*
Blue, you could write for TV if you weren’t making so much money hammering nails.
How about “Best dog on the jobsite ” stories?
Or, “Best emergency toilet on the job” stories?
*
Blue, you could write for TV if you weren’t making so much money hammering nails.
How about “Best dog on the jobsite ” stories?
Or, “Best emergency toilet on the job” stories?
The FHB Podcast crew takes a closer look at an interesting roof.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Fine Homebuilding
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
© 2024 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.
Start Your Free TrialStart your subscription today and save up to 70%
SubscribeGet complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.
Already a member? Log in
Replies
*
I was one of those KIDS once. Framing houses at about 19 years old. one day I woke up about 2 1/2 hours late (roof raising day). I still had to pick up one of the other KIDS. At around 10:00 we pull on to the site. I see the boss, and one other guy that he went out and picked up off another job. With 6 rafters and 2 sections of ridge up bossman was about to nail a brace to hold it all up when he sees my car pull in. He starts hollering and his arms start waving as the whole roof starts coming down around them. I don't know how, but no one was hurt, that afternoon sucked, and I have never been late since
*Blue-On saw guards: I've b neverhad a reason to remove, shim or otherwise sabotage this useful safety device. A story to illustrate my point: I worked w/ a particuarly obnoxious framer named Frank who constantly shimmed the saw guard 'cause it was "faster". I, in turn would constantly pull the shim out. I ran into Frank a year or so later and noticed he was limping, and after asking him how he was doing, said he hadn't worked in 6 months. Seems he dropped the still turning skilsaw into his knee, cutting to the bone-he was an accident waiting to happen.Moral:Leave the guards alone-they're there for a purpose and you can't prove to me you can do things any better without them.
*
Fred
i ". . . you can't prove to me you can do things any better without them."
Yes I can, sometimes. . . shall we start a whole new thread???
b All fingers accounted for in a frequently
i unguarded
b world
-Patrick
*Alcholics are the best!Blue
*I got a milkbone to bet with you on that one!Blue
*I think it needs a new thread!Blue
*I love those 19 year old kids!Blue
*Fred,Some people sabotage there life to the Bone!!! (ha ha)...The first worker to die on me...Early twenties...got caught breaking into a car dealership...on drugs..was there with dumb friends...two years inprison-fest out for three days...stops to help old lady change tire on Interstate...car not off road far...gets hit and what a mess...hospital home now...months later....working for me....high on life as usual...Fridaynight late needed to just Zip up the road on three wheeler to friends home for some more "fun stuff"..in the ditch at 50mph, rolled...broken leg and arm...healing now somewhat and back to work....boom...breaks other arm....By the way he talked funny cause when he was a toddler he downed a bottle ofDrano faster than his parents could peel his hands off of it!....and on the story goes...So now things seem to be going smoothly...He's found a love for electrical work and a girl that he got pregnant...the kid is born and "Ted" is the proudest Daddyin town....Working 16 hour days, seven days a week,,,gonna buy my family everything the want!....Nope...One day while I was going to suppliers early for a material pickup...BOOM!..right in front of me...a little "sh*tbox car" head on's a pick up truck...30mph road in front of the countysheriffs....CPR big time...Not a chance....Autopsy and rumors pegged it at a "white stuff" heart attack. Never made it to thirty years old. To top it off...the widow loses their fixer upper right after when the hotwater tank blows off it's bottom, flying straight up from the cellar, through the floor that she was standing on doing dishes at the sink at the time and pinning her to the ceiling for a brief moment as you can only imagine....Life ain't so easy for some of us.JSome day I'll tell the second worker to die story...
*Sheesh!Blue
*Explain!
*How could you possibly need this explained??Jack and probably Blue
*Blue's real name is Frank and yes,he walks with a limp!
*
the best excuse I heard for being 6 hours late. This guy shows up after driving all over town from one side to the next to find the cheepest battery for his car. He talked his brother-in-law to take him making both late for their jobs. 6 hours all for a $35 battery a real winner. The sad part is that he showed me the new battery, sure nuff it was right there under the hood.
*
Alchoholics are the best for providing interesting excuse stories!
I had one that I liked a lot. I fired him 6 times!
One time, I realized that he was always coming up to me in the morning apologetic for being late, and missing. I decided to ease his burden.
