Aah the Saftey Nazi's... I love a good Safety Nazi battle.
So 1 job site required hard hat, safety goggles, some abrasion resistant sleeves because we were installing equipment in an area where sheetmetal was being handled even though the equipment that was being installed was roped off and not directly in line with any of the production stuff. Any way, after completing all the stupid safety courses through our own company that pays for these courses and they are certified and required to re-test every other year, We had to take a safety course through this specific company... and I am talking an all day course with videos and explanations... We then had to provide our own lock out tag out kits for each machine we worked on. The Best Part, CAL OSHA... Yes that right California has it own special OSHA rules that go above and beyond the standard OSHA rules....
So You are not allowed to be more than 4 feet off the ground with out a Safety harness and fall arrest set up. Yes I said 4 feet not the standard 6 feet.
So I asked well how does that work? She proceeds to explain the rigging set up and said yes, I understand the rigging set up but at that time no one sold a 4 foot tether for the rigging set up and regular OSHA is 6 Feet. So she continues to argue that CAL OSHA is 4 feet no exceptions... I said but regular OSHA states you can not modify or choke up the tether to make it shorter. So I asked Can I sue you, the Company and Cal OSHA if I fall From 4 feet with a 6 foot teether and break my ankle or get injured in any other way? She said No, I would likely get in trouble and get fined for not having the proper equipment. So I asked How do you purpose I stay in compliance sense I can not modify a 6 foot harness and no one sells a 4 foot harness that I am aware of? The only answer she could give was that's not her responsibility. She is there to enforce the rules, it's my responsibility to have the proper gear and abide by the rules or I will be kicked off the Job site. It was at this point I was told if you need to go higher than 4 foot just ask one of our employees and will get it taken care of for you.
Needless to say she didn't last long. I was informed she was fired a few months later.
I also got caught at government facility because I removed my safety glasses to inspect a part that I had removed from a downed machine. He told me how dangerous it was and that its the rules and he was going to write me up. Any way, when I was done with him he said look, just do me a favor. Put them on while I am here. As soon as walk out the other door I don't care what you do.... If any one ask, please just tell them I gave you a warning. I put them on and said I can respect that we shook hands, he walked away and was able to finish my job and i never saw him again...
And the reason I removed them was the back reflection from the over head lights was causing a glare making it difficult focus on fine detail area looking for cracks or damage on the part.
