My weekends at home are fairly predictable. I spend the mornings coding the EDR, the afternoons doing house or yard work, and the evenings with the family and again with the EDR. Very predictable.
This past weekend also had me perched near the top of a 14-foot ladder drilling into my pre-cast concrete window headers to fasten my hurricane shutter tracks. Ladder work is dangerous itself, but trying to hold up a 12-foot-long aluminum storm panel header track, getting it aligned and the Tapcons fastened was a challenge, especially since there is only one of me. I put my solution at the end of my post on hurricane panel installation tips, but in short it involved the use of my ladder, a 10-foot 2x2 and a washcloth. I also took my time, since rushing seemed to be hazardous.
A co-worker fell off a ladder several years ago and severely damaged himself. This may be one of the greatest hazards while preparing for hurricanes here in Florida. I believe that more people died last year from falls after the storms were over (like falls from ladders, roofs and trees) than from any direct storm-related collapse or flooding. I believe idiotic use of chainsaws was a close second.
As I was carrying around storm panels and track on Sunday, I noticed the thunderstorms passing in the distance. It was no great leap to realize that carrying long metal things and waving them around was probably not a good idea with lightning in the area.
I also managed to get a nice burn from a hot drill bit tip. Drills can get very hot when you are making holes in concrete.