I think it's time to look for a harness.

[Diggin It]

I'm not sure what's happening, but it's bugging the tar out of me. I never liked being on a roof, but I could do it without too much issue. I had to go up on the shed roof this morning to drive a few more screws before storm winds might come in over the next few days. I knew it wouldn't take very long, and it didn't. I still don't have a harness, just by pure procrastination of not ordering one. I was able to rig up a tow strap though that would accomplish the task for this quick job.

Everything went fine, no issues at all.

But when I got back on the ground, I was a bowl of jello. Gut was knotted up, legs shaking like mad. I have no idea why. There were no close calls. New roof on shed was stable, no movement to it.

It's not a medical thing, or even a leg strength thing. Just nerve, or lack of it.

 

[hawkeye08]

One of our daughters and SIL are building a house, daylight basement, the roof will be 5/12 pitch. The trusses are being built on 15 and delivered 16th. A couple of guys that they know are fine walking on top of walls and want to help. I just cautioned them that willing or not, a fall will be a ride to ER or worse. They just told me a few minutes ago that they were able to borrow some gear from a friend so at least 3 people can be in fall protection gear. The rest of us can help without getting up on the walls.. I have a shop roof that needs the screws checked (and resealed or replaced where needed) so I will either hire someone or get the gear and do it myself. I am not a fan of heights, but have done what I had to at home.

 

[hslogger]

My tree climbing saddle and climbing ropes have been out of service for years, until today when I had to tie off to a tree so I could cut the root wad off a tree in my pond. It had failed a week ago. Sure was glad I had the right gear to insure I didn't go for a dunk in the pond. A nice thing about fall protection and climbing gear is you can adjust your gear to have you "hang" in a direction of your work, freeing up both hands and know you are secure.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm not sure what's happening, but it's bugging the tar out of me. I never liked being on a roof, but I could do it without too much issue. I had to go up on the shed roof this morning to drive a few more screws before storm winds might come in over the next few days. I knew it wouldn't take very long, and it didn't. I still don't have a harness, just by pure procrastination of not ordering one. I was able to rig up a tow strap though that would accomplish the task for this quick job.

Everything went fine, no issues at all.

But when I got back on the ground, I was a bowl of jello. Gut was knotted up, legs shaking like mad. I have no idea why. There were no close calls. New roof on shed was stable, no movement to it.

It's not a medical thing, or even a leg strength thing. Just nerve, or lack of it.

I hate to tell you, but you're not as young as you used to be. Your mind's telling your body that balance is less, reflexes are slower... gravity is stronger and the ground is much harder than it was 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. Listen to your instincts, they are there for a reason.

Or you can do what I did, get soaked to the waist from landing in the middle of a stream which I could have jumped with ease not so long ago.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I'm not sure what's happening, but it's bugging the tar out of me. I never liked being on a roof, but I could do it without too much issue. I had to go up on the shed roof this morning to drive a few more screws before storm winds might come in over the next few days. I knew it wouldn't take very long, and it didn't. I still don't have a harness, just by pure procrastination of not ordering one. I was able to rig up a tow strap though that would accomplish the task for this quick job.

Everything went fine, no issues at all.

But when I got back on the ground, I was a bowl of jello. Gut was knotted up, legs shaking like mad. I have no idea why. There were no close calls. New roof on shed was stable, no movement to it.

It's not a medical thing, or even a leg strength thing. Just nerve, or lack of it.

Your thread woke me up, and I got the Home Depot fall prevention setup. 100 bucks. It makes a lot of difference when you are on that roof with balance and strength you can no longer fully rely on. Spend the 100 bucks.

 

[LittleBill21]

Your thread woke me up, and I got the Home Depot fall prevention setup. 100 bucks. It makes a lot of difference when you are on that roof with balance and strength you can no longer fully rely on. Spend the 100 bucks.

it really is worth it, i was 30 when i did my roof, its worth it for the piece of mind even though they do suck to move around in (they have to be tight to work)

this is the one i use comes in a bucket as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...a97646dea97cb28e5bfe0e384c722f&language=en_US

 

[goeduck]

I hate to tell you, but you're not as young as you used to be. Your mind's telling your body that balance is less, reflexes are slower... gravity is stronger and the ground is much harder than it was 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. Listen to your instincts, they are there for a reason.

Well said. :thumbsup:

 

[caver]

If you are moving around more than a couple feet a fall limiter as your lanyard is great. I remember one job having to climb up a ladder on top of a steam drum so the first thing we would do is hook one of those to an approved tie off point. It works sort of like a seat belt in a car. Shock absorbing lanyards are pretty standard too. Anyone in an industrial industry has probably been through the classes. They either had video of tests or a dummy rigged up in person to show what happens when something goes right or wrong. I hated those harnesses because they were not real friendly with the jewels if ya get my drift.

 

[tradosaurus]

Just bought my harness and lanyard. I am planning on renting a 50 ft electric extension lift within the next month and want to be prepared.

I have 40 acres of trees but don't plan on climbing them. I would like to get roofing anchors to tie off to as I get on my metal roof to blow of leaves twice / year.

 

[horse7]

The last class I was in said if you fall, and it catches you, and you're hanging there, you've got about 20 minutes before the straps cut off the circulation in your legs and you'll pass out and maybe croak. They give us little foot holder straps that we're supposed to remember to deploy, put our foot in the loop, and stand in the loop to relieve leg strap pressure. There's only one loop, so you have to alternate feet every few minutes.

If you do lower someone who has been hanging for a while without using those foot straps, don't lay them down. The blood pooled in the legs is oxygen poor, laying down the person can result in a surge of oxygen deficient blood though the heart causing cardiac failure. Keep them sitting until the blood has been circulating long enough to more gradually disperse the oxygen poor blood in the legs.