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Last Post 11/14/2014 10:59 AM by  jhooker
I fell off the roof for the first time in my life
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Olegred
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01/22/2010 6:40 PM

    I went on this 10/12 garage to mark the hail squares. I was with the contractor. Northern slope was all covered with algae. I was talking to the contractor and said, "I am not going on that slope". As these words  were coming out of my mouth, I started sliding. Slid all the way down, gaining speed and fell to the ground. The contractor ran like crazy to see if I was hurt, but I was really lucky that day.Slightly sprained ankle and scratches all over my hands from trying to stop that was it. What really saved me was the soft ground and my training as a skydiver, where I am used to falling and rolling :)  I was so scared, damn! when I was going down my only thought was, please let there be nothing on the ground that can hurt me. Now, no more algae slopes that's for sure. Luckily, it was my last claim for the day.

     

    Have you or your buddies ever fallen? How bad? Under what circumstances? 

     

    What a day!

     

    Thanks

    Tags: Safety
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    Ol' Ghost
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    01/22/2010 6:48 PM
    Now isn't it curious? Is this a case of Karma providing a life's lesson entitiled, 'Pride Goeth Before The Fall'?

    Ol' Ghost
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    Olegred
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    01/22/2010 6:57 PM
    No, the lesson would be to avoid algae wet slopes. I have 6 more scheduled for tomorrow, so I better be extra safe. :) Shit, that was scary :)
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    Olegred
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    01/22/2010 7:03 PM
    And by the way, you mix Christianity and buddhism/hinduism , both are stupid superstitions.
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    host
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    01/22/2010 10:57 PM

    Olegred I'm glad you're OK.  We have lost members in the past to falls.

    Take care and please be safe.

    Roy
     

     

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    sbeau4014
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    01/22/2010 11:05 PM
    Good thing you were not hurt and hopefully it will be a learning lesson that will stay with you forever. As for your comment about "both are stupid superstitions", not sure what to think of that. Are you saying that both of the religions mentioned are stupid superstitions? If so, that should be good for some really good comments coming your way.
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    moco
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    01/23/2010 12:56 AM
    The lesson learned is: If it looks unsafe, stay off unless you have proper eqpt. "Listen to your gut feeling". I fell the first and last time when i was 18 years old. Getting onto a flat roof from a step ladder that was already old and weak. I worked construction at the time straight out of school. I fell the full 8 feet rump first and was jammed up for 3 days from bruising and soreness. To this day if a roof looks unsafe I AM NOT getting on it. If i get on a roof and feel the sheathing giving way to much, i am getting off. Loose granules causing poor traction, i'm coming off. I use the zoom on my camera from the ground, or from a ladder leaned on the eave for these circumstances. NO job is worth your health or safety. They want an overall view, bingo. Here it is from Google Earth.
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    jpendergrass
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    01/23/2010 3:35 PM

    I get alot of funny looks in the summer time when I put on my US Army leather gloves before I get on a roof, Learned the same lesson as you years ago and tore up my hands, now like you , if it aint looking safe, stay off, rope off, or get help and I always WEAR MY GLOVES,  glad you are OK,

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    Olegred
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    01/23/2010 5:08 PM
    Yeah, thanks for all the suggestions. You know, what I've learnt that day was that how quickly bad shit happens, it was like really drop of a hat and I was on the ground. And second thing is NEVER HURRRY!!!! I bought the rope now and no more wet slopes. :)

    Do you all wear Cougar Paws?
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    StormSupport
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    01/23/2010 7:58 PM
    Posted By Olegred on 22 Jan 2010 07:03 PM
    And by the way, you mix Christianity and buddhism/hinduism , both are stupid superstitions.



     

    Is there anything you don't voice your opinion about?   I don't care for your language either; quite inappropriate in this environment.  

    You certainly are full of yourself, aren't you?

    Do the right thing, ALWAYS
    ~Meg~
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    Olegred
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    01/23/2010 8:01 PM
    No. Yes. :)
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    jdacree
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    01/23/2010 9:32 PM
    Two things help if you do not have a rope,

    1. Cougar paws are good, if the roof is not too wet. No help at all on snow, ice (alge is like ice), and frost.

    2. Sports Authority sells some "chains" that clip onto your shoes, AKA like the old roller skates. These chains look similar to the expanded metal on your b-b-q pit in that the forward edges are raised. I am using them on roofs that have snow which has frozen to a crust, or snow roofs with ice layered beneath the snow. In both cases as long as you are moving in the up or down direction you can throw your weight to the up slope, and dig in with the balls of your feet to stop/slow the side.

    Hope this helps and glad you are not hurt. Falling off a roof usually ends up with something bad happening, especially the older you get.
    Jim Acree Stupidity is the art of not trying to learn Ignorance is the lack of opportunity to learn I am ignorant
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    moco
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    01/23/2010 9:53 PM
     In both cases as long as you are moving in the up or down direction you can throw your weight to the up slope, and dig in with the balls of your feet to stop/slow the side.


