EVERY WORKER

"Six hours, 25 minutes on the operating
table, an incision over 28 inches long, nine
six-inch screws, 97 staples, and generous
amounts of pain later"
It would seem only right to first
apologize for not practising
what I preach, I made the
poorest of poor decisions. At
the same time, let me explain
how easy it was to “talk myself”
into getting where I am now.
The job was to develop a lockout for piping changes
during a mill shutdown. About a dozen valves, some
would be used every five years or so but a couple probably
had never been used since they were installed. In order to
help the lockout go smoothly, I decided to lubricate these
valves before the shutdown.
I chose the easiest one to start with, on a pipe about
eight feet off the ground. Ladders were being furiously
collected at this time for the shutdown and I was left with
the bottom half of a 16-foot extension, a little beat up but
still functional with decent feet.
Because of cable trays and other piping, I could not get
the ladder as vertical as needed – little better than 45
degrees. It looked ugly and I knew it. Worse, there was
no place to tie off the bottom. I examined the options,
walking away, finding a better ladder, waiting for help or
taking a chance.
Being the patient type I am, I looked again at the height
and chose the last one. I figured at best I’d be six feet off
the ground and I could jump if anything happened. How
could I get hurt?
From here my day went downhill.
I bounced on the third rung a couple of times. It did not
move so I decided it was good to go. I’d just got eye level
with the cable tray and was transferring tools when I
heard/felt the ladder start to slip. Instinctively I grabbed
the ladder tighter (fat lot of use that was!), next I was on
the ground.
That fast.
The plan to jump, you ask?
Not a hope. Not even time to think about it.
So, to return to the question six feet can’t hurt, can it?
Six hours, 25 minutes on the operating table, an incision
over 28-inches long, nine six-inch screws, 97 staples, and
generous amounts of pain later, I can assure you it can!
The picture says a thousand words.
Bottom line, I’m sworn off ladders for life and my thought
process has changed dramatically. (Closing the door on an
empty stable?)
Faced with countless similar choices workers meet
regularly, I hope you would contemplate what happened
to me when making your decisions. This is one example
you don’t want to follow.
Oh, by the way, that valve I was so “gung-ho” to grease? I
later heard it closed like a “piece of cake” without it.
Go figure.
Mike Mitchell, of Sault Ste. Marie, “(eventually) walked
away with no ill effects” and is now retired.
EVERY WORKER
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