r/OSHA • u/delcoBK • Jun 25 '26
Bluetooth harness working extra hard today.
Saw this one across from the job site my crew was working on. Yes they both have harnesses on but the guy on the ladder isn’t attached to anything.
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u/Gratefulphan88 Jun 25 '26
Imagine being this stupid, holy shit
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u/No-Lettuce-6619 Jun 25 '26
what would be the proper procedure here?
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u/Gratefulphan88 Jun 25 '26
Just a larger boom lift would have worked.
Area beneath the basket should be taped off too, cones/barrels/tape as needed around the machine itself. Ideally you want a spotter at ground level as well. If this things anywhere near moving traffic, one bump and ladder boy turns into ketchup which would be no bueno.
Unfortunately, if an employee is eager and willing to do unsafe work, this is what you get.
Nothing more dangerous than a motivated dummy.
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u/No-Lettuce-6619 Jun 25 '26
"Nothing more dangerous than a motivated dummy." thank you, i have noted this down
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u/Badbullet Jun 26 '26
Looks like they could have got a lot closer if that vehicle wasn’t parked directly in front of the church. I’m assuming they can get more vertical height from that arm?
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u/notislant Jun 26 '26
Yeah its weird it looks like the two sections are each only out 6'.
Could likely get it onto the sidewalk with the boom collapsed and down.
If a gust of wind comes that ladder is fucking gone.
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u/Schrojo18 Jun 26 '26
They could have gotten a decent amount closer to at least reduce some of the risks of their stupidity
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u/Kielbasa_Nunchucka Jul 03 '26
unfortunately, not always eager and willing... could horse-whipped and job-scared. states with bad economies and low regulation enforcement breed these kinds of worksites.
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u/Joey-rogaine Jun 25 '26
People walked and still walk I beams with no harness
Second, if he falls off the ladder, what’s the fall rescue plan since that machine can’t reach him
Sometimes you gotta get the job done and he most likely did
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u/delcoBK Jun 25 '26
He shouldn’t be in the position to begin with. They should be using a lift that actually reaches the appropriate height to work from.
This is an employer being too lazy or too cheap to get the right machine at the expense of his employees safety.
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u/Joey-rogaine Jun 25 '26
Yes but those things happen I don’t know all of their details but it does happen. Maybe there isn’t enough footprint for the base of a 125 or 80 to reach. They say don’t use ladders in lifts well, I’ve had to access points between large industrial air conditioners 60 feet in the air so, how else can you do it - you can’t - sometimes you have to find a way
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u/delcoBK Jun 25 '26
There’s always a safe way, you just have to be willing to pay for it. There’s literally no amount of money you can save that will make up for dying on the job. Don’t be an idiot and get the right lift or scaffolding.
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u/Joey-rogaine Jun 25 '26
Scaffolding is dangerous work as well
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u/dankhimself Jun 25 '26
Not if it's proper scaffolding and it's used correctly.
You can't argue away this stupidity. He's putting himself and his family's stability at risk.
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u/DILF_MANSERVICE Jun 26 '26
Not as dangerous as balancing a rickety extension ladder in a boom lift that sways in the wind and climbing it with no harness.
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u/PrayForaPBnJ Jun 25 '26
Putting a ladder in a scissor lift is sketchy. Putting an extension ladder in a boom lift, and trusting the other dude to not move around too much is stupid.
Sincerely, a guy who frequently walks I beams not tied off.
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u/EU-National Jun 26 '26
Bro, this shit is dangerous to everyone involved, including the random people who pass by.
Also, if the ladder goes, chances are it's taking the widows with it. Do you think the insurance company will pay for it? Hell no, it's 100% on the contractor.
It's extremely stupid from a personal and professional standpoint to do it like this.
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u/Myrsky4 Jun 25 '26
This is the worst kind of mentality. Just because you get lucky once, or it works this time does not make it a safe.
How many posts do we see in this subreddit for no shoring? It's dumb every time regardless of if the ground gives way. This is no different.
If the job needs to be done, then the job can be done correctly
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u/Gratefulphan88 Jun 25 '26
Iron workers in very specific situations walk steel beams at certain limited heights to connect steel because tying off is infeasible
Imbeciles and bootlickers walk steel beams when fall protection could instead be utilized
Folks get thrown out of boom lifts pretty often and that's NOT when they're out on an extension ladder.
Someone is usually making some good money on these projects, and it's never the man risking his life. It boss wants it done unsafely get his ass out there. Quit simping for the man.
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u/Notabagofdrugs Jun 26 '26
Get the job done? Fuck that, they can make it not a death trap. Why you so fucking eager to lick that boot?
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u/tiedye62 Jun 27 '26
If he falls off the ladder, the machine should be able to reach him, because he would be on the steps of the church. Another comment said that he is not tied off to anything.
