Eric Gates, who was a MythBusters regular for everything rockets, died in a fall at work on Dec 20th. Why is this here? Gates was a base jumper who had over 600 jumps and also an avid skydiver. He was an electrical contractor and even though he had jumped out of planes and such he died from a 30 ft. fall at work.


I'm often up on ladders, in lift baskets and on roofs. I've been more concerned about the dangerous situtations I have to put myself in everyday at work than I have ever been when I'm out ice climbing. A few days before Erik gates fell my good friend and coworker fell off a ladder about the same distance and landed head first in a pile of boulders. He fared much better than Erik did but it was a big eye opener for all of us on the site. Thoughts go out to his friends and family.


Follow the link for more information.


http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/dec/21/worker-who-died-in-fall-in-newbury-park/