The Toughest Jobs in Town
Story and photo by Carl Patzel
Whether it's handling rational fears or phobias, confronting inclement weather, battling back-breaking labour or straight out dealing with dust and dirt, a tough job means meeting challenges head-on.
Conventional or slightly adventurous, whatever the occupation, a tough job means you can’t afford to flinch at creepy crawlers, harsh smells, ridiculous heights, adverse weather conditions or engaging heavy weights. Retreating is just not an option for many demanding professions.
Rooftop highs
Battling fainthearted phobias takes on new heights for Ron Forsyth's rooftop moneymaking line of work. Not to look down on other professions, the roofing industry combines heights, extreme physical activity and at different times of the year stifling mid-summer heat or frightfully frigid winter winds.
"It's hard on the knees and back. The materials we use are pretty heavy and you're bent over all day, especially shinglers," says the Goodmen Roofing employee.
For eight years Forsyth has been lugging 50- to 70-lb. shingle bundles up ladders. "If you have to move 50 of them around in a day, that’s a lot of weight. It’s probably one of the tougher [jobs] physically," he says.
Prerequisites for the occupation are a love of the outdoors and toiling under the hot sun, no fear of back-bending labour and the ability to shun high anxiety.
Forsyth says that a few prospective employees didn’t pass the elevated rooftop test.
"There's a few times [people] started, went up to the job and couldn’t get up the ladder. Or they’re hanging on for dear life," he says, adding that safety is a big factor in the profession. "We're pretty safe here. We're tied off all the time, so falls aren’t really a big concern."
There are many tough, dirty and sometimes thankless Airdrie occupations that could have been listed here. Waiters and waitresses, police and rescue workers, ranchers and farmers, construction workers, those who keep our sewer systems operational - the list is endless.
Whether it's stress, copious amounts of dirt, back-breaking labour, long hours or battling monotonous tasks, toughness can come in all forms. Hats off to those in vocations that most of us probably wouldn’t have the courage even to attempt.
