Using a Ladder in Wild Weather - My big Brain Fart today!

Ladders are Deadly

Did you know that in Australia one in six fatalities due to fall from height are from ladders? https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/falls-from-height.pdf

So it was my great pleasure today to decide that I needed to unblock an overflowing downpipe. Now normally this would be a simple and easy job, but today the wind was blowing at gale strength and the rain was belting in sideways. So during a brain fade, I decided to hoist up the ladder and climb two stories up to unblock a downpipe.

Once I was up there I realised the error of my judgment as the rain smacked me in the eyes and I swayed in the wind but my resolve was steely and I completed the task in light of the conditions.

Now I should have really thought about that decision in light of why I was home early from work. I had to pick my daughter up from school after she took a dive and headbutted a desk in her classroom (she is alright, but will have a nice shiner tomorrow). But still I climbed that ladder.... and survived.

I can see why people suffer so many injuries from ladder falls after choices like the one I made today.

My learning from today...... If it is pelting down with rain and the wind is blowing the trees over, don't climb a ladder or you could become one of those fatalities....