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  Thanks for reminding me i will get my stand off tomorrow

Working on a Pole Barn in high school for a FFA project with our instructors. On the end of the barn putting up the rafters and the ladder slid out at the bottom and the instructor came straight down and landed face first on the ladder. Split his socket in his shoulder clean in the middle. I mean the ball that fits into the socket. Had to wear a brace and cast for months. Couldn't drive his car without rolling down the window because of the brace on his arm.

Now I am very careful about ladder placement. Man was he in alot of pain.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

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Wow Pat I bet he was !!!
I slipped on some wet cedar once and caught myself on the edge, sittting on the roof. It wasn't very high up but still scary. I need an adjustable Ladder Stuart, the thought never even crossed my mind but it shore would beat building a platform from scarp wood to make level ground!!! I like to use a long prybar to secure ladders that seem unsafe. As in if you need to use a wide angle on your ladder it can slip out very easilly so pounding the length of a prybar into the ground securing the first rung of the ladder from moving is a great old-school trick I learned around here from some other contractors. Homeowners actually comment on our use of standoffs and prybar support.

-- Edited by Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:21:32 PM

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Bill,

Great Idea for the use of a Pry bar to keep the ladder from kicking out.

Please post a pic of this Bill so ALL newbies and vets alike can see this contractor safety trick.

A picture is WORTH a thousand words

-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 01:04:13 AM

Yes, that is a ready made tool for the job. Good thinking!!

Jeff

Here are some quick pics of the method on my 24 ft ladder.  With my 36' ladder I could lay a large amount of it FLAT on this type of roof.  A longer prybar is ideal but I used this one to show that even this small crate opener can get the job done!!  I have used this were a large angle is needed to avoid a garden plat or I am just trying to get a ladder FLAT on the roof.   Also my roofers that laid this new tin roof in this pic, used a method I had never seen.  They took my 36' ladder and broke it apart into 2 18' sections that they tied together and laid on either side of the roof.  My wife has a pic of this on her camera, and I will try to post it later tonight.

I just found a pic of the 36' in action at this angle from 2 yrs ago it's here as well.
If I tryed this without a prybar the ladder would slip right out from under me.

-- Edited by Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 07:08:21 AM

  I've used a small crow bar many times the same way just watch out for irrigation piping & low voltage lighting . keep posting, little tricks always help

Clever idea with the crow bar Bill. I will implement it ASPA.  I to believe in the werner ladder stand off, I also use ladder Jacks for leveling at the base of the ladder. Lots of hilly terrain in Va.
Thanks.

I agree I have been using ladder stand off's for years now
You cannot measure the added safety they provide ,plus the total elimation of any gutter damage,
Just make sure you check the brackets (tighten the bolts) every use.

If you are on asphalt or concrete  on commerical jobs. I have had to use my trailer wheels or truck tires to stablize the ladder, when you are not able to drive a crowbar in the ground. Safety always comes first.