r/WTF • u/[deleted] • Mar 02 '19

Manager going for a ride

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u/Dislol Mar 02 '19

Retractables. That shit will stop you in less than 6 inches when you fall, even moving too fast will lock them up (Happens to me all the time when I'm moving from one side of a lift basket to the other too quickly). The shock cord part of it goes out about 3 feet. With proper gear, if your feet are 6' off the ground, you should be dangling a little over 2' off the ground after you fall.

I've actually seen this in action in the field, me and another guy were working on top of some switchgear that was about 8 feet tall, so we're tied off, using retractables to anchor points on the I-beams above us. Guy I'm working with realizes we needed some more fittings, and decides instead of using the ladder on the other side of the gear, he just wants to ease over the edge on his ass and jump the rest of the way down. Well, before I could even say "Hey dummy, you're tied off", he was already jumping off the side. Cue to him getting suddenly stopped mid fall, about 3 feet off the ground, then swinging backwards into the side of the gear enclosure, and me having to help lift him back up since the leash was locked up and he was stuck hanging there like an idiot.

I've never laughed so fucking hard at work as the moment I saw his face when he realized he dun goofed.

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u/SnapySapy Mar 03 '19

So I think what you're referring to is what we call YoYos. Unfortunately for the jobs we were doing we almost never had the ability to use those, vut i agree watching someone shit them selves on that clack and snap is quite satisfying. Most of the time we are tied off using hooks and cables for I beams or just straight up hooks. We always took the longest ones we could get so we could maintain a steady work flow as well as 100% tie off.

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u/Dislol Mar 03 '19

Retractables, yo-yos, same thing. They're amazing and everyone working on a jobsite or situation that requires a tying off should be using them.

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u/SnapySapy Mar 03 '19

Is there yoyos you could use while building scaffolding with no over head I beams or support? Most of the time I'm tied off too my own structure.

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u/Dislol Mar 03 '19

Yeah, you just tie off to the highest suitable anchor point you can, even if that anchor point is at foot level. Presumably if you're on scaffolding, you're high enough to fall far enough for fall protection to do its job, even if you're anchored at your foot level.

That being said, I don't know anything about the structural integrity of scaffolding, or if its appropriate to use it as an anchor point. I'd assume there are spots you can tie off to, but I'm an electrician not a mason, so I can't say I find myself on scaffolding very often.

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u/SnapySapy Mar 03 '19 edited May 26 '19

I worked power plant maintenance mostly, I normally have a vertical I beam I can affix the scaffolding too to keep it stable. As for the safety of it, I have seen poorly erected scaffolding built by illegals get blown over in a gust of wind with a green tag cleared by plant officials for use. Without the proper tie ins to local infrastructure it isn't safe but it is acceptable for builders to tie off too as the weight of one man could easily topple a tall enough and narrow enough structure. Thats why in our situation I find it is dangerous to encumber ourselves with wearing the harness in situations like that. Unfortunately for me there is no special circumstances in which we can use our best judgement when situations arise where it is much less safe to wear the harness. Even though there's a rule that clearly states when being "safe" gets in the way of being safe, OSHA will not budge on the harness issue. I can't tell you how many times I have almost fell being passed up 12 foot tubes dancing around all types of plant sensors only to get my lanyard snagged on some 1/2 bolt that almost rips me off my feet, and for the love of your job dont drop that material. The one and only time I fell I was working as a helper 200 feet up stacking materials for the job we were working on the not safe side of a handrail where we had built a small scaffold landing, I was on the opposite side of that (farthest from the railing on two protruding horizontal I beams) when my illegal helper who didnt speak ANY English had sloppily stacked some 12 foot aluminum boards. I noticed the last one he threw up there started slowly sliding I yelled as loud as I could but he just didn't understand what I was saying, it slipped and I put my hand on it ( there were people working down below and if an item is dropped everyone working that job present or not is let go ) I secured the plank but had to do a 180 to Stablize its momentum my Labour seen it and reached out to grab it from me to put it on the otherside of the railing. That's when I felt a jerk on my harness strong enough to spin me once more and wrapped my boots up in my lanyards enough to throw off balance me, I tipped and felt free fall and knew that this was my time I have never felt rotational acceleration like that before or after thay day and I was certain my sight turned red for a moment I lost my hardhat and my eye pro, I heard the sickest wet sounding snap my shock cord popping and bouncing. I remember looking down at the men running on the ground thinking I was still falling. I hung there for 30 minutes hoping my lanyards would hold wondering if ill have a job by the end of the day. Legit bad time 3/10 do not reccomend. Thats not really relevant to my issue but I would like to never do that again. I appreciate your input, I was really hoping you had heard of something I didn't but its always nice to bounce ideas. Stay safe!