    I bet  this attachment does little to stop the contraction of the hemorroid housing though.

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    jdacree
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    01/23/2010 10:09 PM
    moco, none at all, but during the contraction process you WILL get about 2" taller.
    Jim Acree Stupidity is the art of not trying to learn Ignorance is the lack of opportunity to learn I am ignorant
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    Bobabooey
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    01/24/2010 1:05 AM
    I have never fallen but have come very close several times. Algae on an asbestos roof, ice on a roof, and loose granules on a 10/12 (climbed down the downspout on that one) That was when I was younger. I will not get on a roof now where there is even the slightlest possibility that I will fall. I am older and wiser now. I am not going to climb on a roof that could kill me to make my supervisor more money. I can see it now, I fall off a roof and break my neck and my supervisor gets ticked off because now he has to assign it to someone else.

    Why are you on here if you are looking at 6 claims a day anyway????????
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    Ray Hall
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    01/24/2010 10:30 AM

    Steep roofs are the carriers largest liability exposure. We all know the consequence of not walking a steep roof. The carriers/vendors and all the prople who work for both enforce the no cure no pay rule, and some widows have cashed in and ever adjusters widow should seek the best law firm in the US. Why are  the satellite photos now allowed?  When I worked off shore on energy claims my wife knew who to call if I was killed, she still does on roof claims. Your employer can not contract away THEIR implied negligence.

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    JimGary
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    01/24/2010 11:31 AM

    I have fallen a couple times, never any serious damage, only scrapes bruises and the slightly soiled drawers. A couple thing I have learned in the process;

    1. GET A ROPE!! $250 will get enough equipment to be safe. A couple hundred $ worth of training will help too. (training has already been beaten to death on another thread, so please let it go)

    2. GET A ROPE!! But if you feel you just don't need a rope because your parents were part mountain goat, get some good shoes and stay in the valleys.

    3. GET A ROPE!! OK testosterone his in abundance and you just want to prove you can do it. You walk the ridge and ease down to draw your test square. Make sure there is a chimney or vent pipe or maybe a offset to land on.

    4. )@#$ IT, GET A ROPE!!! In the end, a rope and harness is the only real solution, cougar paws are good, but one misstep and your on you butt sliding down the slope. Vet pipes and chimneys are a good backup, but one step left or right and you miss the target. One option I didn't mention was doing the slope next to the pool, so if you do fall you hit the pool. Again. just GET A ROPE!!!

    JWG

    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    moco
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    01/24/2010 4:53 PM

    I see no actual need to get on top if a roof is steep. For the following reasons: 1) From the ground you can see evidence of wind damage, and even hail damage in some cases. Just ZOOM in and take your shot. Of course if there is hail damage you need to mark the test squares somehow (maybe extension pole of some type used from a ladder against the eave, with chalk or whatever you use attached to the front) 

    2) If it is not quite so steep, but steep enough to fall from, then i lean a ladder on the edge and take overall views of each slope all around. If they still want an overall view of all slopes together i will send one of the free aerial photos found from several online sites.

     

    3) For no one am i risking my life or health, and certainly not for the sake of earning a paycheck.

     

    This all should only apply to day claims, as i have heard that there are steep and high teams available with Cat work ?? I dunno though, as i have not worked a storm site.

     

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    Ray Hall
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    01/24/2010 6:41 PM

    I was trained over 50 years ago by two older adjusters, the vice president of property claims for the SW USA and the head fire and inland marine property examiner for the SW USA. Steep roofs came up on the first day. My instruction to get a file approved was: "get as close to it(roof) as you

    can. I have never had a roof claim regected in all my years. I did leave a sewer back up storm that turned into a roof/wind storm after 7 weeks and a new manager took over. "you will not get paid unless you take a photo from the ridge looking down the roof with  your car (that has the sign on the door). We all know who this was.

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    jlouden
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    01/25/2010 3:19 PM
    hahahahaha

    lulz
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    Medulus
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    01/25/2010 4:11 PM

    Check out the archives and you will find too often the announcement of those who have died or are paralyzed for life by a fall from a roof. A few words to the wise: Never forget where you are. Never get too comfortable. Never try to stare down a roof and hope to win. Never ever walk backwards*.

    I climb roofs now with felt bottom wading shoes. These are made to wade in running water across slimy rocks. The cost is well worth it. But never trust your life to your shoes. Use some judgement and listen to the internal voice, whether that internal voice sounds like Christ, Gautama Siddharta, Krishna, Yahveh Sabaoth, Sun Myung Moon, the Virgin of Guadalupe, or the great cosmic navel. The only silly superstition is the one you didn't hear because you were being macho.

    And I still think Daniel 4:28-37 makes great reading for catadjusters.  Otherwise we are likely to turn into the Applebee's parking lot guy.  And we can all live without the Applebee's parking lot guy.

    * Unless this is required for some rope and harness techniques, in which case I will leave it to the experts to explain when one may safely walk backwards.

