Ladder safety is one of those things we all know we should take more seriously than most of us do. "We've been climbing them since we could walk," stated Andy Bull, Ladder Safety Guru, at the March 15, 2007 luncheon meeting of the Central Coast Clams Association. "Yet, 300 people are killed each year, and another 175, 000 injured from ladder-related accidents," he stated in his introduction.
Mr. Bull, the featured guest speaker for the monthly gathering, utilized a great many props, in the form of ladders, to demonstrate proper use, and proper decision making about the right ladder for specific tasks.
"Four out of five unrestricted falls from eleven feet high are fatalities," he exclaimed. People don't give much thought to the potential for real harm when climbing a ladder, but it's truly there.
The notion that "knowledge is power," he stated, "is the biggest crock! You have to put into practice what you know."
There are so many accidents, he said, "because we're stupid! At work, we tend to be pretty safety conscious, but at home we do goofy things.
"More people are hurt or killed using a six foot ladder than any other size," he said.
He demonstrated various ladders based on weight capacity ratings, ability to handle angled surfaces, extensions that allow the necessary extra length for such things as climbing on rooftops, and the ladder growing most in popularity - a platform top step that keeps the user from climbing higher than is safe.
"The neatest thing I've seen come out," he stated with excitement, "is this extension ladder after-market product that attaches to any extension ladder," giving it that often needed extra length.
He advised, "carry a ladder low, with the back end down." He also urged "three points of contact: one hand/two feet; two hands/at least one foot; or put your body into it if you don't have three points with hands and feet."
There is little doubt those at this meeting will ever climb a ladder the same way as they used to.
Thank You to ALL our March Meeting
Door Prize Sponsors
CRDN
Blue Sky Cleaners
Tucknott Electric Company
Marriott Execustay Ins. Housing Solutions
EFI Global
ServiceMaster
Vanderbuilt Construction
FRSTeam
PW Stephens Contractors
CH Bull Co. - Andy Bull, who donated a highly-rated ladder
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