Why do so many Americans die falling off ladders?

[JimC]

I don't know why he didn't just use an extension rod for his brush or roller.

They're easy to doctor up, too, and don't involve risking life and limb.

By the look of it, he wasn't painting, but filling and smoothing over a crack or similar, which would be hard to do at the end of a pole.

But sure, I often use a roller on an extension pole for painting ceilings etc.

[hadespussercats]

I think he's trowelling some drywall compound, but I'm not sure.

Ahhh. Could be.

You know, I think he could still do that with an extension. Maybe not perfectly, but good enough for that crappy stairwell.

[Blind groper]

If I were doing that, at the very least I would want a safety harness, tied securely to something very solid.