    Steve Ebner CPCU AIC AMIM

    "With great power comes great responsibility." (Stanley Martin Lieber, Amazing Fantasy # 15 August 1962)
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    freebob
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    01/25/2010 5:15 PM
    Glad you're OK. Some of us it killed or disabled. I fell off my first in Seattle a couple years ago. A wood shake wood,5/12, when it started to rain while i was on the ridge. 12' to a concrete patio below. It hurt my pride more than any else despite the brusies I discovered later. Great opportunity to stay in the room and get caught up on my writing for an extra day.Be careful out there.
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    Ray Hall
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    01/25/2010 6:16 PM

    I was working in OK City in 1990 and a good dud had one of the light metal ladder that fitted a swede into an upset and had two little rubber tips on the bottom. (have not seen one in 20 years) On the way  down on a walkon the darn thing came apart and he put out both hands to catch his backward body fall and broke both wrist  and in a full plaster cast of 12 weeks or longer. His wife drove him home and did many routine things a person does with their hands for months. uhh

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    ddreisbach
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    01/26/2010 11:33 AM
    Posted By John Pendergrass on 23 Jan 2010 03:35 PM

    I get alot of funny looks in the summer time when I put on my US Army leather gloves before I get on a roof, Learned the same lesson as you years ago and tore up my hands, now like you , if it aint looking safe, stay off, rope off, or get help and I always WEAR MY GLOVES,  glad you are OK,

    I'll second the glove idea.  I wear mechanics gloves to protect my hands from the abrasion and heat of the roof in the summer, and to keep them warm in the winter.  When properly fitted you can easily handle pens and tools with them on.  Also, I wear Cougar Paws.

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    Olegred
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    01/26/2010 1:15 PM
    Posted By ddreisbach on 26 Jan 2010 11:33 AM
    Posted By John Pendergrass on 23 Jan 2010 03:35 PM

    I get alot of funny looks in the summer time when I put on my US Army leather gloves before I get on a roof, Learned the same lesson as you years ago and tore up my hands, now like you , if it aint looking safe, stay off, rope off, or get help and I always WEAR MY GLOVES,  glad you are OK,

    I'll second the glove idea.  I wear mechanics gloves to protect my hands from the abrasion and heat of the roof in the summer, and to keep them warm in the winter.  When properly fitted you can easily handle pens and tools with them on.  Also, I wear Cougar Paws.


    Like what kind are we talking about? where can I get those?

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    FloridaBoy
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    01/26/2010 3:39 PM
    Posted By Meg on 23 Jan 2010 07:58 PM
    Posted By Olegred on 22 Jan 2010 07:03 PM
    And by the way, you mix Christianity and buddhism/hinduism , both are stupid superstitions.



     

    Is there anything you don't voice your opinion about?   I don't care for your language either; quite inappropriate in this environment.  

    You certainly are full of yourself, aren't you?

     

    Yes he is but he got a wake up call and I hope he heeds it.



     

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    ddreisbach
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    01/26/2010 6:07 PM
    Posted By Olegred on 26 Jan 2010 01:15 PM
    Posted By ddreisbach on 26 Jan 2010 11:33 AM
    Posted By John Pendergrass on 23 Jan 2010 03:35 PM

    I get alot of funny looks in the summer time when I put on my US Army leather gloves before I get on a roof, Learned the same lesson as you years ago and tore up my hands, now like you , if it aint looking safe, stay off, rope off, or get help and I always WEAR MY GLOVES,  glad you are OK,

    I'll second the glove idea.  I wear mechanics gloves to protect my hands from the abrasion and heat of the roof in the summer, and to keep them warm in the winter.  When properly fitted you can easily handle pens and tools with them on.  Also, I wear Cougar Paws.


    Like what kind are we talking about? where can I get those?

    You can get them at any auto parts store or Sears.  www.mechanix.com/automotive/the-original-glove



     

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    Olegred
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    01/27/2010 2:25 PM
    Cool. I'll get those. What about harness? Home Depot, I guess, right?
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    claims_ray
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    01/27/2010 4:15 PM

    I would suggest that the harness can be found at a sporting goods store as it typically is related to the sport of repelling.  I would read through the posts concerning steep roofs which has information from several that have experience in this area.

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    claims_ray
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    01/27/2010 4:21 PM
    I would also recommend obtaining training in this area before I was to use a rope and harness.
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    Tim
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    01/30/2010 11:29 PM

    I've been adjusting for 20 years and fell off my first and only roof about a year ago. It was raining and cold. My mistake was using the insured's crappy ladder. Always use your own equipment. I was getting off the roof and the ladder was on a wet slick wooden deck. When I put all my weight on the ladder it started sliding on the deck. You couldn't have pulled the the ladder out from under me that fast if you tried.

