Ouachita
Well-known member
I just couldn't make this fit in the RANT thread. Much discussion about the pros and cons of big box/chain stores, and a general consensus that the employees are less than enthusiastic about their job. I was in Weatherford, OK a few months ago, and needed some short pieces of 1x4 lumber. We found a Home Depot (I knew the one in Fort Smith, AR would cut to length), and we went in to buy 4 each, 1"x4"x8' cut in half to make 8 each 4' pieces.
After a full hour, a person qualified to operated the chop saw finally shows up. I'm not sure if they had to call him in to work or not, but he was not happy to be there. We were not happy either. We had been working hard all day, were sweaty, dirty, and getting very short on patience. We re-explained what we needed to happen, and the employee placed the 4 boards under the chop saw, carefully measured the placement, picked up the safety goggles to put them on and I noticed the elastic strap was way out of adjustment for his pointy head. He hung the safety goggles back on the wall and cut the boards without eye protection, AND with us standing in the 'Employees Only Beyond this Point" area. I instinctively said "I know we don't look like it, but we're from OSHA and noticed you did not follow safety procedures. Who is your supervisor?"
The poor guy lost all color, his knees buckled, he sat down and his breathing became shallow and rapid. I felt really bad and told him it was a bad joke, and that we were just a couple really tired and pizzed off hillbillies that got sick of waiting. He finally came back around, got his color back, and told us he only had the job a week, newly married, baby on the way..............
I felt like crap. But we visited with the young man a few more minutes. He got to see our point of view, and we saw his. He thanked us for the scare and remarked that there actually had been people fired for not following safety protocol. I handed the fellow a very nice tip in hopes he might change his attitude about his job and toward customers (and also to relieve my conscience :lol2: ).
After we got in the truck my buddy ask "Isn't there something about impersonating a federal employee?" :shock: Oops
After a full hour, a person qualified to operated the chop saw finally shows up. I'm not sure if they had to call him in to work or not, but he was not happy to be there. We were not happy either. We had been working hard all day, were sweaty, dirty, and getting very short on patience. We re-explained what we needed to happen, and the employee placed the 4 boards under the chop saw, carefully measured the placement, picked up the safety goggles to put them on and I noticed the elastic strap was way out of adjustment for his pointy head. He hung the safety goggles back on the wall and cut the boards without eye protection, AND with us standing in the 'Employees Only Beyond this Point" area. I instinctively said "I know we don't look like it, but we're from OSHA and noticed you did not follow safety procedures. Who is your supervisor?"
The poor guy lost all color, his knees buckled, he sat down and his breathing became shallow and rapid. I felt really bad and told him it was a bad joke, and that we were just a couple really tired and pizzed off hillbillies that got sick of waiting. He finally came back around, got his color back, and told us he only had the job a week, newly married, baby on the way..............
I felt like crap. But we visited with the young man a few more minutes. He got to see our point of view, and we saw his. He thanked us for the scare and remarked that there actually had been people fired for not following safety protocol. I handed the fellow a very nice tip in hopes he might change his attitude about his job and toward customers (and also to relieve my conscience :lol2: ).
After we got in the truck my buddy ask "Isn't there something about impersonating a federal employee?" :shock: Oops