Worst Tuesday shift I ever had on a tank patch job

Last spring I was patching a 20,000 gallon tank at the old ethanol plant near Des Moines. The foreman handed me a worn out grinder and said it was fine, and I spent 6 hours fighting it while the slag piled up. My arms were dead by lunch and the weld test failed twice. Has anyone else dealt with a boss who won't replace a tool that's clearly shot?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_nancy14d ago

Oh boy, @river_adams25, you're right about that loose guard being a recipe for disaster. I've been there with a foreman who thought any grinder was fine as long as it spun. What finally worked for me was documenting the problem with pictures and sending it to the safety manager, not the foreman. I just showed the worn brushes and how the guard was hanging by one screw. They sent someone over the next day with a new cordless grinder from the company truck. I also made it a habit to keep a spare in my own truck for emergencies. Sometimes you have to go over their head to get something done, but it's better than ending up in the ER.

river_adams2515d ago

Man that grinder story hits way too close to home. A worn out tool doesn't just slow you down, it messes with your whole weld quality and can actually be dangerous when the guard is loose and the wheel is wobbling. Did your boss ever give a reason for holding onto junk equipment like that?