    I fell forward and my shins caught the edge of the roof and my chin hit the roof. This tossed me backward and I landed on the deck in a perfect WWE body slam position and the back of my head slammed into the deck. Mr. Insured witnessed the event and was standing over me asking if I was OK. Mr. Insured's mother in law had died the night before and a house full of women came running out when they heard the racket also asking if I was OK. I said I don't know. Did the old rub the back of the head and check for blood. No blood. Arms work, legs work. Checked out the skinned up shins and said I think I'm OK . Just let me sit here and catch my breath for a couple of minutes. Concluded the claim and called it a day. I was real lucky. Lesson learned I never ever ever use any ladder that is not mine and I did not set up. Don't get in a hurry or cut corners because it's cold and raining. Also a heavy winter coat really helps out when you get body slammed.

    About 15 year ago I fell through the roof decking doing hail claims in Shreveport. I was walking along on the roof. Stopped to grab my tape measure and next thing I know rotten roof decking gives way and I"m supporting my weight with my underarms and elbows on the decking. This was a flat roof with roll roofing and no visible signs of rot.  I had to add some drywall ceiling repairs where my feet were kicking around inside the interior room. Ripped up a good pair of pants and shirt too.

     

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    Leland
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    01/31/2010 12:15 AM
    I used to ride a motorcycle all the time and still have an old bike in my yard that runs, I will take it out one more time before I sell it.

    One thing I learned from motorcycles that also applies to roofs is to eliminate distractions so you can have 100% concentration on the main task. So I ALWAYS take my camera and sling it around my neck and opposite shoulder so it can't fall off of me or swing around. I hitch up my pants, tuck in my shirt, and tighten my belt sometimes, to get more comfortable body movement. I never carry anything in my hand. I might stick my tape measure in my pocket so I don't worry about it falling off my belt. Instead of a clipboard or a file I just fold some paper and stick it in my back pocket. I'd rather have messy notes that I have to redo than fall off a roof.

    I also used to goof around on rocks a bit, no real rock climbing but bouldering. That taught me to keep my weight over my feet and to use my legs for raising my body weight. If you overcome your fear and try to stand up at least a bit straighter it may be safer. Crouching (due to fear) can put weight forward on your hands which reduces the weight pressing down on your feet which can allow your feet to slip out from under you. If you need to use your arms to lift yourself its probably not safe. If I grab something like a gutter or a CATV antenna I try to make a very conscious effort to hold it very lightly just for steadying myself and not for holding my weight.

    Another thing I noticed is that getting down can be much harder than going up. Sometimes its more natural to jump forward like a mountain goat than to ease on down backwards not being sure where your feet need to go. Me and another adjuster got stuck on a roof in New Orleans this way- we were just barely able to spring up onto it but were to too scared to go back down and besides we were staring at a spike topped wrought iron fence. We just sat up there and yelled for a guy about a half a block away who finally heard us and brought over a real 30' ladder (how lucky we were). Embarrassing, but we didn't get hurt. So after that experience I think more carefully about my exit strategy. Of course if you can't get down you can always call 911 and ask for a ladder truck, like a cat stuck in a tree.

    Sometimes I get a sick feeling in my stomach later,often at night, like a delayed stress feeling. I try not to let heights bother me when I'm on the roof because I think is bad to think about it when I'm up there but then hours later I get a feeling of nausea wash over me. Anybody else experience this?

    The other day I went to a house that I recognized and the homeowner said, yes, you were here before, 5 years ago. I was shocked because I didn't realize I had worked for the same company already 5 years.

    One of things I do to liven up my day after doing so many claims that I can't remember even the suicides is little challenges or things to do to add interest. I try to take better and better photos, for example. One thing I do is try to get the insureds into the photos pointing at the damages. I don't do it to make them look bad, just to make the photo more interesting. If they don't want to be in the photo I let them be. When I take roof photos near the edge of the roof I try to get a bit of the ground below in the edge of the photo. I discovered that it is possible to take photos showing how high up I am and the photo might even make the file examiner sick from vertigo just looking over the edge of the roof and seeing how very very far away the ground is. Is that bad to include one photo like that?

    Does anybody else do any thing like this? I mean what do you do after taking at least 100,000 photos? That might be a low estimate.

    Does anybody else feel like they are developing X-Ray vision? I can start to tell whats behind a wall because I have drawn so many floor plans. I can guess how big the closet is even though I can't see it. Does anybody else start to think about what the architect was thinking? I feel like I have drawn so many floor plans like I know every which way to design a house.

    Anyway I started another thread with a photo of a roof I took. Its very closeup but maybe I can get some comments on what it is.
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    Ray Hall
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    01/31/2010 11:00 AM

    Most of the inspections I make have the RC needed and I walk around the house before getting on the roof. I try to guess the SF of living space and the sq,s of the roof. After many years you can get pretty accurate, BUT still measure. I like to look at the roof before the interior and when I see a leak inside I know the cause.On hail/wind I always look for exterior damage on this walk around. I also see the mean dogs, trampolines, other underwriter notes. These notes put you in the hunt to be an "A" adjuster as well as "GOOD photos with good labels and diagrams. The short form Reports are most important and you should not be short, just not long and check your spellingEVER time.

