

• #3

FOOSH, they call it. Falling on an outstretched hand.

I don't think being 20yrs younger would have been much of a benefit.

 

Y Fan Wen

Member

Location

N W Snowdonia

• Aug 6, 2020

• #4

Is it true that there are more accidents with step ladders than with long ladders?
If so I would assume it is because the same care is not taken with steps.

 

Netherfield

Member

Location

West Yorkshire

• Aug 6, 2020

• #5

Does not take much, sister in law lost her life, fell back from a short ladder, no more then 4 rungs, cracked her skull on a window ledge.

Since then my Mrs has banned me from ladders.

 

B

br jones

Member

• Aug 6, 2020

• #6

Ladders are for access ,not for working off

 

F

Fogg

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Aug 25, 2020

• #7

Three weeks with the cast and I had enough, I cut it off with an angle grinder.

I asked a medic friend how much trouble and I in when the NHS catch up with me, and she it's par for the course for farmers. We, apparently, have a reputation for being the most badass profession. It's not unusual for farmers to turn up at A+E have broken their spines or having lost pints of blood and be indignant that they're there because someone else made them go.

 

MOG

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Llanthony

• Aug 26, 2020

• #8

When I had my wrist fracture set in plaster I quickly found that I was unable to effectively hold a steering wheel or the reins of our pony. A few seconds with a pair of pliers soon sorted it, with the advantage it was far more comfortable with most of the plaster removed from around the thumb/finger junction

 

Willie adie

Member

Location

Aberdeenshire

• Aug 26, 2020

• #9

Y Fan Wen said:

Is it true that there are more accidents with step ladders than with long ladders?
If so I would assume it is because the same care is not taken with steps.

Click to expand...

I prefer my real ladder,
I don't get on with my step ladder.

 

spin cycle

Member

Location

north norfolk

• Aug 26, 2020

• #10

Fogg said:

Three weeks with the cast and I had enough, I cut it off with an angle grinder.

I asked a medic friend how much trouble and I in when the NHS catch up with me, and she it's par for the course for farmers. We, apparently, have a reputation for being the most badass profession. It's not unusual for farmers to turn up at A+E have broken their spines or having lost pints of blood and be indignant that they're there because someone else made them go.

Click to expand...

i don't wanna sound rude but isn't cutting off a plaster cast with an angle grinder....presumably one handed....a tad dangerous

 

ollie989898

Member

Location

Hanging from a twig, in a deep sleep.

• Aug 26, 2020

• #11

spin cycle said:

i don't wanna sound rude but isn't cutting off a plaster cast with an angle grinder....presumably one handed....a tad dangerous

Click to expand...

Nah, compared to ignoring medical treatment and 'suggestions'. I'd rate it 2 out of 10 for danger. The smell will soon tell you if you have hit flesh.

 

Agri Spec Solicitor

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Aug 26, 2020

• #12

One of the highest value personal injury cases I ever won was for a chap who fell 4 rungs to the ground, injured his spine, and from then on was paraplegic. Job gone, stuck in a wheelchair for life, poor chap. And only 4 rungs high, he was so unlucky.

 

F

Fogg

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Aug 26, 2020

• #13

i don't wanna sound rude but isn't cutting off a plaster cast with an angle grinder....presumably one handed....a tad dangerous

Click to expand...

Be as rude as you like. I accept it was fairly idiotic, but I didn't come close to injuring myself. I just scored a shallow groove into the plaster then prised it with a screwdriver. Beneath that there were rolls of cotton wool and padding.

Bear in mind that I'd worn this thing, and had to work, through one of the biggest heatwaves since the 60s, and it was making me sore and angry. It was beginning to smell of farmyard and death. But yeah, not clever - I'd not want to set an example to anyone.