I said "JONEASS", (that was his nick!), "I'm going to do something for you. I'm going to switch your hours to a totally flexible schedule". I explained: "That way, you don't have to be upset on your way to work, and be thinking about what your excuse is going to be. You can think about your driving, and you will be more relaxed, and this might possibly even prevent you from getting into an accident!. From now on, you can start when you want, quit when you want, and take as many days off as you like!"
The next day, he comes in about a half hour past our starting time, comes up to me meekly and says "Sorry boss, I ...blah, ...blah, ...blah..."
Sheesh, I can't win!
Shut up!
Shut up!
Shut up!
Blue
*I had a guy that took a day and a half to replace the ground cable on his van!Blue
*
ADJ:
And your point is...?
I'm still waiting for someone (Pat M.?) to tell me what advantage is gained by removing or incapacitating the safety guard on a Skilsaw. And frankly, I don't give a shit if you do save a fraction of a second performing some operation w/ guard sabotaged-I'm comfortable using my saw for the past 25 years as is.
In my experience, any tradesperson caught removing guards is politely asked to not do that, and if they persist, are politely asked to pack up their tools.
Its a statiscal fact that guards save lives and
b livelihoods.
I suspect Frank of my earlier story never did return to framing and took up another career (just as well). I do know he isn't enjoying the full use of one knee.
*
Fred, why would you want to save my life, and prevent me from hurting myself, if I decide that, that is a risk that I want to take.
You probably drive to work every day, in a car, but I could statistically prove to you that, that is the most dangerous part of your workday!
I could prove to you that handsaws are statistically safer, yet you would still use your skillsaw!
I could statistically prove many things, but who cares?!
Sometimes, we all make choices that might not be wise, but isn't it our right to make that decision?
Why don't they put telescoping guards on chain saws? Why don't they put drill bit protectors on? Why don't they put a doubled safety belt in your car, and require you to wear a flameproof suit, and helmets like the race car drivers do?
Why don't they outlaw car speeds over 10mph, thus improving the safety of all to the nth degree?
It's all about freedom, freedom of choice. We live in a free country, that trys to limit everything you do. It is a political issue, and there will be casulties for those that fly free!
I could make your job 99% safer, but you will not be using air tools, hand saws, untethered step ladders, extension ladders, etc. You will not be allowed to build second stories, nor steep roofs.
Our great country, the land of the free, would resemble East Germany, the pathetic symbol of socialistic failure!
Are you willing to make that milkbone bet yet
Blue
?
*b Freedom Rules !!!J
*b "Life Leads" that's a famous quote by none other than me!...For some it leads to b self-inflicted "knee surgery."Do you get it yet?? If not, then think about it...You'll catch on eventually.JMake a date on your calendar for the b Fall Fest...your slap and beverage of choice awaits you.
*I'm gonna take a crack at this quiz:1. I take 1/2 hour for lunch. Coffee breaks are for sissies.2. Guards on. You do what you want but with employees I consider it a liability issue. Most guys are not focused enough to work that way 7/24/365. I'm going so far as to provide safety glasses even though my own eyes eat a pound of crap a week. By the way, I just sawed 3/4" though my ring finger length wise (go with the grain or things fall off) reaching around to change the bevel on a junk ass, jammed up jap saw that some scrote smuggled onto the job (I take full blame but the saw was a piece of *$#@%). Which brings me to another point, I like blade brakes too, I think I can work faster with them.3,4,5. Had some real winners too! Best was a guy who was always late (swore he didn't drink or do drugs). He knew I was fed up with it so after one binge he had his girlfriend call to tell me he was having some problems. He shows up about ten and pulls me aside. He says, "sorry I am late, but I was bleeding from my rectum, do you think I should go to the hospital?" I tell him that If I can't see where the bloods coming from I don't need to know about it and that he should find a new use for a tampon and get to work or go to the ER. He eventually quits as follows. I ask him to dig the holes for a deck (5) while I go see to another job. He wants to rent a post hole auger instead of doing it by hand (I figure 1/2 hr. per hole) I come back a generous four hours later and he's not done and crying into the hole ( this is a grown man, 30+) He tells me he needs two weeks off or he'll have a nervous breakdown. He thought I was being generous, but I just figured he saved me the trouble of firing him. Boy can I pick some winners! Work safe and steer clear of the bozos,Tom
*Now FredPlease re-read my post 7.1. You didn't specifically say 'Skilsaw' in your previous posts, nor did I say anything about "removing or incapacitating" 'skilsaw' guards.You did sayi ". . . you can't prove to me you can do things any better without them." referring to 'saw' guardsAnd I repliedi " Yes I can, sometimes. . ."and indeed I can, and do. Mostly I was thinking of table saw work,(where the guard interferes with practically everything I use one for, except simple ripping!!!) but there are some operations involving the 'circular saw', such as drop cuts for ripping in sheathing, and kerfing for lap joints or tennons that can't be accomplished with i any degree of accuracy( and this is Fine Homebuilding here)with the guard in the way.Not wishing to split hairs, just taking you at your i word!!-Patrick
*Blue,Even though you are a sub, if you get hurt becuase you do some stupid thing you know is a considered a bad idea, MY insurance rates go up. Not to mention the time I lose on the project a pissed off customer because I have a sub that does stupid things, etc. You could easily cost me a bundle. This is why I insist on any one on my jobs operating safely. I don't care about what you see as your "rights" when it has the potential to screw up my life as well.