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    CatAdjusterX
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    04/05/2010 1:19 AM

    26 October 2009

    I was on the very top of a 24 ft extension ladder, roof was high and to reach the roof , the ladder was close to vertical and I threw common sense out the window and made the climb with one person bracing the ladder at ground level and another from a 2nd floor window, the only thing more ridiculous than that set up was the fool (me) that made the climb.

    I did not want to give the risk to a steep roof team , so I made the climb and everything that followed was what I deserved.

    Coming off the roof to make the downward climb, the person on the 2nd floor was not holding the ladder and I tipped the ladder. I don't remember the accident , I awoke a day later in the hospital, but the police report had statements from the homeowner and the Public Adjuster that was there for the re-inspection with me repping the Insurance company.

    I landed on a 4 ft chain link fence and had a compound fracture (through the skin) of my left leg, broken pelvis, 4 broken ribs that separated from my sternum, broken jaw and a fractured skull.

    The PA stated that I stopped breathing so he gave me CPR  until the paramedics got there (I guess all PA's aren't all bad : ) He broke my ribs from the CPR, I have since learned that is a common occurrence in prolonged CPR.

    I had my jaw wired shut for 3 weeks, my pelvis and skull have healed nicely as they were only fractured. My Ribs took some time but are now good.

    When my leg broke , it tore and severed alot of my leg muscle and I had some muscle death and was told I'm looking at over a year till it would fully heal.   As an Independent adjuster I couldn't afford to take a year off and I had the option to have a surgery to put rods in my leg bones for stability and would drastically reduce my recovery, so I went for it , that was in December and as of today, I have been out of my wheelchair for over 3 weeks and can walk with a cane reasonably well.

    I had a complication from my skull fracture as an aneurysm developed under the fracture line (blood clot).  I had surgery to remove the nasty and I am looking at being able to go back to work around the middle of May 2010.

    I will be looking for a new job as well

    because I was fired from the company I was employed by for over 4 years. Don't misunderstand because I deserved to get fired for my stupidity and I just want to let not only new adjusters, but even adjusters with a few years under your belt to know that just one moment of stupidity , a momentary lapse of judgement can not only cost you  your job and families security, but could cost you your life !!

    Please learn from my stupidity, reschedule or hand it over to a steep roof team , it's not worth your job or your life !!

     

                                                                                                                                                                                            Robby Robinson

    "A good leader leads..... ..... but a great leader is followed !!" CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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    brunsbeck
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    05/04/2010 12:29 AM

    Why would you get on a 10/12 with algae on it ? Sounds like you survived.I guess you learned a lesson. I am old school. Assumption of risk? This is not a bragging matter. Hold your  cards closer. Good luck.  BECK

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    yumadj
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    05/05/2010 12:07 AM

    Catadjuster X....you really took a hit! Glad you are alive after reading all that. First, it's not particularly stupid to rely on someone to hold your ladder even if it is near perpendicular to the ground. Who do you trust? I take a ladder-helper with me to help tote the ladder late in the day, and to hold fast when I am set up on concrete...a steep situation, et cet. If i have an insured holding it I look down and check if he is and am not hesitant to tell him to hold it better. For a company to release you saying you were somehow negligent is crazy. I don't see anything you did that is different from what we all do. A slight variation in body weight creating a tip? That isn't negligence, that is chance. Yes, there is chance. Good planning and a step at at time is improving your chances, but that is all. I put a ladder on a wet deck *WRONG. The ladder slipped as I was ascending and I luckily was able to grab the gutter and hang until I was ready to drop...the gutter was only about 11 feet...and I am probably 9 with arms extended, but it still seemed aways. I banged my leg on something and it hurt for awhile but that was it. Lesson learned and the carrier paid for the gutter.  Well, not quite....I was on a dewy tarp..and started surfing I threw myself down and grabbed a tarp nailer and then clambered back up. Lesson learned again, but now embedded. No wet roofs, no dewy roofs, no tarps, no wet decks. I had a roofer show me to lean into the slope at all times when the pitch is steep, this is a good thing to do. Otherwise, it is a step at a time. I have never had a client call me on roof edge shots if you take in all slopes.

    Jeff Finley

     

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    Roy Estes
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    06/03/2010 11:35 AM
    Glad you are OK AdjusterX, May be adventagious to use the Steep team on next claim. There is not a claim in the world worth your life. SAFETY is # 1 and above all. All Carriers will agree, and in the years of this business I have yet to have any carrier question safety, ladder assists, or anything when it comes to safety.
     
    BE SAFE OUT THERE, LIFE IS ALREADY TO SHORT!
     
