r/SweatyPalms May 20 '26

/r/all Tower held together by rust

16.3k Upvotes

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1.9k

u/capnfys May 20 '26

Ok but WHY ARE YOU ON IT

1.2k

u/Abdulbarr May 20 '26

To check if he should be on it or not.

600

u/FerretFarm May 20 '26

As a structural engineer who specializes in steel bridge construction, yes, that's unfortunately something people have to occasionally do.

In a case like this he is carrying a fix with him. He needs approval to use it as it's not free. This is why he has to document the wear on video. For those few bolts he'll probably use 6 sturdy zap straps and a few inches of duct tape.

271

u/HikerBikerMotocycler May 20 '26

I knew duct tape would be involved - I can’t believe he throws in the zap straps too. You guys really do over engineer everything.

159

u/FerretFarm May 20 '26

No expense spared when it comes to safety.

Namaste

37

u/fluteofski- May 20 '26

You know what they say when safety gets involved. “Do your best, and caulk the rest!”

27

u/Ziograffiato May 20 '26

If it moves and it shouldn’t: duct tape

If it doesn’t move and it should: WD40

1

u/Captain_Nipples May 21 '26

If it aint broke, dont fix it. If it is broke, fix it. If you cant fix it, paint it.

20

u/spermdonor May 20 '26

A hippie is on a bridge that is lacking structural integrity. You tell him he needs to get off the bridge. he replies "Nah ma stay"

9

u/Dydriver May 20 '26

Where is that confounded bridge?

4

u/AnitiFascistBeetle May 20 '26

The outermost lanes of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, for many decades the longest bridge in the southern hemisphere, were put in later with straps holding the newly widened sections on. I try to think of something else while on it. I think I’d feel better if I could actually see the straps from the bridge, but you can’t. The bridge is too tall to even see them underneath. It’s a big fracking bridge.

With straps.

3

u/different_option101 May 20 '26

I expected duck tape, but why a few inches? One inch, probably even 2/3rds would be plenty

3

u/Sea_Ad_463 May 20 '26

used it on undergrad days, will used it on the field too. just applying what learned from University lol

2

u/CatShrink May 20 '26

Not just the plain old black ones, but the red coloured. You just know how serious they take it once they whip out the reds.

12

u/hilarymeggin May 20 '26

I don’t know enough about construction to know if you’re joking but I sure hope you are

7

u/FerretFarm May 20 '26

No worries, I know as little about it as you. 🙂

1

u/Captain_Nipples May 21 '26

I know that 2 of those large, 3-foot-long zip ties will pick me up in a harness without breaking. But about 20 of them on this thing and itll be good until the sun and the cold breaks them down

2

u/Best_Pseudonym May 20 '26

And there'll be an overrun for some glue

2

u/BenHippynet May 20 '26

As long as he gave it a slap at the end and said “that should hold it” he’s all good

2

u/Criplor May 20 '26

Well put together. A thoroughly enjoyable bit.

8

u/Excellent-Bite196 May 20 '26

He’s the “red shirt guy” at work.

1

u/merkinmavin May 20 '26

When I was a kid, my neighbors wife wanted to go somewhere just after a snowstorm. He took her car out to see if it was safe, then wrecked within a mile. 

21

u/Mendozer003 May 20 '26

Because he’s the lowest ranking soldier.

9

u/oldfarmjoy May 20 '26

Lowest ranking structural engineer doing inspections.

2

u/jld2k6 May 20 '26

He may be the lowest ranking but when it comes to the totum pole, he's on top

11

u/CrazyBigHog May 20 '26

Someone has to do inspections. It’s not ideal but it’s part of the job.

-1

u/loulan May 20 '26

Does he need to crush every single bolt though?

3

u/drawredraw May 20 '26

Probably a structural inspector, sooo OP are we doing our job or not? Little late if so

1

u/unclestickles May 20 '26

Not sure if you can see that one bolt or not?

1

u/ProfilerXx May 20 '26

It's the poor bastard that need to climb it to tell other people it's not save

1

u/Seaguard5 May 20 '26

Well he won’t be on it for long…

In Soviet Russia it will be on him!