MnTom

You guys want to read a good one? Read this........................
Yesterday at work (plumbing at a motel under construction) I saw an apprentice plumber cutting some thread rod with a chop saw. He was NOT wearing any safety glasses. I light-heartedly asked him where his safety glasses were. He looked at me and said nothing. I kept walking and ran into the foreman. I said to the foreman "You need to round up some safety glasses for Ryan. He is cutting some thread rod with out any glasses". I then proceeded to where I was working. At lunch the foreman said to Ryan "There are some glasses in the back of the trailer you should use when cutting thread rod". We went back to work and the apprentices partner (who is 58 yrs old) asked me if I said anything to "the boss" about glasses. I told him yes. He then proceeds to scream at me about being a squeeler. When I tried to explain he cussed me out. I then turned around and walked away. I saw the foreman later and asked him what he said to the older guy. He asked why and I told him that he wanted to kick my butt. He said "You heard what I said in the trailer" and I went back to work. At the end of the day, while putting tools away the older guy asked me if I remember the conversation earlier that day. I said yes. He then screams someting about how "You don't get it do you? Why did you go running to the boss?" I tried to explain again and got basically the same response as the earlier conversation. I turned to walk away and was asking why he thought he needed to "kick my butt" and turned around to see him right next to me. As I turned to walk away again he punched me!!! He knocked my safety glasses off and BROKE MY NOSE!!!! Five hours later I wound up going to a local hospital for urgent care since I could not get my nose to stop bleeding. They notified the local law enforcement and I filed an assault charge against him. Another officer came to the jobsite today and took statements. Turns out that the guy is going to be charged with 3rd degree assault which is a felony since he broke my nose. We did not have any contact today but at the end of the day I was met by some big shots for the company and guess what??? They FIRED me for fighting!!! I never even threw a punch!!! Yes, the other guy got fired too. Sorry, but I am quite upset about this. So here I sit with two black eyes and an appointment friday morning with a plastic surgeon to see about getting my nose straightened out again.
Tom

Edited by Admin

PeteRR

I would try one time to get my job back by talking to them. After that I would sue them into the ground.

Floorman

LAWYER!!!!!!!!!!!! i would sue the friggn pants of them. ofcourse god says dont sue and to forgive people like him and the bosses.. but that is very hard to do at a time like that. but things like this happen for a reason you will get a better job paying twice as much!

for i have plans to prosper you and not harm you

head up look forward ! good luck

DPG

Tom,

I would see a lawyer about a wrongful firing suit. The "bosses" could be very sorry that they took the course that they did. You were harrassed, and assaulted on their jobsite, which they are supposed to make sure that it is safe. Poor sentence structure, but you get the idea. The settlement might pay for a new truck!

FWIW

By the way, I believe that the admonition against suing only applies to suing fellow Believers. See Matthew 18:15.

DeWain

Shovelhead

Wow!, you try to keep someone from having a hazardous accident and get your ticket punched & fired?

I think I'd be ensuring the the first sound the company "Big Shot" heard in the morning would my attorney's voice on the phone.

Keep us advised.

Ed

MnTom

There is a clause in our constitution that specifically states that "harrassment, horse play and fighting" will not be tolerated. I guess they figure that it takes two to fight so both of us had to go. It just makes it really hard to get a good nights sleep with out being able to breathe through my nose. I have apnea (quit breathing during sleep) and need to use a machine that blows air through my nose when I sleep so I can get a decent nights sleep.
Tom
BTW Floorman, I wish I could get a job that pays twice as much!!! $120k a year would be nice!!

Shovelhead

I'd ask them to show my lawyer the part of the contract that shows where being on the recieving end of a punch qualifies as "Horseplay".

IANAL

squirlchasr919

I am only 21 so my view is slightly geared for my age but simply I wouldn't have let that guy walk away from me broken nose or not. But again that is my age talking, he was either bigger than you or a little guy with serious LMS(little man syndrome) to start a fight like that. You would still have a leg to stand on being that he threw the first punch if you layed into him.
I work construction(concrete) and I have to deal with my own guys as well as other guys from other companies. In my experience alot of guys have pretty sorry attitudes about wearing safety gear.
I used to complain about safety glasses when I was cutting into concrete or rebar, when that first piece of molten rebar hit me in my eye I never went a day without wearing some kind of eye protection, as well as ear plugs for the noise of the saw.
People are just too stuborn to even protect themselves. These are the same guys who would sue your boss when they blinded themselves for not wearing the glasses. It would have shown him right if something had happened to that guy cutting the rods. Better yet him, your guy didn't know any better.
Your right sometimes life does suck.

MnTom

Well, on a job such as this, saftey glasses ARE required along with a hard hat, and a safety vest since there was equipment on site. One of the "joys" of being a journeyman on a job is to help "instruct and council" the apprentices. I just thought that I was doing my job....................................
sqirlchasr919 by the time I realized what had happened I was still stunned enough to be kinda woozy. After that I thought about grabbing a piece of something and going after him, but I decided he was not worth the effort.

crobtex

You probably done the right thing. Wisdom comes with age.

spots

Ahh yes the American Dream. Land a big settlement.
Talk rationally to these guys, (management) explain your side of the story (each story has 3 sides remember) and see what happens. If the company is wise and you are a good productive worker, they should rehire you. If not (and you are a good worker) another company will be glad to have you on board. Life sucks sometimes for sure. Best of luck. Keep us updated.

Ram04

Sorry about your bad luck. Sounds like the guy that hit you has a screw loose up there. I would think you have a very good chance at getting your job back once the facts are looked at. Threatening to sue will put their backs to the wall so to speak and will create enmity towards them and you if they are forced to rehire you. Keep a cool head and good luck.

030303

In my humble opinion you did nothing wrong. John. IBEW wireman, regular working stiff.

electrifried

Sounds to me like the company is in the market to hire a Safety Specialist. Why dont you apply for that job? If all else fails, OSHA would like to see that guy cutting without PPE.

amartinson

Wow!

I just read this one Tom and it's hard to believe. You certainly did all the right things in both instances (the guy without glasses and the guy with the temper problem). It's also time for the union to step up and earn the money you give them once a month. The easy way out is to punish both sides but once you explain how it really happened (with a representative with you) I have faith it will work out.

BTW, maybe I could have a "chat" with the guy next time I'm up there.