1800 TV MAGICAre you afraid of heights? (PRACTICAL TEST)
In 22 years we've become pretty good at ascertaining whether someone has what it takes to get up onto a roof safely or not.
For some its a HARD NO.
For some its a NO BRAINER "I would dance on the roof and JUMP off if I had to"
and for Others its a "IM NOT SURE".
This TEST will help you determine whether you have what it takes to become a TV Magic technician or franchisee.
Firstly, the majority of work is completed on one storey buildings. Only 17% of work is carried out on two-storey homes or higher.
As a TV Magic technician - it is a minimum requirement that you can safely get yourself onto and off the roof of a 'regular' two-storey home using an appropriate ladder.
It MUST be mentioned that there have been many prospects that we have trained that were "nervous in the beginning" and had no prior experience using an extension ladder.
THE PRACTICAL TEST
TV Magic came up with our own practical test; - that has not let us down. In fact with a 6foot step ladder you could do the test yourself - at home.
*WARNING - TV Magic Franchising Pty Ltd does not take any responsiblity for individuals who conduct this test and cause themselves harm, injury or death.
PRACTICAL TEST INSTRUCTIONS
- Following all instructions as detailed on your ladder. Make sure the rubber feet are in good working order, the surface is level and inspect your ladder for defects and damage.
- Facing your ladder - Climb your ladder using 4x points of contact (both feet and hands) until such a point that you can no longer comfortably use both your hands.
- You are now about to test your limits.
- Each limit tested increases in difficulty slightly and at any point you do not feel comfortable YOU SHOULD STOP THE TEST IMMEDIATELY.
- When you are at the highest rung where you can maintain four points of contact; ever so slightly shake the ladder beneath you. Shake it gently. Your aim is not to topple the ladder! Your goal is to actually just experience the normal sensation of "ladder shake"/ "ladder movement" beneath you. You see on an extension ladder - the ladder bends, the ladder moves, the ladder will bow in the middle. It is designed to do this. We are about to increase the levels of your tolerance to this.
- Congratulations (hopefully) you have completed the first baby step.
- Now, we're going to do it with our eyes closed. Remember the ground is only 1-2 feet beneath you. Your goal is to climb rung by rung to the same height as you were before (but with your eyes closed). If you cannot do this - you may unable to continue.
- At the rung (holding with both hands) you are now to shake the ladder with the same amount of gentle force as you did previously. Your goal is to experience this sensation keeping your eyes closed the entire time until you descend.
- Now descend with your eyes closed until both feet are firmly on the ground.
- That's it!
If you have successfully completed these instructions you SHOULD be able to CONDITION YOURSELF TO CLIMBING an EXTENSION LADDER of any height - getting more and more confidence - the more you do it. The process itself can be repeated on much taller ladders. However we would never recommend exercising this test without a fall arrest harness and/or spotter / anchoring of the ladder!
The 2nd scariest part of climbing an extension ladder is the bow (slight bend) in the middle. Once you've done it a dozen times you'll more than likely virtually be running up the ladder (as if your eyes were closed!) We have had many applicants who were genuinely afraid of heights and their inner voices told them to stop mid way during these instructions. They had paralising fear to continue past the first rung. As a result, it was mutually agreed that the job was not for them. This TEST is by no means any guarantee but hey, it's worked for us more than 100 times.
Now we should mention that the scariest part has not yet been mentioned. However, we are confident that it is of no concern to you (or anyone that completes this test) as we have not found ONE SINGLE PERSON who can successfully climb a ladder to the top - and cannot conquer THE FIRST SCARIEST skill of using an extension ladder. Whilst we currently have no practical way of giving you a practical test (Without doing the REAL THING) we are confident in our 22 years experience of having tested over 100 individuals with the basic test described above.
Without further adue, the scariest part of using an extension ladder is not the bending in the middle (that's the 2nd scariest party) - it's the transitioning off and onto the ladder itself from the roof (and then back on). At this stage if you find yourself in such a position.. you've already climbed the ladder! Shifting your centre of gravity in the correct way to ensure the ladder doesn't move is a skill that can't be taught without actually doing it. And, of course, you will probably be wearing the correct footwear, any necessary safety harness/es and you will have your ladder tied down and so forth.
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