*Table saw guards suck. Never screw with the skil saw guard
*We obviously couldn't do business toghether. I'll bet you 3 milkbones, that I could find three safety violations on your site in less that 3 minutes! Blue
*
Pat M
b Never
has the guard on a Skilsaw prohibited me from doing any of the operations you mention w/ any loss of accuracy.
I do agree that there are instances when the guard on a table saw is impossible to work around and needs removal. It was my assumption that blue's original post was referring to Skilsaws.
blue-yes indeed its a free country, but if you pay any insurance premiums for employees, you will quickly find that it is not OSHA who motivates you and your crew to work w/ safety as a primary concern, it is your insurance carrier. Maybe you have deep pockets.
Fred
*Rob:Amen. Well said.
*
Then I should be free to pay!
Blue
*We do 1/2 hour coffee paid. 45min to an hour lunch: 1/2 hour is unpaid.Did your ever notice that the saw blade is very close the the bevel adjustments?So, what brand junk saw? Did it have the guard? I had a guy standing on the deck crying too! I had just fired him because it was his second day and he was late. That was weird!I had this young (23 yrs old) guy quit, he said it was too tough of a job. He then wondered how he was going to tell his wife. I told him "well if you don't know howto explain it to her, tell her to come and ask me!" The next day, guess who shows up! Yep! And she was cute!Blue
*Did it ever occur to y'all that your supposed to cut the wood with your saws?If you can't control your saw, GET OFF THE JOB!!!Those cheesy telescoping saw guards are false hopes for those that are paranoid! They do not work! How many of you that use the guard, will truthfully own up to shimming it on occasion?BlueBlue
*FredWith all due respect you'll have to show me how you make a i plunge cutinto the middle of a sheet of ply, for example, with a circular saw's guard in it's normal position. . . in other words, not pulled back!!! Using a jig saw/sawzall/chainsaw etc., is not an option for this demonstration!!!
*We take coffee when we feel like it. Lunch is as you catch it, except when I buy(about once a month). worst firing was finding a sub crew on T&M asleep on the job. Have had a few want to wait outside till I left to discuss why. (Do not argure with a big man with a 4' piece of rebar in his hands.) had one I thought was gonna cry because I SMASHED his 4' level while he was lookingb leave the guards alone on the skill saws.Worked 2hrs for a SOB who had 1 carp to 5 helpers. ( I ain't putting up with this no way for no amount of money) Went thur 6 jobs in that week drove my new wife crazy.
*By shimming I take it you mean fixing the guard in the retracted position. Yes, I admit that I did that a few times when I was still very new to the job. I don't do that anymore. I do occasionally use the left hand to retract the guard until it is above the material I am cutting, but I know that this is also avoidable and I don't think I'll be doing much more of it.Again when I was new to it, I did once have the saw kick back and my leg was behind it. Put a hole in my pants leg and just enough skin to draw a bit of blood. So there is some validity in the "false hope" statement. You can bet that no part of my anatomy has EVER been behind that saw since. I can occasionally take a hint, especially when it involves blood (especially my own!)Rich Beckman
*
That was helpful. I do raise the guard when starting thin cuts, but have always used sharp blades, a heavy saw and a firm hold. Wonder if I would be better off not being behind the saw, or having a good stance and being able to manhandle the saw. Yeah, I am careful. Blue is right. The only way to be completely safe is not to use these things.
Denis
*
Another war story....