    "Each of us as human beings has a responsibility to reach out to help our brothers and sisters affected by disasters. One day it may be us or our loved ones needing someone to reach out and help." RC ESTES
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    KevinJ
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    10/21/2010 5:25 PM
    I had a 2 story 9/12 pitch once where the carrier paid to have a roofer climb it and photograph it for me. This guy was fearless, but very slow and careful. A trick he taught me was to take along a piece of foam rubber a bit bigger than your butt, and if coming down looks a lot tougher than going up was(why is that anyways??seems to happen a lot) just sit on the foam slide down a ways, reposition it again and work your way down. Sometimes those 7/12's can fool ya.
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    CatAdjusterX
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    04/25/2011 4:33 PM

    As most of you know, on 26 October 2009 I fell of a 24 ft extension ladder. I was in the hospital for a few weeks with a broken leg, broken pelvis, ribs, jaw and skull fracture. I had two separate operations(pins in my leg/remove a blood clot from my skull). I was wheelchair bound for a few months and to this day I still walk with a cane.

    . It took me 9 months to rehab and go back to work.

    It is with great sadness that I must report that on 23 April 2011, FOATA member Brian Jones fell from a ladder and severely broke both of his legs.

    When I first heard about this I felt sick to my stomach and was and am sincerely heartbroken. Brian is without a doubt one of the best of the best of the next generation of adjusters. Brian has worked steadily since getting into the industry just a few short years ago.

    I can tell that I spoke to Brian moments ago, he is in the hospital of course and will be for the next few weeks.

    This accident happened not from a 2 or 3 story roof or a 9/12 pitch roof.

    Brian fell from a 1 story 4/12 pitch roof. He was inspecting a multi-level roof and on  the one story part of the roof, the insured said instead of going around and grabbing Brian's ladder, to use the insured's ladder. Brian did that and climbed the ladder with the insured bracing the ladder(A  telescoping Gorilla)to mark his test squares. When Brian was done, the insured was not bracing the ladder. He put his first foot a few rungs down. He remembers thinking the insured placed the ladder in a puddle on a smooth finish concrete patio and as he brought his other foot onto the ladder it slid out and he fell the 9 ft to the concrete below. He told me his feet landed flat on the concrete and he fell on his stomach as both legs snapped. The paramedics arrived he is now in the hospital. He has had one surgery to stabilize his legs with rods and screws and pins. He is going to have quite a few more surgeries and looking at a minimum of 6 months to a year of rehab.

    Brian is a father to wonderful children and a husband to Summer Jones. Please send your prayers and wishes to:

                                                 ky_adjuster@yahoo.com 

     

    It should be noted that both Brians fall and my own fall occured using SOMEONE ELSES LADDER !!!!! RULE #1) DONT USE ANY LADDER BUT YOUR OWN !!!!!!!!

     

     

     

    Robby Robinson

    Cat Operations Manager

    AMERICAN VETERAN CATASTROPHE SERVICES 

     

    "A good leader leads..... ..... but a great leader is followed !!" CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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    Medulus
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    04/26/2011 1:54 PM
    Amen, Robby. I will second that. Always use your own ladder (or the ladder supplied by a roofing contractor). Just simply explain to the insured that your occupation and perhaps your life depends on not falling off or mistepping on a ladder, so you choose to trust only your own.
    Steve Ebner CPCU AIC AMIM

    "With great power comes great responsibility." (Stanley Martin Lieber, Amazing Fantasy # 15 August 1962)
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    olderthendirt
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    04/26/2011 2:54 PM

    Learned my lesson years ago the easy way. In rural Missouri this man had a 1 piece wood ladder and he was bragging about how great it was and how well made even though it was old. Stepped on the second rung and went right through it. And I'm not that big. The look on his face was priceless and I used my ladder ever since. I was very lucky.

    Life is like a sewer, what you get out of it depends on what you put in it
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    ChuckDeaton
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    04/26/2011 5:13 PM
    All professionals use their own equipment.
    "Prattling on and on about being an ass with experience doesn't make someone experienced. It just makes you an ass." Rod Buvens, Pilot grunt
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    CatAdjusterX
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    08/29/2011 8:50 PM
    Posted By ChuckDeaton on 26 Apr 2011 05:13 PM
    All professionals use their own equipment.



     

    Amen Chuck !!!

    If I and Brian Jones had both "used our own equipment" we would never have gotten hurt to begin with . Between us we have 3 broken legs a broken pelvis broken jaw, broken ribs , skull fracture, both feet and 2 ankles.

    To all of the rookies out there, NEVER use a ladder you did NOT set up yourself, PERIOD !!! Don't ever climb a roof you are not comfortable with either!!  

    "A good leader leads..... ..... but a great leader is followed !!" CatAdjusterX@gmail.com
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    nanderson
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    01/25/2012 4:50 PM

    My near fall experience happened in Knoxville, Tn last year.  I had been selling roofs for a year prior to being deployed to this storm, and had been climbing roofs every day up to that point.  I was cocky and didn't pitch gauge the slope I was going to try to climb up to notice it was a true 10/12.  I had my cougar paws (worn out pads) and thought it would be no problem to just power my way up to the ridge and handle the inspection.  I committed to the climb and as soon as my feet hit the roof my cougar paws pretty much disintegrated under my weight (near 250 lbs.)  I had to fight to keep my self from going over the edge, and managed to tuck in behind the ladder and put my feet in the gutter to keep from going anywhere.  I was obviously in a panicked state and the homeowner was there to support the ladder to prevent the ladder from pushing away from the roof.  Luckily a neighbor from across the street (electrician) came running to help support the ladder also, giving me the confidence to maneuver back around to the correct side of the ladder.  It had taken me a good amount of time to get past my nervousness of climbing steep/tall roofs, and this situation completely reset that and it took me several weeks to re-evaluate my roof climbing techniques, and build up the confidence to stay in this industry.  


