1st time on the ladder

[RobertN]

Just returned from training. Tonight, us volunteers got to help set up our districts Truck. It is a 110' aerial. It is an unstaffed 2nd out apparatus, that is usually backfilled by an engine company when needed.

Tonight, we did complete setup, and supplied water from an engine.

It was my first time getting to climb though. Never been on more than a 35' ground ladder. It was really cool! The lights of Placerville looked pretty from up that high .

 

[creekbend]

:thumbsup: I bet it was a little windy that far up too.

 

[dmccarty]

Did you think ahead and bring an extra pair of underwear to change into after the climb?

Later,
Dan

 

[RobertN]

Actually, it was nothing like I expected or got excited about. Captian said watch the horizon while climbing, and stop if you get nervous. Watching the horizon, I was suprised by how high I got before I really checked where I was, and then just kept going.

And, as the Captian and the Engineer said, you gotta trust your equipment...

Did you think ahead and bring an extra pair of underwear to change into after the climb?

Later,
Dan

 

[Joe11]

Did you think ahead and bring an extra pair of underwear to change into after the climb?

Later,
Dan

^ haha.

 

[JB4310]

Interesting,
What do they use for fall arrest, a sliding ascender of some sort?

I work up high some times, but never climbed a ladder like that.

Was the ladder propped up against a building or just free floating in the air?

JB

 

[RobertN]

The ladder was free floated in the air. The nozzle was set for rescue conditions, so it was about 10' below the top of the ladder.

We wore a belt, with a large carabiner. When you get to the top, you lock in. Otherwise, the ladder does have rails/sides, that give it structure. The stand about 18" from the bed/rung of the ladder.

I have never been around these before, so I do not know what other districs SOP's might be in that regard.

Interesting,
What do they use for fall arrest, a sliding ascender of some sort?

I work up high some times, but never climbed a ladder like that.

Was the ladder propped up against a building or just free floating in the air?

JB

 

[BRB Hand]

No fall arrest on a FD aerial during ascent......You just have to be careful and as an earlier poster stated "Trust your Equipment"

 

[JB4310]

The ladder was free floated in the air. The nozzle was set for rescue conditions, so it was about 10' below the top of the ladder.

We wore a belt, with a large carabiner. When you get to the top, you lock in. Otherwise, the ladder does have rails/sides, that give it structure. The stand about 18" from the bed/rung of the ladder.

I have never been around these before, so I do not know what other districs SOP's might be in that regard.

So you are free climbing 100 feet high? no fall protection?

That's a little hairy, I see those ladders are very stable looking, but in the hectic environment of a working fire with water dripping down, possibly ice, at night, with all that gear on. seems like an accident waiting to happen.

There are very simple fall arrest systems for ladders,

Vi-Go Ladder Climbing Safety Systems (Cable)

I'm surprised OSHA hasn't intervened in that area of hazardous duty.

Be careful! JB

 

[charliepff]

The only time we use a fall arrest system is when we are soley working off of the ladder or bucket. We then use what is called a "ladder belt" to clip onto the ladder. They usually have a long lanyard to let us cut a roof while leaning off of the tip of a ladder. They are not very many deaths as far as working off of ladder trucks. Most of the nations LODD's are heart attacks and motor vehicle accidents.

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.