1st time on the ladder

RobertN · Oct 22, 2011

Yes, we use the "ladder belt".

Our ladder is not staffed as a truck company; when it is needed, one of our staffed engines diverts and staffs/responds with the ladder. So our paid guys that staff two primary engines get a lot of training on it.

I PM'd some info. Unfortunately, not much on our website for pictures :-(

charliepff said:
We then use what is called a "ladder belt" to clip onto the ladder.

I am not sure how RobertN's department works but here you need to have some experience before you are permitted to start working on a ladder truck. This still usually involves a lot of training to get fluent with it.

RobertN,

Do you have a webiste for the department with pictures of the apparatus? I currently drive and operate a 2003 KME 102 foot tower ladder. I am always curious to see other departments equipment.

CompactTractorFan · Oct 22, 2011

We run two aerials (1999 E-One 75' stick 1,500 GPM/500 gallon and a 2010 E-One 100' platform 2,000 GPM/300 gallon). We run them as first out quints form our two stations.

I've never climbed either at full vertical extension yet, but once we had the 75' at full horizontal extension to climb from the parking lot of a school to the roof (maybe 15'-20'). It was pretty scary due to the ladder bouncing around so much from it being at such a low angle.

Like stated earlier, there is no fall arrest while you are climbing the ladder. You can lock in with a ladder belt when you are at the tip, but a lot of our firefighters are to big for the belts...

ericher69 · Oct 22, 2011

Even up here in Canada there is no fall restraint on any ladder trucks until you get to the top; either platform or stick

We do use energy absorbing lanyards with 5 point harness though

JB4310 · Oct 22, 2011

ericher69 said:
Even up here in Canada there is no fall restraint on any ladder trucks until you get to the top; either platform or stick

We do use energy absorbing lanyards with 5 point harness though

But what good is the lanyard and harness if it's not attached to anything?

I'm really surprised by this, it would be pretty simple to incorporate a moving fall arrest system in a 1/2 million dollar piece of equipment. Seems like unnecessary risk.
OSHA requires fall protection to climb fixed ladders over 20 feet, and for working from portable ladders, but not for climbing portable ladders. I would argue a ladder on a firetruck could be considered fixed.

It's one thing in a controlled training environment, that's dangerous enough, but at night at an active fire scene :confused2:

Are these ladders used very often and are they still produced, or is it mostly aerial buckets now?

JB

5030 · Oct 22, 2011

...and I suppose all you tie yourselves off when using your extension ladder at home??

Somehow, I think not.

If you fall 10 feet or a hundred and land on your head or neck on concrete, the result is the same. bye-bye.

Even a step ladder fall can be fatal.

Years ago, I did high line work before the OSHA crap and then I owned a tree trimming business and I never ran a harness except when cutting up high to reduce the torque of the saw and the twist, but nothing else.

Now that I'm older, I don't like heights at all. I turned down a maintenance job in one of our plants because I'd have to work on overhead cranes 60 feet above the production floor simply because I don't have any desire to work up there, no matter what it pays.