    1.  Don't put all your faith in cougar paws, they work well - but can give you a false sense of security.

    2.  If your nervous, slow down...take your time and calculate your movements.  There is a reason you feel nervous - its your gut instinct telling you something isn't right.  

    3.  Take the extra 5-10 minutes to set up your ladder the way you want regardless of the contractor or homeowner trying to save you the effort.  I have no issue telling them I have learned how my ladder reacts, and feel most confident using my own equipment.

    4.  Have a game plan (usually done with a short walk around the risk) on getting on and off the roof. Best/safest ladder location, finding a good valley to walk up/down...and any other random challenges that roofs present.  As stated earlier it is easy to get on roofs, the hard part for me is safely getting back on the ladder.  

    5.  Know your limits, If I had spent the minute to put a pitch gauge on the roof I would have never even considered trying to climb that slope.  I now know anything over 8/12 I am exploring my alternative methods of roof inspection.  Even if it means moving the ladder 12 times to get all the photos that are needed from the perimeter.  Usually a simple statement like the roof was unsafe to access in your final report will prevent any unneeded flack for not having photos from the ridge.  

    This situation was very embarrassing for me, but I was thankful for the homeowner and the neighbor that where there to help me off the roof.  I was so shaken up that I had to reschedule to inspection for another date...the homeowner understood.   

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    Tim_Johnson
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    03/20/2012 7:21 PM

    8 stinkin feet, it CAN happen.........................

    in last Friday's paper

    NEAR FOUKE, Ark.—A Texarkana, Ark., man fell off a roof and to his death Friday afternoon southeast of Fouke. 

        Bobby Eugene Harley, 49, and his two brothers were working on the roof of a onestory residence on Miller County Road 82 when he fell, said Chief Deputy Duke Schofield of Miller County Sheriff’s Office. 

        “He took a tumble off the roof, landed on his head,” Schofield said. 

        Harley fell about 8 feet, the chief deputy said. 

        Reports showed Harley suffered severe head trauma. He died at the scene. 

        Schofield did not know what caused Harley to fall from the roof. He said Harley’s brothers were working on the other side of the roof and didn’t realize he had fallen. It was only when one brother went to the other side of the roof that he realized Harley was missing, Schofield said. 

        “He looked down and around, and that’s when he saw him,” Schofield said. 

        Authorities were called to the scene at approximately 4 p.m. 

        Schofield said Harley’s death is considered accidental and that his body will not be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy. 

        Harley and his brothers operated a roofing business, Schofield said.  

    Tim Johnson
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    Roy Estes
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    06/03/2012 3:28 PM

    I fell off of 2 roofs so far in 26  years in the business. BOTH times I was in a hurry. One single story in Gary Indiana I fell stepping onto the roof, onto concrete shattered my wrist and had a large "goosegg" on my forehead. And the second time, on a wore out 2 story in Lakelend Florida.

    Like I said both times trying to haul ass, and still maintain an accurate scope. The fact is I dont think I have learned my lesson yet, I still Haul ass.

    "Each of us as human beings has a responsibility to reach out to help our brothers and sisters affected by disasters. One day it may be us or our loved ones needing someone to reach out and help." RC ESTES
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    okclarryd
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    06/10/2012 9:30 AM
    And, as a few of us have noticed, you have a lot of ass to haul

    Happy Trails
    Larry D Hardin
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    shughes75
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    07/17/2012 10:43 AM
    Posted By on 22 Jan 2010 06:40 PM

    I went on this 10/12 garage to mark the hail squares. I was with the contractor. Northern slope was all covered with algae. I was talking to the contractor and said, "I am not going on that slope". As these words  were coming out of my mouth, I started sliding. Slid all the way down, gaining speed and fell to the ground. The contractor ran like crazy to see if I was hurt, but I was really lucky that day.Slightly sprained ankle and scratches all over my hands from trying to stop that was it. What really saved me was the soft ground and my training as a skydiver, where I am used to falling and rolling :)  I was so scared, damn! when I was going down my only thought was, please let there be nothing on the ground that can hurt me. Now, no more algae slopes that's for sure. Luckily, it was my last claim for the day.

     

    Have you or your buddies ever fallen? How bad? Under what circumstances? 

    Where you wearing Cougar Paws???

    What a day!

