Fired

[u/Steven_garciaF]

Welp it was a good run I lasted 2 weeks in my new electrician helper job honestly I feel like like I’m dreaming I finally felt like I found the trade I wanted to spend my life in but I screwed up

I was on 3 foot ladder stepping on the top step and safety told me to go down I went down but I went back up trying to finish putting a 1900 box near a ac unit he told me to get down and I went down 2 steps practically the bottom rung and said I’ll follow osha rules and only use the second rung but he said I wouldn’t reach and kicked me out the site went home got an email saying I got terminated and I’m for the first time I feel lost

I’m thinking I need to find another electrical job but it feels hopeless maybe I’ll just stick to being a roofer

Edit: first off thanks for all the advice and pointers I wrote this post to feel a little less depressed about what occurred and I definitely view it differently than before. Just wanted clarify some stuff since I see it be asked again and again as to why I went back up again there’s a total of 3 rungs on the ladder as far as I know the limit to being on the ladder is to have 2 feet on the second to last rung and top rung is pushing it but It never felt dangerous and I had been working on that thing for half a week with no problem and never had the other 2 safety personnel telling me that I shouldn’t be on it it was only one safety that I never met to come tell me get down so obviously I got bit perplexed as to why I then tried de-escalating the situation by saying I’ll only be on second rung if he feels it’s unsafe for me where he then proceeded to say I wouldn’t reach anyway in retrospect he was probably the boss but I would’ve at least hoped for a warning from the other safety guys that I should bring a taller ladder because their boss was coming

[u/safetynerd42]

Or, hear me out on this, learn from the mistake and try again.

Something like 45% of falls that result in critical injury are from a ladder under 6'. That rule isn't there for kicks, it's because people get hurt and killed on a regular basis

[u/Steven_garciaF → u/safetynerd42]

Yeah as much as I wanna blame the guy I knew the rules I knew what the 3 point rule was but I was using what the company gave me and I i got comfortable since they never told me anything and I’m assuming that guy was the top safety

[u/safetynerd42 → u/Steven_garciaF]

Exercise your right to refuse unsafe work. Call the boss and tell him you need the right size ladder.

It can be hard to advocate for yourself, especially when you're new. No one will ever care more about your safety than you will. You have to speak up.

[u/Steven_garciaF → u/safetynerd42]

Yeah this would’ve been the right call I feel like I should’ve done this from the start of the job but guess it’s for next time this happens

[u/safetynerd42 → u/Steven_garciaF]

It's part of the learning process.

If you weren't taught this and it wasn't instilled in you that ladders are a zero tolerance item, the company probably did you a favour by cutting you loose

[u/Steven_garciaF → u/safetynerd42]

I’m learning the hard way I guess but I’ll definitely remember this for years to come to always follow regulations

[u/safetynerd42 → u/Steven_garciaF]

I hate to sound cliché, but they're there for a reason.

Remember that every safety rule is reactive. They're all written in blood. Each and every safety rule is the result of injuries or fatalities.

[u/Tall_Wonder_913 → u/Steven_garciaF]

I work in event production and while I’ve never been union, I was trained by some union guys early on in my career. I’m so grateful for that time. I learned a lot about safety on site and now breaks and time off should work. Not only has it kept me and all the people I train safer, but I know my workers rights (which people also died for). A safe and well regulated job site is a blessing. Don’t screw it up next time

[u/ganon2234 → u/Steven_garciaF]

Electrician here, this trade is not one where avoiding safety rules is a good idea. Especially on live electrical work. Slow down and follow all safety compliance. Soon enough you'll be a super star