Be careful on your ladders people

[Fogg]

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]

Age related injury?

 

[Fogg]

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]

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]

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.

 

[br jones]

Ladders are for access ,not for working off

 

[Fogg]

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]

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]

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.

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

 

[spin cycle]

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.

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

 

[deleted user 837354]

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

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]

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.

 

[Fogg]

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

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.