Local high energy guy with big smile always and maybe just a little to(o) much energy for the size of his common sense portfolio stored in his hard head.....Started out as a painter....expanded into a remodeler....then on to roof sub....then on to framing sub....Always trying to reinvent the fastest methods cause he got all his work offering the lowest price....As a painter he sprayed many an "extra home or two for free and lots of cars...inhaled volumes of
over-spray to the point of looking like those drywall sanding rookies you see once in awhile at the lunch deli, two eyes boogering out of a white cloud oblivious to their look...anyway so he's now cutting off a finger once a year when we meet (often enough) as he handshake tickles more
every time (remember the old tickle shake with girls you liked in high school)...Next I hear the three pack a day Camel
no-filter dude has cancer but he's fighting it and winning with the cigarettes still going....now I see him on a roof next to a lunch place...his
Skil saw lead is taped in like five places and is 4' long...I notice his guard is up while we chat and remember asking him as he sat on the roof edge with the saw resting on his leg if he thought he was being a little dangerous...."No" he says, "Much faster way to work...That's how framer's do it and work so fast."...So a year passes and next time I see him he's showing me scars on that same leg that accounted for over
500 stitches both in and outside his leg!!!!....To finish up this tragic tale, he did die after all, of the cancer....
Life's a Beach and then you're DEAD!!!
So work with or without a guard....We're all getting gravestones or for the
"artistic," our ashes tossed on our favorite spot on the planet.
J
*SPEED!That's the real danger.You gotta be in control. You gotta know where your blade is.Blue
*Blue, I always shim up my guard. My next saw will have a brake. I think it will add to my efficiency. If you leave the guard alone, it gets hung up on any cut that is not square, such as the plumb cut on a rafter. Sometimes I think that when you take your eye away from the cut to determine what you are hung up on, you put yourself in more danger than simply having a shimmed guard. If you do shim your guard, you have to be aware ALL the time. That applies to most of our tools and equipment anyway. One second without concentration, and we can really be in trouble. Awareness is the most important safety device a carpenter possesses.
*Kyle,What did you think of my war story hero???I think if someone is gonna use a skil saw without a guard then it should be a secret and not posted publically here or anywhere...Or at least tell others how stupid an idea it would be for them to emulate, Especially a DIY.Hand lifting when necessary...rarely with a Makita, Often with a Dewalt,J
*Watched an experienced hardwood flooring installer cut off pieces off three fingers when I started in this business and have never used a tool without a guard. I will never allow a tradesman to work on any of my sites with a modified tool either.
*Jack, I agree that there is wisdom in not admitting to such a thing in a public forum. Furthermore, you are correct to say that my post should not endorse such habits. I do not do it for the purpose of gaining speed. I believe that it gives me better control of the saw. This topic will always be hotly debated among tradesmen, as well it should be. I did want to bring some of the viewpoints of the "unguarded" to the forum. By the way, what is your flavor of Saranac? I just kicked a 1/4 barrel of Black Forest. I'm thinking my next one might be the Pale Ale. Cheers
*JackThe only thing I i don't like about my Makita 8.5" is the way the damn guard gets hung up on everything. The guard on the old Skil that I inherited from my dad was sweet. . . to bad the saw weighed about 50 lbs. . . I think they built the Arc with it!!!-P
*Kyle, I agree 100%!I don't shim them, though, I remove every remnaneof it. I do stay focused all day, especially when the saw is in my hands. Blue
*your right, patrick, they hang up on everything that isn't perfect. That's why I got rid of them. If they didn't hang up, I would leave it on!Blue
*GAbe, are you saying that fingers have never been cut off by a tool with a guard?Blue
*While the blade guard can be a pain, over 25 years, I've always been able to find a way to use any saw without blocking up or removing the guard. I've had to pay WC claims on people who did. Their last day, too. I'm open, but just barely, what's a good reason? Blue, you seem to be the most offended, and you've been doing this for a while.Wondering but not willing, BB
*Ok guy's I think that everone is missing the point here. Everone has there freedoms and such but by saying that it's your choice to shim a skill saw guard is crazy. Never would I remove or shim that guard. If I'm on your job and you do a dumb thing like that, then I have to spent my time and engery trying to save your life. On the other hand there are attemp's to safe guard tools that create more of a hazard then they fix. Table saws is one of them. I have yet to see a table saw that had a decent guard. When I find one I'll buy and use it. Just like buying and using good safty glasses.I hope that this craze of removing skill saw guards will pass. Guy's this trade is dangerous enought with out us taking shory cuts like this.
