Well, I found out today that, with the right attitude, it’s possible to spend an entire day in a roofing harness and not be hating every minute of it.
I really though that I would. I can recall the other (maybe a 1/2 dozen) times I’ve worn harnesses and the thing I remember most is tripping over the rope, feeling like I had a tail, and generally hating the entire experience.
But, I’ve recently decided to kick up the focus on safety a bit around the site. For some reason, it recently dawned on me that you don’t really get many second chances on a fall from a roof. I’ve also decided that I really want to make the trip home from work every day in my own truck under my own free will. This has led to the purchase a few new “tools”, one of which is my fall arrest system. I decided to make a concious effort to give it a fair tryout. So today I spent the entire day standing on a few roof brackets but mostly sheathing while framing and trimming out the 10′ dormer located conveniently over a two story stairwell on one side, and 25′ or so drop to the dumpster on the other side, and is perched on a 10 pitch side of the house I’m framing.
What I’ve found, is that it’s basically like anything else in life. A big trade off. You do have to slow down a bit and watch the dang rope, but you do pick up some speed by having the rope to pull yourself around with a bit. Actually wearing the harness wasn’t as bad as I remember either. I bought a decent one that fits comfortably and is easy to adjust …. so that it actually fits me correctly. This is the key I think.
Anyway, I still think it would actually increase the chances of a wipe out while sheathing the roof, so I can’t really picture myself wearing it during that phase of construction. Time will tell. But when I gotta be dangling around up there for an extended period of time, I think it will get alot of use.
There was just something very comforting about having it on. It didn’t make me feel cocky, and it wasn’t really false confidence. It was just…. comforting. And this allowed me to really focus on the task at hand and do a bang-up job trimming that sucker out instead of monkey-pawing my way around up there all day.
Anyway. I know I’m probably still not 100% OSHA compliant. And maybe I never will be. I’m not looking to start another war here, so go sh1t in your hat if that’s what you’re looking for. We’ve been there and done that already. I just wanted to let others know that…. it is possible to wear one of these things and still feel like a framer, a human being, and a real man.
Not to mention, I got to drive myself home tonight.
Now, when the guard rails for the wall brackets show up, I’ll really be the cat’s azz!
Replies
Is your harness in a subtle shade of Leopard skin?
Time to go put on my shi**y hat.....
Cheers
Wylie
Success = Work+ Risk + Luck, in that order. Muriel Seibert
In the immortal words of Mike Smith...
BITE ME.
> I bought a decent one that fits comfortably and is easy to adjust .... so that it actually fits me correctly. This is the key I think.
A comfortable harness is the key. The first one I had, I ended up giving away to a dominatrix as a torture device. ;-)
Then I got one that I can use as a work positioning harness, not just fall protection. My roof surface is so slippery that that's the only way I can be there -- with tension on the rope and harness at all times.
-- J.S.
I was just messin' dieselpig.
I went up on my 14 in 12 the other day to clean out the chimney flue and chickened out - decided to call in the chimney sweep rather than risk the fall. Your a better man than I for doing it right....
Wylie
Success = Work+ Risk + Luck, in that order. Muriel Seibert
Gurlie man!!!!!!!!!
Good to hear about your experience Brian........I'm sure it will go away's towards goading others into safer methods of working.
There was just something very comforting about having it on. It didn't make me feel cocky, and it wasn't really false confidence. It was just.... comforting. And this allowed me to really focus on the task at hand and do a bang-up job trimming that sucker out instead of monkey-pawing my way around up there all day.
I was waiting to hear you say that........I think that's gotta be the best part........leave your worries behind.
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
I suspect that once you use it for a few days you won't even notice it. Hardhats, harnesses and steel toes pretty much mentally disappear as soon as you get used to them and stop constantly reminding yourself that they are there. Pretty soon you forget about them and just concentrate on the work.
I may never gain such proficiency but I see a similar effect with carpenters and hammers, those who still use them. The pull and replace the hammer without thinking about it. They hammer nails home without a thought. They space the nails just right without any lost motion or measuring. I guess it comes with time and experience.
With time those steel toes feel normal and you automatically move your head to get the hardhat under the overhead obstacle. Of course when you take off the steel ones and put on tennis shoes and take the top off you feel incredibly light footed and well ventilated for an hour or so.
> Hardhats, harnesses and steel toes pretty much mentally disappear as soon as you get used to them and stop constantly reminding yourself that they are there. Pretty soon you forget about them and just concentrate on the work.
That's when it starts to get dangerous. When I go downstairs for something, I have to remember to hook the harness back onto the rope grab when I come back.
-- J.S.
What I hate is when you get a roll going and forget you tied in. You go to walk away and end up suddenly stopping short. Like walking into an invisible wall.
But but better a hudred sudden stops that you can laugh about than one five-story nose dive.
LOL, Then there are the times you forge to unsnap...
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Quaker Lane Tool had a big yard sale today with the hotdogs & soda..
MFR's Reps from ..Bosch, Makita, Milwaulkee, Dewalt, Bostich, Max, Freud, Festool, Georgia Boot, and a host of others,... including
QualCraft.. have to say.. if I were starting over... i might go with QualCraft instead of AlumaPole..
point is... i bought a pair of bolt on safety rail brackets for my wall jacks..$54 / pair
for your info.... Bill is having open house tomorrow with the same cast of characters..
and the hotdogs & soda too
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
QualCraft.. have to say.. if I were starting over... i might go with QualCraft instead of AlumaPole..
WHAAAAT? I just spent twice the amount on Alumapole that I could have got Qualcraft for.............................no I didn't - I'm still shopping.
I invented Copperpole.
stop the presses... anyways.. here's what i like about the qualcraft.. the poles.. PERIOD.
the poles are a heavier extrusion.. which means a couple things.. they are a little more rigid.. but that is kinda moot.. the AP are plenty rigid enough for me...
but i THINK i like the rubber on the QC poles than the rubber on the AP poles..
maybe you can use AP mechanisms and (for sure ) the pics with the QC poles..
the rubber on the AP is riveted on.. and the QC is screwed on with an extrusion clamp..
everything , other than the rubber, seems to be a notch better on the AP..
the more rigid pole may be good.. but it also means that much more weight to pick and set than the AP pole..
i can pick a 24' AP pole with the pump and workbench and set it on my shoulder and walk off.... just barely... maybe i can't do that with a QC set up..
but i'm kinda light so others may not have any problem
anyways... check them out.. i really like my AP.. but i would give a 2d look at QC and i never thought i would..
i'll have to ask the AP guys for some comparison at the next show i go to.. i got the QC side of the storyMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
great Mike .. now ya go and confuse me again!
but I'm thinking .... either has got to be light years above the regular old wood post and pump jacks ... so I probably wouldn't be going wrong thinking about the qual crafts?
have to sell those other window replacement jobs for the excuse ....
have plans to word up the "neighborhood specific" flyer tomorrow ...
hit the neighbors up and sell some jobs by the end of the week ...
I've decided 3 more at the same price and I can rationalize the new pumpjacks .... actually .... 4 or 5 could have easily paid off the alumapole's ...
I'd better start looking at thos new poles and do some selling so I can do some new peoduct testing.
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry