Every time I step away for a bit I jump back in. Last week facilitated the Executive Forum portion at a Construction Safety Conference. I work for food. Although I've been "retired" for nine years my buds from MIOSHA still know me which makes their intros personal and fun. Well at least I thought my jokes were good. However, in another session (I did not facilitate) one of my old construction consultants likes to talk like one of the guys, and call me prude, but the "f" word twice seemed a little over the top. Especially since he has been a teacher rather than a construction worker for twenty years. Not my circus act so did not comment.
I did however critique another speaker as a favor to a colleague and apparently the gentleman got a little schooling about "busy slides" and "know your audience". I found the presentation interesting but very, very technical especially as I glanced around the room to note various eye closed attendees. Never a good sign. Though speaking immediately after lunch is a crap shoot no matter who. I mean unless you provide interactive activities or perform a strip tease, you're battling the inevitable post-meal drowsies. For myself, I have learned how to yawn without opening my mouth and paint eyeballs on my eyelids.
Our keynote speaker was a woman who lost her husband in a fall from a roof when she was a 20-year old newlywed. After getting a massive run-around from Work Comp, Insurance, OSHA, the company, etc. she was basically told that her husband was a bad employee who didn't follow rules. The Worker Comp rep actually told her "You're good-looking, you'll find another husband" three days after her husband died. She made it her life's mission to understand why he had to die and how she could prevent others from the same fate. I could totally relate to her stories as a woman in a non-traditional field. Finding a place to relieve oneself when on a construction site and finding protective equipment that fits the curves tops the list and of course, the "just placate the little woman" BS. On the plus side, people will talk to a woman more readily (no threat I guess).
That reminded me of one episode when I begged, cajoled, bribed "Farmer John's Pole Barn, Inc." to please, please, please use fall protection as they built our new dynamite (yes I said dynamite) shed in the yard. I even brought the MIOSHA Construction Director out to talk to them. Yep. Knocked the whole thing down at the stick frame stage. Unfortunately, a man rode it down. Fortunately, he only suffered a broken leg. I would rather be hated than watch the inevitable result of not prioritizing safety rules. But as our speaker pointed out how many times do we get thanked (laugh track)? A job requiring a lot of self-motivation.
MIOSHA talked a lot about relationships, and we are not the enemy...etc. To the surprise of the MIOSHA Director, I told a story about having a good relationship with them when I worked at the City. Their asbestos supervisor called and asked if I would check out a job downtown requiring exposure of insulation in a trench. The public likes to call in anonymously and complain about a hazard but they are not actually an employee of the company doing the work. MIO have some rules about who gets to complain. But they trusted me enough to call and "clarify" the situation. No harm, no foul. I don't think the MIO Director expected they should be "that" user- friendly.
The same as work comp court. They expect the attorneys to resolve the situation before you get in front of the judge. Again, relationships; which I could never explain to one of our attorneys assigned the WC work. She refused to shoot the sh--- and settle so we often got our heads handed to us as the judge unabashedly advocates for the employee in the hearing. If it was a scam I fought to the end, but sometimes one has to be pragmatic about the best outcome.
Our female keynote also mentioned a woman can hug in tense situations. I disagreed to that one as an HR person. Except when you are in the emergency room and just pulled two bodies out of a manhole and one of the "coated" bodies is awake, hysterical and clinging to you. It happens.
The woman who handled the Michigan Safety Conference booth at this conference and I chatted throughout the day. Her Mother has been our Executive Director (read: run the show) for many years. The daughter told me her folks were intimidated by me when they first took over the conference as I knew everyone and everyone knew me and I was the historical source-LOL. Either I am a female Godzilla or god's gift to the downtrodden - Double LOL. But I am the favorite person to vent to about the conference so it all works.
HOW MANY FINGERS AM I HOLDING UP? Two visits with the OH to the Eye Specialist and another one this week to laser zap the blockage in one of his eyeball arteries. THEN, maybe they can work on the cataract. Friday is my turn for evaluation so the fun continues. One doctor says her laser thingee shouldn't interfere with getting the cataract surgery. Her partner says no cataract surgery until after the blockage resolves itself. Then they send us to the insurance person to schedule the cataract surgery. I have my reservations at this point and asked the insurance person "don't they talk to each other?" We are pausing the cataract surgery until after the blockage clears up, duhh.
Out at the lake Winter Fest was held without much snow which kind of kills the buzz. However, the polar plunge was much easier to perform. Since nothing is frozen including the canals, I enjoyed watching a solo swan traverse our canal. Apparently, he has been hanging out there for weeks and it looks like he has lost his Missus. Though they hook up for life, if one dies, they will mate again if they find another soulmate. Got some nice pictures of Swan Up and Swan Down-lots of juicy weeds in our canal. Peace out...💚 💙💛
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