I could have killed somebody at work today
The title's not what you think it is. I'll give you a little background info:I'm a forklift driver; I pick stuff up, and put it down somewhere else. Sounds like a simple job, right? It's NOT. These vehicles are fast, heavy, and dangerous, and if you're not careful, you could fuck something or somebody up really bad.
Now, I've had my share of spills. I've broken some expensive merchandise, and a lot more inexpensive merchandise while driving a forklift, and yet I still have my keys. Wrecking a TV is excusable, as long as you don't do it more than once, and nobody gets hurt.
However, today was different. Let me paint the picture for you. My coworker was opening a receiving door, and I was ten feet away picking up a pallet. However, this pallet was not stacked in the safest of manners, and, even though I damn well should have, I did not realize this at the time.
As soon as I picked this pallet up, it began to tip over. I tried to put it back down, but by that time it was too late. The boxes on the pallet (which were about 50 pounds each) came crashing down, and landed about 2 feet away from my coworker. She screamed so loudly that the entire building could hear it. She and I both damn near had a heart attack.
To sum up: I dropped heavy shit right next to someone, scared the shit out of them, got "words" from my manager, and spent the next five minutes helping to re-stack the pallet.
I'm now afraid that I'll lose my keys, or worse, my job. Or that I'll have nightmares about this for weeks. My coworker told me that it wasn't a big deal, and shit happens. I really, really wish I shared her optimism.
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Comments
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1
I used to be in the same boat. The pressure of speed from management got to me and tried to get another position. Even after I got it, they constantly asked me to "fill in". That was even worse.
Finally quit. You should too.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
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2
I nearly seriously injured a few people at work when I was really clumsy with a ladder. It still sends shivers down my spine. I wasn't reprimanded for it, but I'm extra-specially careful now.
I doubt you'll lose your job. Did you break all the merchandise in the boxes? I bet they're more bothered about that than you and your colleague, as long as neither of you were hurt. And if you were that shook up by it, you'll be even more cautious in the future.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
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3
It pays to doublecheck stuff, when you operate heavy machinery.
Just keep this in mind, whenever you are about to lift something again - it`s always better to doublecheck before, then check out from hospital later.
___
As for losing job or keys... Shit happens. If you did something that bad to kick you off forklift or job, they`d do that along with the "words".
Just try to keep a low profile and keep your nose clean for a while, and things will blow over.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
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4
Jesus! That is a dangerous job. My brother in law was on the back of a truck trying to unload merchandise when the truck driver decided to pull away with him still in the back. He actually fell about six feet out of the back of the truck while still on the forklift and crushed a few vertebrae . He's now on permanent disability.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
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5
Eh, stick a fork in her... she's done.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
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6
OP here. The merchandise ended up not being broken, which was good for me. The company I work for is pretty lenient - as long as you don't hurt anybody, everything else is excusable, as long as you don't do it more than once.
Also, to #4: Holy fuck, I hope that never happens to me, or anyone else I work with. Usually, a dock lock system is enough to make sure that the trailer doesn't move anywhere during loading/unloading.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
1
I used to be in the same boat. The pressure of speed from management got to me and tried to get another position. Even after I got it, they constantly asked me to "fill in". That was even worse. Finally quit. You should too.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
2
I nearly seriously injured a few people at work when I was really clumsy with a ladder. It still sends shivers down my spine. I wasn't reprimanded for it, but I'm extra-specially careful now.I doubt you'll lose your job. Did you break all the merchandise in the boxes? I bet they're more bothered about that than you and your colleague, as long as neither of you were hurt. And if you were that shook up by it, you'll be even more cautious in the future.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
3
It pays to doublecheck stuff, when you operate heavy machinery.Just keep this in mind, whenever you are about to lift something again - it`s always better to doublecheck before, then check out from hospital later.
___
As for losing job or keys... Shit happens. If you did something that bad to kick you off forklift or job, they`d do that along with the "words".
Just try to keep a low profile and keep your nose clean for a while, and things will blow over.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
4
Jesus! That is a dangerous job. My brother in law was on the back of a truck trying to unload merchandise when the truck driver decided to pull away with him still in the back. He actually fell about six feet out of the back of the truck while still on the forklift and crushed a few vertebrae . He's now on permanent disability.Posted 2 months ago | Report
5
Eh, stick a fork in her... she's done.Posted 2 months ago | Report
6
OP here. The merchandise ended up not being broken, which was good for me. The company I work for is pretty lenient - as long as you don't hurt anybody, everything else is excusable, as long as you don't do it more than once.Also, to #4: Holy fuck, I hope that never happens to me, or anyone else I work with. Usually, a dock lock system is enough to make sure that the trailer doesn't move anywhere during loading/unloading.
Posted 2 months ago | Report