*I sold my 8 and kept my 7 because it is a great saw...The 8 had all sorts of trouble including it would never stay in 90 degree spec.I can cut as fast as anyone and as acurate as you would like...lifting the guard unconsciously these days...J
*I can't add much to the skilsaw debate; I do raise the guard from time to time, but I'm not using mine eight hours a day , so i can use all the safety I can get. I like my guard (Porter-Cable-no problems so far) Re: the tablesaw, however, i have my opinions. Until you get into the $10,000+ range, all the splitters, guards etc. I've seen make life very dangerous (with the exception of a couple of new, down from above aftermarket guards that are okay for about 60-70% of work. These are for shop situations only though). It occurs to me though that if you have to modify the tool to work safely, maybe you need a new tool. I've seen a few accidents, from chainsaws to jointers, and if you can do something to avoid it, do it. Heres a story;, I was a kid, working in a museum of all places, went to do an install with my two bosses, and a crew from another department. We were missing a tool, started talking as someone went for it, and one of the other guys started talking about his brother in law. A gang were working in the shop, buddy screwed up, and cut his finger off in the jointer (as the story goes, can't vouch for it). To the hospital: Doc says, if you have the finger, we can sew it back on. Back they go to the shop, where one of the boys was holding the fort. Where is the finger at? They say. I fed it to my ferret, he says, I'm training it to hunt and he needs fresh meat. What do you say to that? I intend to finish with what I started with.
*Try trimming 3/8" off, a 45 degree bevel, off a 8/12 level cut on a piece of 2x6 stock.All I want is the freedom to choose. If I make the wrong choice, and cut off my fingers, I'll become a governmental bureaucrat!Blue
*Having all your fingers is over-rated!Adrian, your the exact type of guy that will eventually cut yourself. If your saw is consistently open, you will always treat it like it is open. If your saw is guarded, you will do things differently. For instance, when I finish a cut, I always stop the blade on the cut. Do you do that when you are using your guarded tool? Blue
*Blue, i don't want to argue with you about this. like I said, I'm not using a skilsaw all day, everyday.I know lots of good carpenters that are better with it than i am. Thats why I'm careful. i haven't come near an accident with it yet. The guard works for me, on my saw it doesn't seem to interfere with anything except plunge cuts in ply, and I'm not making a living from framing at the speed of light so I'll keep using it and leave the hotshotting to you.I'm working everyday on saws of different types, some a lot more powerful than a skilsaw. i'm not saying you're wrong, just how i intend to proceed. I knew a carpenter worked barefoot, said it kept him more alert (rural area, no safety inspectors). i prefer boots.
*JackAin't that sumthin'. . . I can't keep mine at 90 degree's either. . . talked to a rep one time about it. . . got the usual b.s.about bein' the only one in the universe to have that problem, "Did I ever drop it off a roof"?? . . . Wish I had a nickel (you got those stateside??. . . oh yeah, near forgot, you shim doors with em)for every time I've been told I was the only person to have a problem with whatever. . . could have at least $2.50 by now. How's the green skiing, got any snow ???-Patrick
*Blue,You are right on all 3 counts (counting your post after the reply to mine). If I ask you to stop doing something & you ignore me,, (I will listen to reason) you're gone. Yes you can find violations on my jobs. I just try not to have them.as for some one that dosenb't know how to run the saw attempting to, I agree get out of here. I belive in learning on the job but if you don't know how to handle the equipment we have a problem.I would have responded sooner but we now have good weather & the phones ringing with customers telling me the weathers nice.
*Skiing incredible today....Sunburnt body parts....Must have done well over 40 runs plus the green beer hour lunch top of the slopes....Very thankful for St. Patrick!J
*
Pat M.-all I said was that I do not condone shimming or removing guard. Obviously punge cuts are made w/ guard retracted by hand. This is common practice and also safe.
*
How long are your lunch breaks and coffee breaks?
Saw guards: on, shimmed or gone?
Best excuse for being late, or off for a day.?
Best firing?
Best quitter?
If you think any one of these deserve their own threads, by all means start it.
