A job many Americans prolly wouldn't want to do... I know I would

[HysteryDiagnosis]

have a hard time being where these guys are....

[mzteris]

1. they aren't tied off,

are they?

As in FALL PROTECTION?

[elehhhhna]

20. Please. Ya gotta kill TWO mexicans to trigger a visit

here in Houston.

[Biernuts]

22. The guys who work High Steel won't harness-up. The believe that they

are safer with more freedom of movement than being tied-off allows. And if something big falls, being tied on can force them down with the falling piece. Saw it on the Discovery Channel or History Channel a few weeks ago.

Worked a few summers of construction when I was young - but never very high. My hat's off to the guys who go up.

[mzteris]

24. their belief is WRONG.....

hubby is a safety director for large industrial construction.

Walking high steel - when you fall - it's a LONG way down.

You don't tie off to something that will "fall", btw....

[Biernuts]

25. They weren't talking about tying off onto something that could fall

they were talking about being tied off and a large/heavy piece falls between the worker and the anchor beam, snapping the safety line from the anchor, but still dragging the worker down with it. They felt their best chance of survival is individual freedom of movement.

I'm not for or against their judgment as I've not done it although MY intuition would be to tie off. I'm just reporting what was on. I'm sure I remember it because I was surprised by their position.

[mzteris]

26. yeah - the old guys are always saying

"but I've ALWAYS done it this way and I'm still here" - or some such.... doesn't negate that it only takes ONE incident to kill you.

:sigh:

If they got "hit" by a falling piece beam directly it wouldn't matter much whether they were tied off or not, but they'd have more of a chance of surviving by being tied off. "snapping the safety line" - hahaha - like they'd have time to "move outta the way" other wise, riiiiiiiiiight.

Sorry. I'm not picking on you. But these guys who refuse to use safety measures are like the ones who won't use seatbelts or wear helmets on motorcycles... gotta weed out the old gene pool some way, I suppose.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Where's OSHA when you need them?

I don't see ANY safety harnesses in this photo - maybe its my eyesight or my monitor but I just don't see it. These guys fall, they're dead or paralyzed for life. This is dangerous work but there are safety procedures that are not in place here. Where did this photo come from? Send it to OSHA - it may save their lives.

[Gman]

3. OSHA?? LOL!!!

Ha! That's a good one!! Had me going!! What a riot!!! HAAAA!!! Like OSHA would actually do something!!!

And it's also very sad these days.

[rosesaylavee]

7. OSHA has muscle in Illinois - and isn't

afraid of fining contractors up the wazoo. Not sure where this photo was taken, but if I knew, I would contact them to shut this site down. NO construction is worth losing one or more lives over.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. OSHA or the job super should be on this.... I'm going to remain an

innocent bystander.

[rosesaylavee]

8. Then tell me. I will call OSHA and let them know.

I am serious. Please pm me.

[mzteris]

17. I'm with you.

This contractor should be reported.

[Ghost in the Machine]

29. OSHA probably wouldn't get involved...

Those look like apartment buildings, which would relegate them to residential construction. They are a lot more lenient on the rules and laws, as opposed to commercial construction. They are pretty much within code... the posts for the pump jacks are anchored to the roof and they have a safety rail across the outside edge of the walkboard. I've worked off many rigs like this, as well as having done commercial roofing, iron working and residential framing. I've also worked from snorkle lifts and scissor lifts.

[Guaranteed]

15. Hey- they're holding onto the roof!

What, that's not enough for you? :P

[htuttle]

5. Both my sons do that sort of work

But no, I wouldn't want to do it -- I'm terrified of heights.

I've bent my share of rebar on the ground for a few years, though.

[Gabi Hayes]

6. safety tip: don't ever borrow somebody's 40 ladder, then extend

it too far....last rung! no other way to reach, in a pinch, that is

that was fun

[Kingshakabobo]

9. My friend is hobbling on crutches as we speak...

From standing on the top rung and reaching too far........two broken feet. Om on my way over, with my extension ladder, to help his partner finish the job they started.

[Gabi Hayes]

12. can't tell you how many times that's almost happened to me.

and it doesn't matter HOW high up you are, AFA instant heart attack; once that ladder shifts just the slightest bit.....

the ladder I was talking about broke as I was trying to put it down...no fricking rope, even.

I was at the top of the lower section, and the top whanged past me and cut a ten foot groove into the granite face of the Mauritanian Ambassador's residence, then bounced around on the driveway for a few seconds (years), before hitting about a foot from my car

very loud

VERY loud, but nobody saw it

I had to get back on it and finish....three stories up, working on a six foot high, thirty two pane, double hung window.

those were the days.....

[AllNamesHaveBeenUsed]

19. I hate 40-foot ladders...

So cumbersome...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

23. They have 39 foot ladders on sale at Lowes.... but you certainly are

correct, who in the hell ever thought they were "portable"?? Sorry you couldn't find a name... :)

[sandnsea]

10. Are you serious?

Do you really believe Americans don't do this kind of work???

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. They do it..... but many can't... count me one. n/t

[sandnsea]

13. Well I can't sing either

Doesn't mean it's a job Americans won't do.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. I know I know..... maybe I should edit the topic.... but it's hard, it's

hard work editing after the alotted time has run out.

[sandnsea]

16. Used to be a good paying union job

That's what makes me mad. Bring these people out of the shadows so they can unionize, and it'd be a good paying union job again.

[rosesaylavee]

18. I guess we need to learn all over again as a nation

why the unions were formed in the first place and how many lives they saved. Why can't we learn something as a people just once and for all and not waste lives, money and time with each successive generation doing the same stupid things?

Rhetorical question ... just tired of it all.

[SoCalDem]

21. My SON was on one like that when the Seattle quake happened

in fact he was on the phone with me at the time.. said.. "Shit..an earthquake..gotta go".. It was an hour or so later when he called me back to tell me he got down ok.. :scared:.. he was making about $10 a hr, and happy to have a job :)

[acmavm]

27. My son-in-law works on skyscrapers. He's a steel worker (or whatever

you call it). And surprise surprise, he was born right here in Omaha, Nebraska. And he works with lots of other Americans who do that work.

Whatever.

[mzteris]

28. Steelworkers

are usually union.....