Pay a professional or skip the high-up holiday lights, advises one B.C. resident after falling nearly four metres and breaking a vertebra.

Greater Victoria area resident Michael Hardiman is languishing at home while his partner Graham Bell is on a beach in Mexico. But itsa国际传媒檚 his own fault, Hardiman admits.

With an already twice-delayed trip to Haultuco on the horizon, he figured hesa国际传媒檇 rather get the Christmas lights up mid-November than deal with it upon his return. So he hauled out the ladder and started to get the eaves done, while Bell did other work inside.

sa国际传媒淚 was doing fine until we get to the highest part, of course. All I remember was doing that little bit of a stretch for that nail to hook the light on,sa国际传媒� Hardiman said.

He doesnsa国际传媒檛 remember the fall or landing.

sa国际传媒淎ll I remember is I was there, my body was contorted and I was screaming bloody murder.sa国际传媒�

He fell Saturday, Nov. 12 and returned home from the hospital the next Tuesday with a fractured vertebra that causes severe pain and naturally impacts other parts of the body trying to compensate. While itsa国际传媒檚 painful, hesa国际传媒檚 grateful it wasnsa国际传媒檛 worse.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 what really could have happened, just so innocently and you can screw up your life big time,sa国际传媒� Hardiman said.

The compassion from friends and neighbours has been heartwarming, and while first responders and hospital staff were wonderful, Hardiman hopes others will put proper precautions in place to keep from adding to that already stretched work environment. At the very least have someone at hand, or hire someone who can do it safely, whether itsa国际传媒檚 a friend or a company.

READ ALSO:

WorkSafe statistics show winter is a dangerous time of year for ladder use in B.C. Every year, hundreds of people are seriously injured while using a ladder.

In 2019, there were 1,077 accepted claims as a result of falls from ladders across all industries in B.C., including 325 serious injuries and four deaths.

While sa国际传媒榙onsa国际传媒檛 stretch for things you cansa国际传媒檛 reachsa国际传媒� is not expressly outlined by WorkSafe, they do offer tips for workers that apply to anyone.

Use the right ladder for the job, it should extend one metre above the upper landing. Inspect the ladder and always set it up on a firm, level surface. Maintain three points of contact and wear slip-proof footwear. Donsa国际传媒檛 carry heavy or bulky items while going up or down the ladder and avoid inclement weather.

Avoiding rain was kind of what Hardiman hoped to be doing this week, instead he took a loss on the ticket (the double-delay took a toll on insurance and ability to get a refund) and that seemed steep enough, so Bell went on the long-planned vacation.

A planned three-month jaunt starting in January sa国际传媒� including visits to Singapore and Australia sa国际传媒� remains in limbo.

But the house is ready for the holidays. A neighbour down the street showed up with a ladder and hung the sa国际传媒減ain in the ass last bit of lights.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淗e came and did them and said, sa国际传媒楾here you go, never get on a ladder againsa国际传媒�.sa国际传媒�

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroom@oakbaynews.com.

Follow us on and and like us on