Dealing with damage...

[Ewan Murray]

if somethings broken due to yourself cutting corners, or being lazy "that will fit there!" i think it should be fixed in your own time. but if its a genuine accident then its one of those things.

[roseyweb]

Can't make a omelette with out breaking a few eggs

[felixthelogchopper]

On the other hand i was climbing for a firm and the one of there guys put a full combi can on its side with the top off on top of my open kit bag all my gear covered in chain oil a real mess !!!!! i have also had lowering ropes cut as they havent removed them before snedding up !!!!

 

As a freelancer, I had a simple rule when working for other people. I only let friends play with my toys because I know they would pay for any damage to be rectified.

[windfall]

Insead of the stick, why not try the carrot? Incentive bonuses work. No breakages, extra money on the weeks pay, breakages = no bonus until the costs recovered. Believe it or not, it will surprising how careful people can be when a few beer tokens suddenly appear. Make it clear that the entire team is responsible for the bonus payment, each will then make sure the other is more careful too. If it doesn't work, then they aren't the right blokes for you.

 

I agree with Andy on this

[Andy Collins]

Can't make a omelette with out breaking a few eggs

 

I remember a subbie climber saying that to an old boss, after he'd just broken a slab. He didn't work there after that day. Guess he's breaking stuff for someone else these days

[likeitorlumpit]

I agree with Andy on this

 

OK lets give you this scenario- must have happened to everyone

You're on a day job- but it's been raining and you need to crack on- you're 40 miles from base.

The tree has been reduced and there are two options- chog the rest down or go for a risky fell with a fence in the way.Maybe not this exactly but something that has two options- quick & risky vs. slow and safe.

Time dictates the fell.

Your lads are on the bonus so decide to chog as they would lose money with the fell if it went wrong.

They finish unfinished ( they have to go because one of them has a blind date) but have to return the next day to clear up.

Would the fell have been better= all down and home on time with the next day free for another job.

You decide

[Andy Collins]

Yes, fell all the way, only remove the fence panel first!!! Have been there countless times, and tbh I can't remember stuff getting recklessly damaged. It's a state of mind, think on your feet all day long, adapt and adjust to get it done...safely and controlled. Of course there will be genuine accidents, things will go wrong, but we aren't on about that, we are on about wanton carelessness.

[Paul Jenks]

Carelessness is a human trait. Some people are careless, some are careful and some don't seem to know the difference.

Managing staff is always a balancing act as there are so many variables. On this particular topic I have a view.

Things do get broken in everyday life, finger nails, pencil lead, cupboard handles etc. In tree work the scale of potential breakages is exponentially larger.

Sometimes things just break, get damaged or lost. After analysis one can usually work out who or what was responsible for the system failure. If this is fed back into a learning process the hope is that it won't re-occur, or it'll be a long time before it does.

Ever since I started employing people I have endeavoured to live by the mantra, 'Before pointing the finger, look at where the other three fingers are pointing.'

Often there is a failing on my part to communicate with my staff that has lead to a breakage or loss.

The other day we mislaid a grain shovel on a busy site. The clear up kit was left on the back of one of the vehicles and got covered in chip. I turned up on site and managed to dig out the rakes but not the shovel. I knew it was likely to be under the chip and would be easily retrieved when the chip was tipped. Next thing, cup of tea turns up, guy goes to tip off locally and I forget to tell the driver. Result: one mislaid shovel. Who is to blame? The site supervisor, the new start who was asked to get the kit off the truck or me for failing to communicate. (This is a rhetorical question.) I'm as much at fault as I was the last one in the chain of communication.

When things get damaged falling out of a tree, whether it's a saw not tied on or an uncontrolled chog there is a safety issue. This has to be addressed and we have robust protocols for reporting so that training and managing performance processes either correct the issue or help the employee find alternative employment.

The point here is developing a culture of accountability, ownership and responsibility. It has taken time to get and it starts from the top.

A lot of business owners would have a less stressful life if they bought into the idea of working with their staff rather than begrudging the money they paid them each month.

BTW. I also understand that there are times when an individuals are directly at fault for incidents and that some of these incidents are caused by carelessness and the individual is a complete cock.

[Jamie M]

Very good post Paul

[SiW]

I once worked for an Oxfordshire based firm Who did not believe in or tolerate accidents, everything lost or broken was charged to the person found to be responsible, whilst this was extreme as a Subbie I have witnessed many employees who just dont give a damn about company equipment or clients possessions, proves costly, and in my opinion there is no need for it, I feel once is an accident, twice is careless, third time they should pay