Welding Tips and Tricks

So, I was wondering what is everyone's opinion on welders with a fear of heights. I have been welding for a while and have a fear of heights. I love what I do, but I am limited on work at times due to my fear. I know a lot of welders that have a fear of heights or another fear that can limit there ability to do a job. What do people think about people having fears or things that they are not comfortable with being a welder?

Everyone has a fear of something. It's the sense of fear that keeps us alive. I was a scaffold builder in another life and I had to build some dangerous things sometimes. I never got over my fear of heights, I just had to manage it. Are you tied off when you are doing these tasks? Do you work in an industrial setting? Give us a little more info if you can but don't be ashamed of a natural fear. I have seen guys lock up on high scaffold so the fear is very real.Anyone who has ever been on or built a scaffold in a coal fired boiler in a power plant can tell you it will pucker your o-ring a little. Some people can work through it but others have to stay low. Welcome to the forum.

+1 on what ex said. I used to work on a roofing repair crew and we were up and down ladders all day. The guys laughed at me for the first few days. The more you do it the more accustomed you become to it. The fear never really goes away but you learn to put it aside after a while. Too much fear can actually cause you to meet the end that you were hoping to avoid. Just try and focus on the job at hand rather than spending too much energy focusing on where you're at and you'll be ok. Just remember this: not being afraid of a rattle snake or electricity can and will get you killed. Some ammount fear is healthy.

Reminds me of that classic photo taken back in the 30's of the construction workers sitting on a beam high above the city having lunch with no fall protection whatsoever.. I guess that back in the day you either took the work or someone else did. Still, I don't have a fear of heights per se but I have been known to get uncomfortable in really confined spaces on occasion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper

I was always uncomfortable being up high until I helped my cousin out roofing for a summer. The first couple of roofs I was a big baby up there, I volunteered to be the ground guy clean up guy. After I got some time in I became more comfortable. I still don't like being up high but the more time you have the more comfortable you get. Fear is a good thing, its like everyone else said. The fearless ones get hurt

Not a fan of heights either. If in secure then I'm alright. If there is nothing there then I'm gone. Working on my uncles farm taught me this. Climbing up steel bins with nor guards to open up the top was a rough time. On the other hand I was up on the hydraulic lift which had a forklift stuck into it with duals and enough counterweight to break a trailer and I was just fine after a minute of getting used to it up 20 ft holding wrenches and bolts. I guess it just depends on all of the circumstances.

When I was building the ADM Clinton cogen Power Plant, there was a man on my crew afraid of heights.

Not "uncomfortable". Phobic. Couldn't walk IN the structure on the second floor if there was grating and he could see below, even with handrails on each side.

When all our ground-level prep was done, he welded for our rigging crew. He was the guy cutting and welding lifting eyes for steel weighing many tons and flying over my head.

My point is, he found a place where he could be an important part of the crew, yet stay on the ground.

Steve S