Safety - July 2008
Lessons learned about safety
By Guy Prescott, safety director
Since I became the safety director for Local 3, I’ve heard more than my share of stories about accidents, close calls and tragedies on the jobsite. Members often tell me these experiences are lessons they’ll never forget, which recently got me thinking about using my column to share some of these stories with the entire membership. Here’s the first of hopefully many more lessons learned about safety:
“For those members who are married, you might want to read this: My name is Jeff Ulrich, senior business representative from Morgan Hill: District 90. In 1990, I was operating a 345 excavator, and one day around lunch time, I was in a hurry to catch the lunch truck. While climbing off the rig, my wedding ring got caught on the bolt that fastens the hand rail to the cab. I don’t know how it happened, but it pulled my ring finger completely out of its socket. I can’t explain the pain, but you can imagine. Call me lucky, because late last year, Robert Rodriguez experienced the same thing, but he lost his finger just above the knuckle. What I’m trying to say is: Be careful when climbing on and off equipment when wearing your wedding ring.”
Share your story: If you have had a close call or an accident you have learned from and would like to share, please send it to: gprescott@oe3.org Operating Engineers Local 3 Attn: Guy Prescott, safety director 1620 South Loop Road Alameda, CA 94502
