I have a question to all of my fellow operators How far will you go or not go to stick with what is right when it comes pumping concrete. With the video of the short rigged pump going over to seeing doggy set ups to using double 90`s to pushing the the safety margin back when it comes to setting up or pumping to close to high voltage power lines.

For the record with me I stuck to my guns so to speak.

3 Years or so ago I was fired from a company because I would not go with in 20 feet of 240000 volt power lines in a power generating station in western Canada.

This year a friendship desolved because I refused to pump ICF walls with a double 90 and or a s bend. I had even mentioned that there was literature out there stating that this was a unsafe practice and there were alternatives but he did not believe me, When my friend or who I thought was my friend did not believe me right then I knew the friendship was done.

The outcome.

The power house incident cost me about 20k in lost wages and out of pocket expenses.

The second incident well lets just say this has almost cost me my house not to mention the thousands and thousands of dollars I had tied up in this.

So I put it to you when pushed how many of you will really stick to what is right when it comes to all phases of pumping concrete. For myself I will not doing anything that will put anyone at risk including myself because when the shit hits the fan ultimately it is the operator who will be covered head to toe in it....... I dont want to be that operator. 

Z

that's funny,same thoughts at same time.What's that phrase about drinking/driving?

Know when to say when (or close)

You did right - You are true concrete pumping Hero - only thing this industry needs is medals to pin on those who do the right thing.

the temptation to watch someone get jacked up just to say i told you so is huge sometimes. alas we as operators are forced to eat shit sometimes when we refuse to do something stupid. especially when some other outfit comes and does the job for you and nothing happens.

damned if u do, damned if u don't.  unfortunately these compinies will always fill the seat with someone less willing to abide by safety just to get the job done.  you are all expendible.  these same companies will be the first to throw u under the bus when it costs them money.  it is ur ass out there.  only thing to do is document document document.  See their reaction when u ask them to sign a waiver.  they will just get someone else to do the job. Of course they'll label u as a problem.  it will most likely affect the jobs you get and the pumps you are assigned to. however it beats a jail cell when u get convicted of in-voluntary manslaughter.  Again, damned if u do damned if u don't.

Way to go stick to your guns cuz it will keep you and the dumb azz contractors who want you to do that dumb $hit alive. BRAVO!!

this is what union representation prevents, if a contractor fired you or laid you off for refusing to do something you deemed to be unsafe, and it was a no brainer that it was unsafe, You could file a grievance and if you were successful in proving that it was a wrongful termination, you would be owed alot of cash and most likely return to work with a new attitude with ownership and management, since they would know you would take necessary steps if taken advantage of...as an operator I feel the Operating Engineers is the best thing going...stops alot of unfair treatment like this from happening.