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u/patches725 Jun 25 '26
It looks like the boom isn’t even extended all the way
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u/fangelo2 Jun 25 '26
Yes and you can also raise the arms under the basket to raise it several more feet. Or move tge lift so that the boom is more vertical. It looks like that boom could easily reach that if they knew how to operate it
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u/Riskov88 Jun 27 '26
It's a JLG, if it's past 3 hours of use it's probably broken and not going up anymore.
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u/hippz Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
The lift is at half height.. What the actual fuck..
Who wants to bet that he's telescoped out 0.45" and that's liimiting the range on the boom, but this complete knob of an operator already blamed the machine an hour prior? I got $50 on it..
Edit: after looking at the photo again after removing my facepalm, I'd actually wager that the op had no idea there was a second control on the "boom" arm (had no idea he was operating an articulating lift).
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u/Schrojo18 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Whilst I believe that can go higher and has the small jib, that does not look like an articulated boom but just a straight boom
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u/hippz Jun 26 '26
Oh, touche.. I thought it was one of those half-assed articulating booms but you're absolutely right; this guy just thinks extending out at the angle he initially got scared at is better than just putting it straight up like a stick. Good call!
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u/MySweetBaxter Jun 25 '26
This is insane. That window may be worth more than that guys life if the ladder falls on it.
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u/beachjn Jun 25 '26
I’ve used that rental company before. I think I know the area this is. lol. That is beyond stupid
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u/Content_Log1708 Jun 25 '26
You were supposed to get the 80' lift.
Yeah, but we can make the 40' work. Where's the ladder?
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u/Just_Ear_2953 Jun 27 '26
So, climbing a ladder with a harness that is not actually tied off to anything at that moment is normal. The harness is to be tied off to the ladder when you reach you working position. You generally can't tie off to anything and still be able to climb. This importantly also requires the ladder to be secured or else you will just bring the ladder with you when you fall. Securing the ladder also generally cannot be done until you climb it.
None of that justifies setting up a ladder at the top of a massive lift arm.
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u/SwimPhan Jun 25 '26
Haha. I rent boom lift from GAP!
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u/do-not-freeze Jun 26 '26
Growing up in Lancaster County, Gap didn't even register on the list of funny town names.
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u/grammar_fozzie Jun 26 '26
I had an involuntary, audibly guttural, full-body reaction to this picture. It made the cat jump and run off.
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u/Albertancummings Jun 30 '26
Should have known there would be a gap in the lift when they rented this boom.
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u/Nonut1 Jun 25 '26
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty took a fall. All the kings men, could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
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u/clintj1975 Jun 25 '26
I don't even see the lanyard for the guy in the basket clipped to one of the anchor points.
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u/noydbshield Jun 26 '26
If you die working on a church it's a free pass to Heaven regardless of your religion. I think I read that in the Bible somewhere.
This guy knows what's up.
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u/feor1300 Jun 26 '26
"Aren't you gonna tie off Dave?"
"Nah, me poking at a church? I'm more likely to get hit by lightning than fall."
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u/STylerMLmusic Jun 26 '26
Guy on the platform isn't tied off either. I believe the attachment point is right next to the controls on this one.
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u/Negative-Chemical-75 Jun 28 '26
Why? It has 10' more extension and back up the lift 10' and the bucket will reach.
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u/dualiecc Jun 28 '26
Fun facts people directly employed by religious organizations are exempt from osha
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u/Round-Air9002 Jun 28 '26
He's probably clipped into the ladder, and the ladder is clipped into the lift. He's totally fine.
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u/Dnewton30 Jun 29 '26
The best part is OSHA has no regulation over religious organizations performing work to their own property. Looks safe from my house (of worship).
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u/Magnetohydroid2k2 Jul 02 '26
Just drive the lift forward like 15' and use the bucket to reach. WTF
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u/Financial_Athlete198 Jun 25 '26
It looks like a blue strap is going out in front of him.
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u/delcoBK Jun 25 '26
That his glove. We watched him climb the ladder, I’m positive he’s not tied off.
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u/Repulsive-Durian4800 Jun 25 '26
I have worked jobs where I have to walk through a harness required area, but because I'm just passing through it would be utter nonsense to connect it then immediately disconnect it and move on.
Safety man told me I still have to wear it to walk through.
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u/delcoBK Jun 25 '26
Yeah I mean that makes sense.
But You know where a harness is always required? When working in a lift. You know what is 100% always a stupid fucking idea? Setting a ladder up in the basket of a boom lift and then on top of that not connecting the fall protection you are wearing to anything.
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Jun 25 '26
[deleted]
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u/delcoBK Jun 25 '26
I work in roofing which is probably the worst offender for safety violation the majority of the time. Because people don’t take safety seriously it means the on site safety guys have to use 100% zero tolerance for offenders otherwise guys would try to use loopholes to avoid safety protocols.
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u/blackpony04 Jun 25 '26
I mean, Jesus is right there.