- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
That's really funny - but truth is, if I noticed somebody sending a green guy out to dig a trench for no reason, I would have words with them.keenalu1 said:
first day apprentice-what to do with them?
- Thread starter ktulu5150
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The first thing I do when I see a raw, green rookie is look him square in the eye, make sure I've got his attention, and think to myself, "One day, when I retire, this might well be the guy who buys my business."
The best advice I can give is don't skimp on questions. Both his and yours.
I vividly remember the time I had a cubby show up on the job site. I set him to work digging a trench between two buildings (about 40 feet, so no trencher). I told him to make it four foot [the specs required it], gave him a shovel and walked away.
To my surprise, in far less time I would have ever thought possible, he came to me and said he was finished. I went out to inspect his work.
He said, "You didn't tell me whether it needed to be four feet deep or four feet wide, so I made it both!"
His name is Barry, and ever since I have called him Barry the Backhoe.
The best advice I can give is don't skimp on questions. Both his and yours.
I vividly remember the time I had a cubby show up on the job site. I set him to work digging a trench between two buildings (about 40 feet, so no trencher). I told him to make it four foot [the specs required it], gave him a shovel and walked away.
To my surprise, in far less time I would have ever thought possible, he came to me and said he was finished. I went out to inspect his work.
He said, "You didn't tell me whether it needed to be four feet deep or four feet wide, so I made it both!"
His name is Barry, and ever since I have called him Barry the Backhoe.
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brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
I give all my apprentices a set of tools and a tool bag. I also explain to them it is their job to take care of these tools, if they leave before a year I get the tools back.
I want four things from apprentices, SHOW UP ON TIME, BE WILLING TOO LEARN, CLEAN DRIVING RECORD, BE PROFESSIONAL (no phone calls , dress nice [I furnish shirts]). Lately the clean driving is getting hard to find.
I put them with any of my mechanics, all my mechanics know I want all workers to work, keep the boys busy no matter what they are doing.
I want four things from apprentices, SHOW UP ON TIME, BE WILLING TOO LEARN, CLEAN DRIVING RECORD, BE PROFESSIONAL (no phone calls , dress nice [I furnish shirts]). Lately the clean driving is getting hard to find.
I put them with any of my mechanics, all my mechanics know I want all workers to work, keep the boys busy no matter what they are doing.
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sparkyrick
Senior Member
- Location
- Appleton, Wi
masterelect1
Senior Member
- Location
- Baltimore
anyone's first day on "the job"
anyone's first day on "the job"
Your first priority is to make him as safe a worker as possible, in other words, "safety conscious".
Direct him to websites that have to do with "effects of electrical shocks, burns, arc flash hazards and statistics on electrocutions in the US of A".
There are also pictures (very graphic) of victims of severe burns.
I really believe this is your first obligation as his foreman. His safe acts and work habits will help to ensure the safety of others as well as himself.
john
anyone's first day on "the job"
Your first priority is to make him as safe a worker as possible, in other words, "safety conscious".
Direct him to websites that have to do with "effects of electrical shocks, burns, arc flash hazards and statistics on electrocutions in the US of A".
There are also pictures (very graphic) of victims of severe burns.
I really believe this is your first obligation as his foreman. His safe acts and work habits will help to ensure the safety of others as well as himself.
john
Inspectorcliff
Senior Member
- Location
- Colorado
safety
safety
First I think you need to know the person's background, A big thing for me is "are you colored blind?" can you tell the difference between a black wire and a green wire? I have worked with individuals who were 4 years in the trade before this problem showed up. (Now that is scarry!!)
Safety and conversation, Its got to help..
safety
First I think you need to know the person's background, A big thing for me is "are you colored blind?" can you tell the difference between a black wire and a green wire? I have worked with individuals who were 4 years in the trade before this problem showed up. (Now that is scarry!!)
Safety and conversation, Its got to help..
Inspectorcliff said:
We once has a bunch of the resi crews on a school job one day, so we set them to work just making up j-boxes. "It's simple! It's all color to color, guys, so have at it!"
Later, when we started to energize those circuits, we found out one guy couldn't tell green from blue, and since he had never seen blue wires.....
We were working in a waste treatment plant and had 2 rookies right out of community college so we took them to the incoming, well we'll call it "product". We had them count the product and count them by the type just to keep this clean. Four hours before the foreman found them. Man was he pi#$@%.
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
keenalu1 said:
I got to watch a guy in the French Foreign Legion dig a two foot deep trench wide enough to lay in, for nearly a 1/2 mile and fill it back in - no food until he was finished. 3 - 24 hour days in beach sand. Reason: Fell asleep on post. The alternative was a beating and immediate discharge - meaning they would leave him in Mogadishu! I bet he would stab himself in the leg before he ever got sleepy again.... On the topic of first days: Anyone can join the FFL, but you must learn French, all orders are in French - No lessons, no "Can you say that again - slow", so on day one, you start to learn French, FAST! My first day in the USMC was crazy, but I at least understood the language. Which makes me wonder if the French have a version of the "ID-10-T form"? (Which is the equivilent of a wire strecher.)
I'm gonna give my evil apprentice reply... First off, don't take attitude from no one. Bottomline if somone likes to bust your chops tell em to get lost (whatever is allowed on this webisite, this isn't a pansy businesess). You Know what I'm saying. If you find a good boss, stick with this guy through thick and thin. Not sure why I'm posting this but this is a dang hard business and you better be ready to roll with the punches.
Edit for language - George
Edit for language - George
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stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
Easy guy... this is site is rated "G"
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- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
This website isn't a construction site, either.wireman71 said:
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
But I know what WM71 is saying, in all business there are butt heads that take unfair advantage of young employees yelling and screaming ect....
Totally unwarranted IMO
Totally unwarranted IMO
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
wireman71 said:
careful now, don't want to offend any pansies that might be reading this forum.
boater bill
Senior Member
- Location
- Cape Coral, Fl.
Best thing I did with rookie's in the field is to give them my Fluke voltage tester/wiggy. I told them to use it on every wire they will be getting close to and see if it is energized. If it buzzes and lights, it's hot. Then I said you go buy one tonight and give me back mine tomorrow.
It may save your life, and I would rather loan you my wiggy than give you mouth to mouth after you have been electrocuted!
It was effective.
It may save your life, and I would rather loan you my wiggy than give you mouth to mouth after you have been electrocuted!
It was effective.
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