Stupid Barsteward
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:31 pmBeen working up north in a wee town called Mintlaw about 10 miles outside Peterhead the last few days commissioning a new fire alarm system. Finishing up yesterday morning with only final tests to carry out and an interlink connection which had to be made so the new fire alarm interfaces with the main fire panel in the building. The connection had to be made inside a wall mounted hatch about 4 metres up and like a total diddy I thought I'll only be 2 mins I'll fire the triple extension ladder up there and quickly nip up 
Got to the top and a split second later I felt the ladder go
decided it was best to just cling on and go with the ride but when it landed I broke a bone in my right foot and fractured a bone in my right elbow 
There was no one else around at the time so had to get up and hop for help lol. Ended up getting sent off in an ambulance in which they insisted as I had fallen from such a height I would need to be transported strapped on to a spinal board with neck brace and head support 
. Next she tells me we need to go to the main hospital in Aberdeen which was a 45 min drive 
my spine was destroyed by the time we arrived at the hospital 
Spent 6 hours in there waiting for an xray then a cast on my foot the arm will heal itself in a sling. Then as I was leaving as 2 boys had drove all the way up to transport both my van and me back home the doc says no you need to stay for an op on the foot I'd had enough at this point so discharged myself against they're advice to go home as I had explained the 2 lads came to get me so they kindly made an appointment at Kilmarnock hospital for me this morning to have the op there. Spent another 4 hours at the Killy hospital this morning only to be told it's cool no need for the op it should heal normally with the cast
So after rushing the job to get home quickly I ended up spending more than 10 hours in 2 hospitals and and now out of action for 4 to 6 weeks
I've only got myself to blame at the end of the day if I had gone to the maintenance shed one of the guys there would easily have came and footed the ladder or I could have used the sites cherry picker as I had that the day before.
I also sat a working at heights training course about 6 months ago
Having to do everything with my left hand now lol and getting about is awkward to say the least as I can't use crutches.
Sorry for the long post but just thought I'd share my stupidity with the rest of you and highlight the dangers of working at heights
Got to the top and a split second later I felt the ladder go
decided it was best to just cling on and go with the ride but when it landed I broke a bone in my right foot and fractured a bone in my right elbow There was no one else around at the time so had to get up and hop for help lol. Ended up getting sent off in an ambulance in which they insisted as I had fallen from such a height I would need to be transported strapped on to a spinal board with neck brace and head support . Next she tells me we need to go to the main hospital in Aberdeen which was a 45 min drive my spine was destroyed by the time we arrived at the hospital Spent 6 hours in there waiting for an xray then a cast on my foot the arm will heal itself in a sling. Then as I was leaving as 2 boys had drove all the way up to transport both my van and me back home the doc says no you need to stay for an op on the foot I'd had enough at this point so discharged myself against they're advice to go home as I had explained the 2 lads came to get me so they kindly made an appointment at Kilmarnock hospital for me this morning to have the op there. Spent another 4 hours at the Killy hospital this morning only to be told it's cool no need for the op it should heal normally with the cast So after rushing the job to get home quickly I ended up spending more than 10 hours in 2 hospitals and and now out of action for 4 to 6 weeks
I've only got myself to blame at the end of the day if I had gone to the maintenance shed one of the guys there would easily have came and footed the ladder or I could have used the sites cherry picker as I had that the day before.I also sat a working at heights training course about 6 months ago
Having to do everything with my left hand now lol and getting about is awkward to say the least as I can't use crutches.
Sorry for the long post but just thought I'd share my stupidity with the rest of you and highlight the dangers of working at heights
Still lesson learned I'm sure , get well soon m8