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Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

RE: Ladder Stand-Off

Dustin Miller · Guest

Stabilizers are great, leg levelers are a must and that pry bar trick is pretty slick. I'm on my guys all the time about ladder placement and angles.

I fell off a shake shingle roof about 6 weeks ago and fractured seven ribs in nine spots. I was extremely lucky and I learned a hard leason. (Never rinse out gutters on a shake shingle roof while ON THE ROOF.) A lot of you may be shaking your head right now thinking idiot, well, I was and at the time I had little to no knowledge of roofs and roof safety.

Well, I know now after a lot of pain and over $6,000 in medical bids to pay and I even have insurance. Total bill, $30,000. Safety, safety safety... There isn't a paying job that is worth your life or the life of one of your crew members.

Dustin

Jul 11, 2009

Good information on the ladder standoff. Ive got a big 2 story Roof Cleaning coming up and I'm getting a Ladder standoff this week. Currently I don't have one. I'm not taking any chances.
Dustin, I hope your healing up well. Gotta be careful on those Roofs.

Dustin Miller · Guest

Thanks

I'm pretty much back to normal with the exception of lifting really heavy weight.

Roof Cleaning Kissimmee FL 407-452-4526 · Guest

Dustin Miller wrote:

Stabilizers are great, leg levelers are a must and that pry bar trick is pretty slick. I'm on my guys all the time about ladder placement and angles.

I fell off a shake shingle roof about 6 weeks ago and fractured seven ribs in nine spots. I was extremely lucky and I learned a hard leason. (Never rinse out gutters on a shake shingle roof while ON THE ROOF.) A lot of you may be shaking your head right now thinking idiot, well, I was and at the time I had little to no knowledge of roofs and roof safety.

Well, I know now after a lot of pain and over $6,000 in medical bids to pay and I even have insurance. Total bill, $30,000. Safety, safety safety... There isn't a paying job that is worth your life or the life of one of your crew members.

Dustin

Wow, glad your still around man to tell the tale and reinforce the value of safety. Worse that happened to me regarding ladders is I once fell off a step-ladder while installing a fan and that hurt so I can't imagine what the roof fall felt like. Again, glad your doing better.

Dglsell · Guest

Yep I just backed my truck right up to the bottom of the ladder on one job.

All my ladders have adjustable legs. I have a 16, 20, 28, and 32 ft ladders. 4 sets of stand-offs that include 2 types. One type is the old school U bolt and the new type I have is a 2 piece that fits into the ends holes of the ladder rungs. It is a nice way to make the stand-off easy to install and very quick also.

One trick I was taught but currently have not had the time to implement is to drill holes in the feet of your ladder leg levelers for the use of long steel tent spikes to keep your ladder from slipping out at the bottom. You just drive the spikes through the holes into the ground just like a tent. This may work better on more solid ground then the pry bar. It also will not cause unsightly marks in your customers yard. But in a pinch I like the pry bar trick. Thanks

Dustin Miller · Guest

Both the pry bar and the tent spikes are great ideas. I could see how it would be easier to drive some tent spikes into the ground too. You might even be able to mount a little pouch on the side of the ladder to always have them handy.
Thanks for sharing.

MPPW · Guest

Its already been said, but I carry a large wooden stake I hammer into the ground next to the first rung.

cbtodacb · Guest

great ideas for safety...

i use a sticky rubber ladder mat for slippery concrete and tile...works a treat...think they are LADDER STOPPER

Guest

Never do a job without one and never would. I have seen so many gutters dented or bent up because someone not using one, plus the customer likes to see you not damaging there gutters.

andy hinson · Sep 7, 2009

Dustin Miller wrote:

Both the pry bar and the tent spikes are great ideas. I could see how it would be easier to drive some tent spikes into the ground too. You might even be able to mount a little pouch on the side of the ladder to always have them handy.
Thanks for sharing.

Where Can you buy the levelers you pictured?

Reliable Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL · Guest

After initally reading this thread I went to Lowes and bought the quick click ladder stabilizer made by Werner. I bought the quick click so it can be easily and quickly moved to another ladder, but the most important factor is that it stabilizers the ladder.

I found out how important the stabilizer is yesterday. I was shooting a roof from the gutter line. I tried to reposition my feet to get to another section of the roof and one of my feet slipped off the rung. My weight suddenly shifted and I lost my balance. I was falling backwards with one had on the ladder and the other holding the hose. The stabilizer held the ladder in place so I could regain my balance. Without the stabilizer the ladder would have slid out of position at the gutter line and I would have fallen off the ladder. Falling on my backside from 10 feet I could have been seriously injured.

Anyone using ladders without a stabilizer should reconsider that position. A $25 - $40 dollar investment could save your life.

Charles

Guest

Never put a ladder on the roof without one, glad you had that on there it will save your a?# over and over again. Glad you did not get hurt there bud.

All Roof Cleaning Lake Charles Louisiana · Guest

I've got so much to learn....Thanks for sharing these ideas. I didn't know what a 'ladder stand off' was. In this business (and all business, for that matter) safety has to be "First" or there may not be a 'second'.

Still a newbie,

Dennis

guest

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

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

Good post William,

when needed I drive 3' metal steaks into the ground to secure my ladder, which is smart to carry around anyway so you can always play a game of horse shoes.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Just an update, we use a 24" crowbar instead of the flat bar now.

Craig Finney · Guest

Thanks for the pry bar tip Bill. I work in a safety sensitive workplace and plan to work just as safe cleaning roofs. Get hurt cant work. Cant work, cant pay bills. Cant pay bills get harassed. I think i'll take the extra time and work safely.

LPWash · Guest

I've been in the construction business a long time and I"ve never seen the trick of using a crowbar or flatbar to hold a ladder in place. Great idea that I will now use. But I sure hope you're not climbing that ladder at that angle posted in your pics. Yikes.

ABrown · Guest

Just added a pry bar to my equipment checklist. Thanks Bill.

Guest

ABrown wrote:

Just added a pry bar to my equipment checklist. Thanks Bill.

Thanks Bill, added to our loadout.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"