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"Founding Skyhooks guitarist Peter Starkie dies in 'stupid ladder accident' "
Founding Skyhooks guitarist Peter Starkie dies in '''stupid ladder accident''' - ABC News
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No details but
"Founding Skyhooks guitarist Peter Starkie dies in 'stupid ladder accident' "
Founding Skyhooks guitarist Peter Starkie dies in '''stupid ladder accident''' - ABC News
Having had a fall from a ladder I was told that there is only one place for a ladder belonging to anyone over 50 and that is on the nature strip for hard rubbish collection
Perhaps he should have used a skyhook.
It amazes me when people get to that age and are still adamant that they are capable of everything. My grandfather is currently 83 years old, still has the need to prove that he's a capable man so he's up on the roof every autumn clearing leaves out of his gutters refuses to have anyone help him... stories like this really makes me cringe.
Seems like people just don't seem to realise how fragile we really are and it doesn't take a whole lot for us to drop off the perch.
Last year I regularly climbed a ladder to do repairs as required, always carefully and with my daughter at the ready holding the ladder in case of an emergency.
But this year with my health deteriorating further I will no longer do this as I feel no longer confident about it.
It is very, very hard to accept that I'm no longer able to do things I used to do without blinking a eye about it but I've come to accept that age has crept up with me.
Alas Sturdee is no longer sturdy. :C
Peter.
Well to throw the cat amongst the pidgeons...
A numerical age isn't a simple criteria to stop using ladders.
Physical ability, limitations and knowledge and common sense.
If you are physically able, can apply knowledge of how to use and common sense, ladders are OK!
Analyse the accidents, and I bet it isn't age related. The outcome might be, I agree us oldies don't bounce well.... Doing silly things on ladders, eg over reaching, overloading, over height.... will always make for bad outcomes.
Lyle
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sturdee
Peter, my story is identical, I was fine until 77 turned up.
Jim
If I was to follow your advice at 59 I would be in a lot of trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chesand
Part of my employment includes using ladders whether it be changing a light globe, cleaning air con filters or cleaning gutters. It is about reading the environment, weather and understanding your own physical condition. Where possible choose the best access for the job. (Platform ladder instead of step ladder, elevated work platform over step or straight ladder.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sturdee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
Wouldn't it be better to put a mattress or trampoline under the ladder for "contingencies" rather than a daughter?
Ladders. You get what you pay for, here. I always bought top quality ladders to last in service.
True enough, they do. However, my sense of balance was damaged in a fall and no recovery
so ladder work, sadly, is out of the question. Has been for 5+ years, you get used to it.
Even changing a ceiling light bulb. I don't like it but I'll pay some high school kid to do the job.
Never expect to borrow a ladder from me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robson Valley
I had an el cheapo aluminium ladder for many years; it flexed quite a lot but did the job quite well.
Then fifteen years ago I had "the fall". The ladder slipped when I was at second floor height, and I vividly remember being in mid-air thinking "this is going to hurt". Anyhow, its foot jammed against a fence and I landed on the ladder which bent badly cushioning my fall - minor bruising only - extremely lucky. But the ladder did not survive.
I anticipated Robson's advice and bought a top quality Gorilla brand extension ladder rated to 150 kgs. It is so heavy that I now think twice about using it; you need to be a gorilla to lug it around!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robson Valley
When I first started work in the 1960's most offices had a tradition:
- the most junior girl made the coffee, and
- the most junior male changed the light globes, mainly fluoro tubes.
The system was simple. Push a desk under the faulty globe, jump on desk and replace globe, replace desk. No ladder needed.
Now, trainee clerks are not allowed to touch electrical stuff or to climb on ladders or desks and quite a few offices have an annual "globe changing day". A couple of electricians with ladders and 'ladder licenses' come in and change every light globe in the building, faulty or not. Such a waste of globes and tradies skills.
But we do live in litageous times.
I still think the 60's were safer.
Maybe but with a trampoline you keep bouncing up and down, I know as I used to do trampolining for a sport.:UQuote:
Originally Posted by GraemeCook
My daughter has all the necessary first aid certificates, up to date because of her work, and in an emergency will keep a cool head and call for an ambo immediately.
Whilst I agree that age is not a barrier to climbing a ladder, in my case age and my deteriorating sense of balance and health problems are.
Peter.
Not so, Graeme. Simon Fraser University has a team of light bulb & fluoro changers who work every day.
It's much cheaper to replace everything than to send out a guy to change one bulb at a time on a complaint.
This was cost effective in 1970.
They don't use ladders. A kind of a well-stocked platform thing on big wheels that they can pull
themselves along the suspended ceiling track from one lighting unit to the next.
I have a big chandelier with ? a dozen bulbs? 3-4 are dead. I'll have an electrician change them all.
Need the guy for a bunch of other things as well.