10.03.2015

Three men on a ladder

Spotted yesterday in the UK three men up a very high makeshift ladder arrangement in high winds.

In the words of our correspondent: “Spotted yesterday 200 yards from our depot in high winds. Four guys turned up in a car and using two ladders tried to secure a radio mast for United Taxis in Wishaw, this in spite of the fact that boom lifts were available and very visible just 200 yards away!”
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Four - or is it five men to do one man's work

The four appear to have placed a six or seven metre two section ladder against the mast and then used another slightly wider short ladder as a support- resting on the roof, so that they together the form a sort of step ladder.

On the ground one man stands on the base of the long ladder to ‘foot it’ while a man standing on the roof – is it fragile? – try’s to foot the support ladder and holds on to the mast with one hand and the ladder with the other, seemingly trying to prevent the whole set up from slipping sideways.

The youngest of the four is up the short ladder on the roof, holding on to the mast with grim determination, one assumes as a living part of the contraption- acting as counterweight to take pressure off the back of the mast - and to hold it all together. Finally another man is up the main ladder trying to carry out the work that one man and a boom could do on his own
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Holding on for life itsself

Not only is this ridiculously inefficient, but it poses all manner of risks, from the walking on an old industrial rood without boards, to working at a height of around six to seven metres with totally inappropriate access equipment. Hopefully they are survived unhurt.
Definitely one for our Death Wish series.