     

    Thanks



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    claims_ray
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    07/22/2012 9:28 AM
    I was on a roof in East Texas completing an inspection when the homeowner showed up. I turned my head to speak to the insured (mistake) while still walking the ridge and stepped into a valley covered in pine needles. I slid all the way down the valley and hit the ground. You would have thought that I was a stuntman the way I hit, rolled and came back up on my feet. I had not strained, sprained or broken anything. I don’t know who showed the most surprise, me or the insured when he came around the corner to see I was uninjured.
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    GINIA
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    08/11/2012 8:15 PM
    Hi, I am very new to the industry. However, when I took my All-Lines Adjuster class and we got to the roof portion of our training along with Xactimate of course -- I knew there was no way I was going on top of a roof.  Thank you for re-affirming my decision. I was stick w/the autos. :) Glad to hear it ended well for you...:) 
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    edward@eddiereal-gcs.com
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    11/14/2012 5:18 PM

    I sure am glad your ok. Hey I was wondering if anybody could help me break in to some Sandy work. I have no cat experience but I have written over 3000 claims for insurance companies through the pdrp program. I recently completed the Texas All Lines Course and should be receiving my Texas All Lines License in the next 30 days. Hell I would even be willing to deploy and help complete claims for a percentage of the fee. Anything to break in.

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    DogAdjuster
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    12/04/2012 12:26 PM
    I've climbed mountains in the rain, but never felt as endangered as I had during Sandy as I was climbing on top of a 10/12 row homes with my ladder fully extended.

    Did I mention in the cold?

    Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit
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    claims_ray
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    12/11/2012 6:00 PM
    How did the dogs get on the roof? Was it wind or surge?
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    ADS
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    12/31/2012 5:06 PM
    Not fallen off but darn close. I am a remodeling contractor in business for 30 + yrs and just starting adjusting as a career change. I was inspecting a roof for a project years ago i was bidding on, very low slope rubber membrane about 8' off the ground.. a little water was frozen along the eaves and some small spots.I hit one spot and went right on my a-- in a split second. i found myself sitting on a patch of ice sliding very slowly to the edge of the roof. Even at a low pitch, i couldn't stop the slide. Lucky for me, it was slow and when i got to the edge i stuck my feet in the gutter to stop.I inched my butt sideways out of the ice and got down. As i see in the other posts and my own experience, it's not only the high ones that can mess you up.
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    TXAD
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    01/05/2013 11:03 PM

    Mine occurred in Chattanooga, TN in 2011,  after the tornadoes.  A single story home with only about a 7/12,  but the granules were loose, and as I stepped out to get a measurement,  I hit the deck and started sliding.   In TN,  most of the homes are built on the side of a hill,  so it was 1 story in the front,  but 2 story, with a valley below, on the left elevation side.  I slid all the way to the edge on that valley side,  until my feet hit the gutter and stopped me.

    It's my belief that the good Lord put that gutter there for me.  Why in the WORLD would someone install a gutter over a stupid valley below?

    Scared the hell out of me, and I tried to pretend that I was cool,  but inside, I was throwing up!

    I pray that this is the worst of my stories.  :)

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    jhooker
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    11/14/2014 10:59 AM
    I'm Having my Coffee this morning , Works Slow so Thought I would chime in. I been climbing roofs for 22 years , I"m 52 now , Quite frankly I"ve really got pretty picky on where I step. I have 3 very close calls over the years. 1st time it was a 8/12 - 2 story , I was about 32 then and it was a lot easier getting around, Got on the back , there was no valleys are any safe zones to access just straight up. I went up the roof straight to the ridge. At that point I realized hey this roof is 25 years old , OC fiberglass shingle. The granular's was like BB's. At that moment I realized it was going to be easy going back down to the ladder. There was no cell hones back in those days. I Sat on that roof for about 45 minutes before I faced the fear on going back down to the ladder. After a few prayers I was on the ground safe.

    2nd time , I was down in Freeport , TX working some beach homes. I got up on the 2nd floor deck , I looked over and seen a buddy on a house a couple doors down. I thought Id get up and give hime a shout out. It was early , didn't pay attention that deck was wet and moldy that ladder was sitting on. Just as I went to step up on the roof , there went the ladder. Needless to say , My life flashed in front of me it was about 28' to the ground. Surprisingly enough when I fell back my leg got caught in the ladder and the ladder got hung in the balcony rail. I was hanging over the balcony rail, about 20' ft to the ground. Luckily back then I was in a litter better condition and was able to pull myself up and back over the balcony. Busted my head open and my leg was sore for about week, but I survived. If that was happen to today , i would just have to hang there , I would have never gotten back over that rail.

    3rd and final time a few more years later, little worse shape. I attempted a double pull. This was down in Padre Island , TX area , another beach home. I tried t position the ladder over the Hip, really bad idea. it was 6' from the bottom roof to the next roof line and just thought Id be ok. Just as I went to step up on the 2nd story , that ladder slipped out from under me, down I went. To this day I still don't know how this happened , I went backwards , However when I landed I landed on the first story roof straight up.

    In Conclusion , I do not under no circumstances get on a roof over 7/12 , I will not double pull not unless I got assistance. 2 story roofs they better be new with plenty of safe access zone and will not exceed a 6/12 , this job is not worth me getting disabled or death.
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