Management rush
A few decades a go, I was working out in Sunny Sinai doing facilities maintenance steelwork.

One regular request was for cutting old oil barrels for use as road blocks, BBQ's and crap receptacles.

We didn't have the proper facilities for steaming and nitrogen purging. The make-do solution was to wash out and empty any contents into a sand trap, blow compressed air into the barrel for at least 2 minutes then make the cuts.

Not the most elegant solution, but it worked.

I demonstrated the procedure to the local workers and made sure they understood by having them show me the correct procedure. It took about 1/2 an hour per barrel.

While I was on Christmas leave, an order for 50 barrel modifications came in to the workshop.

Riffat (for it was he) started the work following the procedure I had shown him. One of the manager types decided the work wasn't going fast enough and decided the barrels could be cut directly without purging the contents.

When I returned from leave, the joiners supervisor told me he had seen Riffat approach a barrel with the oxy-acetylene torch. There was a flash and bang, fortunately Riffat wasn't standing over the barrel as it shot up in the air.

Luckily, Riffat escaped with a few minor burns and had enough sense to refuse any further barrel cutting work until I came back off leave.

I wasn't too happy about the managers (ex blanket stacker) intervention that nearly killed Riffat.

Another manager told me it was perfectly safe to weld on live fuel lines! So I set up all the gear then called over Hino (for it was he). I told him to show me how safe it was, just give me enough time to get to a safe distance as I wanted to record the moment on camera.

Not surprisingly, he bottled out and the job was put out to the cheapest contractor.

If a fool (manager) asks you to do something stupid, ask them to show you first, from a safe distance.
(alanrbnsn, Tue 1 Jan 2008, 4:52, 1 reply)

Similar story of my grandad
Was in Normandy, got told by his Lieutenant to defuse a partialy damaged landmine. Grandad said it was a bloody stupid idea, got threatened with a court marshal for disobeying orders. Cut the wire. Lost an eye. Lost a Lieutenant.
( rjmrjm, Tue 1 Jan 2008, 14:23, closed)