Fire the boss?

One of the big rules at my shop is if tools are left laying on the trailers when they leave the shop expect that to be your last day. Today I was parting out reach in coolers on the trailer and left a screwdriver sitting on a tire. As soon as my helper started out of the yard I heard a bang and saw the tire go down. Went over and looked, saw my screwdriver sticking out of the tire! A little bit of a grey area because the trailer didn't make it all the way out of the yard. Maybe I should just write myself a warning slip this time. What do you think?

You could always shift blame onto the helper for not doing a safety inspection of the load and equipment!

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Originally Posted by injunjoe

You could always shift blame onto the helper for not doing a safety inspection of the load and equipment!

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That is partially true, but it is not the helpers fault he left the screw driver there.

The helper already pointed that out, and the fact that I said it was ready to go.

I used to do jobs with a friend of mine. He'd get the jobs, and pay me to do the excavating work.

One day, we had a tough time getting my tagalong equipment trailer hooked up, just because of the awkward angel it was at. We finally got it on the hook, but then for some reason, we got distracted. A few minutes later, I took off up the road, and after about a mile, it dawned on me that we'd forgotten something. There it was, hook not latched, safety chains not connected, and lights not plugged in. When I got back to the job, I told him we were both fired. But then we had to re-hire ourselves because there wasn't anybody else to finish the job...

Your toast!!!! But you could always rehire your self with a big raise and a sign on bouns

I offered to fire myself but the helper realised that payroll was one of the boss's jobs.

I always say "I'd fire that fool that works for me but I can't find anybody who'd work as cheap as he does".

Being the boss can truly suck!

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Originally Posted by GeorgeB

That is partially true, but it is not the helpers fault he left the screw driver there.

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Lets think about this for a second.

Lets say the screw driver was on a fender and did not fall off until the helper was at highway speed. it hits the ground and pops up and goes through a windshield. This causes a big pileup.

Who is at fault George? No the helper did not leave the screwdriver on the fender but he is the one responsible for his equipment and load! The helper gets the ticket or even worse a manslaughter charge.

Moral of the story is if you are the one driving it should be up to you to check things out before proceeding down the road.

I had a helper put a garage door panel on my truck without securing it. If I took off and caused damage it would have been me not him at fault as I am the operator of the vehicle.

Good point! Years ago I sold a load of refrigerators to someome who used chinese straps to tie them down with. Needless to say, they came off on the freeway and caused an accident that made the national news!

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Originally Posted by injunjoe

Lets think about this for a second.

Lets say the screw driver was on a fender and did not fall off until the helper was at highway speed. it hits the ground and pops up and goes through a windshield. This causes a big pileup.

Who is at fault George? No the helper did not leave the screwdriver on the fender but he is the one responsible for his equipment and load! The helper gets the ticket or even worse a manslaughter charge.

Moral of the story is if you are the one driving it should be up to you to check things out before proceeding down the road.

I had a helper put a garage door panel on my truck without securing it. If I took off and caused damage it would have been me not him at fault as I am the operator of the vehicle.

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Every situation is always different too. No 2 situations are hardly ever alike.

Which is why I said, it is partially true. Both are at fault. freonjoe for ensuring to putting equipment back when done using it, and his helper for not ensuring there was no issues before driving off.

That's why I decided to suck up to the boss and buy him lunch. Will replace the tire out of my own pocket and do a headslap!

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Originally Posted by freonjoe

Good point! Years ago I sold a load of refrigerators to someome who used chinese straps to tie them down with. Needless to say, they came off on the freeway and caused an accident that made the national news!

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I don't see what went wrong those things are pretty strong, see for your self.....

http://www.deviantart.com/download/2...xx-d4m53tv.png

Maye Data couldn't figure that out, but he did sleep with a Borg queen!

She looks like one built for scrapping!

http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/...een_(2063).jpg

What rule is that?

I replace the windshields in my rigs every 6 months (that's all the insurance will pay for). That means that 10 months a year I'm driving with cracked windshields. Because of all the crap falling off trucks and trailers, I've never gone a month on a new windshield before it's cracked.

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Originally Posted by freonjoe

I replace the windshields in my rigs every 6 months (that's all the insurance will pay for). That means that 10 months a year I'm driving with cracked windshields. Because of all the crap falling off trucks and trailers, I've never gone a month on a new windshield before it's cracked.

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Sounds like need to do a better job of securing stuff.

Windshields are not cheap.

Windshields aren't cheap! And when you live in a state with no covered load laws, you just follow the people home and bang on their door. That's the part I'm trying to stop!

To me if tire has a fender over it , and screw driver is under the fender thats almost imposable to see then it's not helper fault . But If i had a screw driver on a tire and it was just sitting there with no fender I would expect the helper the see it.

freonjoe, i have theperfect solution for you, you guys are not going to believe this, but where i work, when you screw up bad, they give you what is called a decision making leave, they give you the next day off with pay to think about what you done, unbelieveable right but its true, then you come back to work and cant screw up in the same manner 1 year from the date. ive never done it but ive seen it happen alot, anyway if i was you id take tomorrow off :)

One things for sure, you are not going to live this one down!

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Originally Posted by corycouch

freonjoe, i have theperfect solution for you, you guys are not going to believe this, but where i work, when you screw up bad, they give you what is called a decision making leave, they give you the next day off with pay to think about what you done, unbelieveable right but its true, then you come back to work and cant screw up in the same manner 1 year from the date. ive never done it but ive seen it happen alot, anyway if i was you id take tomorrow off :)

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I picture a creative guy having a great deal of paid leave.

injun joe i know a guy thats done it three times!!!

http://youtu.be/PDA4lcw8k1g

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Originally Posted by freonjoe

Good point! Years ago I sold a load of refrigerators to someome who used chinese straps to tie them down with. Needless to say, they came off on the freeway and caused an accident that made the national news!

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Any chance there's a link to the story somewhere?

If you ever run into Ken from Ken's second hand store in Nampa, ask him.