I did a job with a coworker at a tank farm in Los Angeles Harbor. The co-
worker was a mountain of a man at 6’6+ and 320 pounds+. He had to up
with a micrometer to measure a hub size in order to replace a worn-out
sprocket on a loading arm. Little Timmy looked no smaller atop a 30-foot
extension ladder. The whole time I was holding the ladder, I never took my
eyes off of him. If he had fallen I would have been squashed like a bug and
he would have ripped right through the wooden dock.
I was with another guy on the first visit and that guy came up with a brilliant
idea that saved the customer a shit-ton of money. A loading arm looks like
one of those stationary cranes you see in building construction. Instead of
lifting something, it carried a large diameter hose used to suck oil out of
tankers. It had a mast and a counter-weighted jib arm. The crane that
was necessary to dismantle the arm was huge and needed about a
half-block of reach.
Joe said to go back up and measure everything, then come back with a
with a split sprocket. His idea was to flame cut the existing sprocket,
get the teeth spacing correct on the new one, and tighten the shit out
of the hub bolts.
And yes, if Little Timmy fell I was not going to be there to catch him!
Guy1 (faller) owes guy2 (catcher) a beer!…and they can drink ’em together and reminisce while sitting in front of the warm glow from a bonfire made with that POS toy ladder!
His balls must have hurt
LikeLike
That was not a ladder. That was kindling wood disguised as a ladder.
LikeLike
Well it is now.
LikeLike
I did a job with a coworker at a tank farm in Los Angeles Harbor. The co-
worker was a mountain of a man at 6’6+ and 320 pounds+. He had to up
with a micrometer to measure a hub size in order to replace a worn-out
sprocket on a loading arm. Little Timmy looked no smaller atop a 30-foot
extension ladder. The whole time I was holding the ladder, I never took my
eyes off of him. If he had fallen I would have been squashed like a bug and
he would have ripped right through the wooden dock.
I was with another guy on the first visit and that guy came up with a brilliant
idea that saved the customer a shit-ton of money. A loading arm looks like
one of those stationary cranes you see in building construction. Instead of
lifting something, it carried a large diameter hose used to suck oil out of
tankers. It had a mast and a counter-weighted jib arm. The crane that
was necessary to dismantle the arm was huge and needed about a
half-block of reach.
Joe said to go back up and measure everything, then come back with a
with a split sprocket. His idea was to flame cut the existing sprocket,
get the teeth spacing correct on the new one, and tighten the shit out
of the hub bolts.
And yes, if Little Timmy fell I was not going to be there to catch him!
LikeLike
Happened to me once just like that. Totally ruined going up another ladder for me.
LikeLike
And having a buddy that doesn’t haul ass as soon as everything goes pear-shaped.
LikeLike
Guy made a good catch.
LikeLike
The guy definitely was saved a major trip to the hospital by the guy doing the catching!
He’s the hero of the day…
LikeLike
Guy1 (faller) owes guy2 (catcher) a beer!…and they can drink ’em together and reminisce while sitting in front of the warm glow from a bonfire made with that POS toy ladder!
LikeLike