"Safety Third".....hits close to home.

[Matt]

This 21yr old wise guy is my nephew. It makes it just a little harder dealing with him. I try to think of him as any other guy in the crew, doesn't always work. If anything happens to him, I'll have my brother to deal with. He wasn't too pleased his son was leaving school to work for me.

Yeah, I know what has to be done. I just have to keep telling myself, I'm his boss not his uncle.

Matt

[Belphegor]

Bad stuff. So sorry, Jeremy.

We all walk a very narrow path. Every one of us has stories to tell, and those stories can be a very valuable learning tool for the youngsters who choose to listen to us. Unfortunately we also tend to wear our close calls as a badge of honor sometimes, and take pride in doing our dirty, dangerous jobs for years without serious incident. A tragedy like this is the only thing that truly gets our attention sometimes.

We'll keep a good thought for this man and his family.

[ModSammy]

Sobering stuff there, FryGuy, for sure. I know first hand too, that's you just can't let your guard down ever - no matter how senior or experienced you are. Best wishes to the guy's wife and kids and hope this experience saves another.

Matt - hey man, I gotta say, it's my experience that family members don't listen to family members. Somehow they just don't get it maybe cuz you're family and all and that relationship is just "shoot the breeze", ya know? Not serious employer like. Might help if y'all had another experienced guy to help you bring your nephew along. Someone unrelated seems to get different attention and consideration. Just a thought.

Hey - good weekend everybody. Safety third for sure.

[Matt]

Matt - hey man, I gotta say, it's my experience that family members don't listen to family members. Somehow they just don't get it maybe cuz you're family and all and that relationship is just "shoot the breeze", ya know? Not serious employer like. Might help if y'all had another experienced guy to help you bring your nephew along. Someone unrelated seems to get different attention and consideration. Just a thought.

Hey - good weekend everybody. Safety third for sure.

I hear ya,Sammy. I spoke to my partner, my nephew now works with him. My partners a fair guy, but won't put up with any garbage from Mr. Wise Guy. He'll either straighten up or be looking for a new line of work.

Matt

[FRY1975]

Belphegor, you are spot-on with the badge of honor thing. Probably have been all guitly of that for sure. Especially at a younger stage of our careers. You mrW trademen that have been going at this game for awhile, have some real good words of wisdom. Its appreciated by me and I'm sure by many others.


Matt, do you got a BIG ol' cartoon hammer you can wack this kid upside the head with? My BIGGEST pet peeve with my apprentice is seeing him not install the safety strut, while the machines loader arms are up in the air. I don't hold back any verbal comments when I see that crap. Even when the safety strut is installed, I tell him to avoid working under the loader arms if at all possible. Its that "Top-Gun/Hot-Shot" way of thinking that will bite you in the bvtt.


Maybe all of us mrW Tradesmen and of coarse with the help of all the other members here at mrW, can compile some sort of specific safety guide/game plan??? Worth tossing the idea around anyhow.




Later,
Jeremy

[SLS-Construction]

Jeremy, I am real sorry to hear about your friend

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how many safety plans, guides, and enforcement there is out there - it is up to the individual to follow through on it, especially when no one is looking