Nearly took a dive off a 20ft ladder on a condo repaint job today

We're in south Florida, everything rusts and the humidity is a bitch, and I'm quoting $4500 for this exterior repaint on a 3-story condo when my ladder starts slipping on the wet decking. Almost face-planted into the bushes below, woulda been a $10k hospital bill easy. FML, double-checked all my safety gear after but damn, that was too close.

Goddamn Florida weather turns every job into a slip-n-slide crapshow, insurance companies love jacking rates after one close call like that.

Happened to me last summer on a trim job, ladder kicked out and I hung on by my fingertips. Bruised ribs for weeks, couldn't lift a brush without wincing.

Strap that ladder down or use standoffs, saved my ass on a high-rise exterior last month. Wagner or Graco stabilizers are worth every penny.

Same here man, knees still shake thinking about it. Take a breather next time, better safe than splattered.

Pro tip: Get harnesses for the whole crew on anything over 10ft, OSHA fines are no joke but neither is a fall. Check out Idaho Painter's vid on ladder setups, changed how I rig everything.