Well lost 2 coworkers today due to firing. One had been there almost 10 years and the other had just passed the 35 year mark. Last friday night they were playing around and one of them fell and hit his head which required 7 staples. Several rules were broken in the incident, safety first of all, one had food out in the work area which is against policy, the other guy did not even work in that area and the guy that fell was taking 3 prescription medications that he hadnt disclosed to the company so it showed up on his mandatory drug test due to the injury. The situation started out innocently and in just a few seconds it all changed so when we start our work days, think about what were doing and the consequences. Everyone likes to have fun at work but sometimes you can go over the line. Hate to see these guys lose their jobs but then again you break the rules and you pay the price. Also look out for your coworkers because most of us spend more time with those guys then we do our families so if you see someone doing something out of place give em a heads up.

 

I work for the railroad and sometimes I hear some of my co-workers complain about how many rules there are (Rules book is about 2" thick) but I am reminded how important they are when we get sent a company-wide email about some accident or fatality on ours or some other railroad.

There's a saying about rules:

Safety rules are written in blood.

 

No Excursion involved? lol

I think those guys were already on the s*** list with that much seniority or they just got a new foreman in there trying to make a showing. Plus jobs are going by the wayside easier right now, My next door neighbor got fired and lost his house all in about a month.

 

One guy had been warned about eating on the job but its a bronze valve plant and since they are in production there is the lead that gets on your fingers and hands so that right there is for your own safety. The other guy even though he had prescriptions, atleast one of them had a warning about running machinery and since he hadnt told he was on it they arent going to be liable for letting a man run a machine when hes on something that says he cant do the job. Plus I heard that he had more of it in his system than he was prescribed, he failed to d-tests with flying colors. There was some property damage by him knocking a light out with his head on his way to the floor. Innocent horseplay intended but several smaller factors that lead up to one big finale. The first just said he tripped over one of those rubber mats we get to stand on to cushion you from the concrete floor but other people got to talking about horseplay so he changed his story to him being pushed and then falling. This lead to more thorough questioning yada yada yada. I can see where yes it seems harsh but safety violations were disregarded and then corporate getting involved having the final decision. The company ultimately has to cover its own a$$ so to speak.

 

Knocked a light out on the way to the floor! Yep they all need to be fired, fined, and pay restitution. That seniority had no weight, and the nerve of those guy!s lol.

 

I'm sitting here at work waiting to see if I need to do anything on my coworker's territory that is adjacent to mine. He just got pulled out of service for basically entering a section of track that he didn't have permission to be in.

Harder to get fired from a union job like this but they will pull you out of service in a hurry. (Sit at home for a while without pay.)

About a year ago we had an employee get fired for failing his 2nd drug test. He had 17 years with the company.

 

They probably suspected him for years and he probably dodged a lot of tests so I can see that one happening.

 

Suspected him maybe but there is no dodging tests at the railroad. When you show up for work he's there waiting on you to pee in his little cup.

 

we just had a front desk guy break his arm in the office area by tripping on a rug yesterday. we have not had a shop injury in 5+ years.

 

Of course they fired him, right ? lol

 

Scott- what rail do you work for? I am currently under parent company GWRR contracted with Rail Link here in Utah. As of today I just got a job offer for Louisiana Southern. Yes the GCOR rule book is thick, and there is no safe place for jacking around on the rail.

 

god no LOL he had surgery today, will be out a few weeks. little work comp but stuff happends.

 

They should have fired him for damaging that rug........... lol.

 

I work for CN which used to be Illinois Central.

 

Here's what happened when this train crew broke some rules. Both of them paid for it not with their jobs but with their lives.



Mods edit. This is an OT thread. Let's keep it from becoming a flame fest too please.