* I think I have a good quitter story ( actually I have a few).Anyways, this guy starts (I used to hire almost anyone) for me, and looks kinda like he won't make it past lunch.We're getting ready to start up on the roof, so I mention it, and he looks scared. I then know that he isn't going to make it, and a light bulb goes off."Carry that roof ply upstairs will ya?" He looks at the pile and asks "how much of it will you need?" Of course "all of it!"He looks quite dismayed and asks how he's going to get it all up there? I tell him to walk it up the stairs!31/2 hours later, he's dying, and he's got every piece on the lot up there in a pile. I have him put a load up through the roof on horses. He gets the horses loaded and asks, what do you want me to do next? "well ge up on the roof and start laying it"!He looks terrified at the trusses for a minute and then:He grabs his side and starts moaning like he was on his death bed! I ask "what's the matter" he moans back "kidney stones, they're acting up again, I gotta get to the hospital". He's heading for the stairs, and I try to assist him, "I'll drive you". He refuses my help, and the last I saw him he was hustling to his car, never to be heard from again. He left with his paperwork, and I'm still waiting to pay him!Blue
* Another quitter story, but this guys didn't do anything for me besides give me a few chuckles.The young kid (21) shows up dressd like he was heading for a date.It's muddy as hell, but we're working on the roof, so it really won't matter, provided you can get up there without getting mud all over you.I set up rat runs everywhere to keep myseslf clean.Well, I tell the kid to start sheeting the garage roof. He has to get from our "walk boards" to the ladder though the mud, to the ladder. Theres plenty of stuff around to make a rat run. He's moaning about how muddy this job is. I don't give him a clue, thinking he ain't gonna make it to coffee anyways.Within minutes, I look down and see him heading out to the car with his saw in tow. I decide I'm gonna' have some fun; I yell out, "wait!"I rundown to the street and ask, "hey what are you doing with your saw out here? " (as if I don't know!)His reply caught me off guard! "Well It's too muddy over there, so I was going to cut all the plywood out here on the concrete, and then carry it up the ladder, and nail it on."Incredulously I make him clarify it; "So let me get this straight, your going to carry the plywood sheets out here, cut them, and then carry them back there and up the ladder and then install them?"Ne nods yes. I tell him "great idea, but I think you'll be better off if you use the sawhorses, follow me, I'll show you where they're at!"Of course, the set I was thinking about, were down in the basement, buried in 10" of sloppy muck!The last I saw, he had one horse out on the road, and he was hightailing it with his white tennis shoes, and sporty trousers, looking like they needed a bit of cleaning! Blue
*Blue, you could write for TV if you weren't making so much money hammering nails.How about "Best dog on the jobsite " stories?Or, "Best emergency toilet on the job" stories?
*Don't even bring up the best emergency toilet story, 'cause I'll have to tell you another one!Too late:We're working in an isolated neighborhood, and it's the last house to be framed. One of the goofy High Schoolers needs to use the basement, and I tell him to bury it like a cat!He gets a shovel and disappears for quite a long time.A couple of days later, I happen to walk down into the basement, and he's got a cement block on end, with a roll of toilet paper on it, and EIGHT HOLES DUG around it! Two are filled over!Planning ahead!Blue<
*Best excuse,I had a guy dissapear for 2 days last summer. He then calls me up & says he met woman that wouldn't let him out of her bed the entire time.If it's true thats the reason I fired him, not because he left me high & dry.
*"Shakey" came to work, shaking, for almost a week until a 3-day absence, without calling in, and then showed up with the excuse that his sister was killed in an auto accident 1200 miles away, 3 months ago. She was just recently identified. A week later he was gone for another week for her second funeral closer to home. The week after he came in late and said he had to go home because he left the shower on. Alcoholism.
*I grew up in the 1000 Islands region, along the Canadian border. (Right across the River from Gan for all you Ontario boys.) Alot of our summer work was on the islands. I once worked with a guy that bought plain white socks. He didn't want to use one, only to have a sock without a mate.
*I have a "best firing" story from a truss company I worked for a few years back. One of our crane truck drivers got stuck on a jobsite. He turned the boom on his crane around backwards, so he would have more weight over the rear wheels. (It normally pointed out over the front bumper of the truck)After he got out, he got out of the truck to put the bom back where it belonged. But one of the carpenters stopped to talk to him a minute, and he forgot about it. So he heads off down the road with the boom behind him, and sticking up in the air. He hit a bridge a couple of miles down the road, and did $80,000 damage to the bridge and the truck. We fired him immediately. What I found funny is that he filed a grievance with the union. Claimed he was overly tired when the accident happened, and shouldn't have been driving. The accident happened at 8:30 in the morning -he had only been on the job since 6:30.
*
mate....ya gota die of sumthin....it'd be a shame to die of nuthin..