...and I about had kittens. After going over and over and over the procedures on how to set up the instrument, the 1-1/2 month new IO left my less than 2 weeks old S-7 unbolted to the tripod head and walked away. I went to put the instrument away. I grabbed it by the handle and lo and behold, it was just sitting up there on the tripod. SheezusÛ? I think I might of pooped my pants.
I know I didn't teach him that. I must of said to him "Whatever you do, DO NOT EVER set the gun up on the tripod and walk away from it without it being secured to the tripod. Your hand does not come off the handle until the legs are secure and it's secured to the tripod head EVER..." at least 25 times.
His response was a smirk and "Dude, why are you so pissed? It didn't fall...". And then he climbed in to the work truck, turned on the hotspot for the GPS and surfed the internet with his phone the rest of the day. May as well. I don't want him around the Instrument anymore. There are no second chances. I don't think he's teachable.
I have never dropped one. I have never seen one fall, and I'm determined to keep it that way... I don't EVER want to have to explain why a new $40,000 instrument fell to the ground....
I remember jumping across a creek with a tripod and transit over my shoulder. Just as I jumped my foot tangled in a vine and down I went. I cannot tell you how but I landed on my back with the transit cradled to my chest. It didn't even get wet (but I did). I have no use for someone who doesn't value good equipment.
Andy
"Dude...you know it when you mess your britches!"
On a serious note, I would have probably taken the opportunity to ELOQUENTLY explain just exactly why I was so pissed. I hope you did.
I bet his "Dude" remark was just a defense reply, probably an indication of his feelings that you were the one that was out of line. Might need some more 'creckshun', as Grandaddy Cash use to call it....
With an attitude like that about equipment he would find himself unemployed very quickly at my company. I'm not even the boss but I'm sure I wouldn't catch hell for telling the guy to take a hike after a comment like that.
[QUOTE="On a serious note, I would have probably taken the opportunity to ELOQUENTLY explain just exactly why I was so pissed. I hope you did.
Oh I did explain why I was so pissed, but I probably wasn't too eloquent about it after he gave me that stupid smirk...
His response was a smirk and "Dude, why are you so pissed?
I would have just slugged him once or twice! That is what pissed is! Walk your azz home! No way that's happening on my watch!
Has to be one of those days. Stopped at a redlight about quater til six this am and was ready to accelerate when the light turned green, when a couple pedestrian straglers entered the crosswalk. One of them was a young girl about twentiesh, pretty, with her earbuds in and staring at her smartphone, not paying attention to traffic, and no pants or underwear on..
..but she remembered her smartphone o.O
You, of course, had your camera phone handy, right?
B-)
He'd be either fired or almost fired depending on how good an employee he is. But judging from leaving the gun without it attached to the tripod, I'd say he isn't much for listening to his boss. Because no I-man I know would do something so freaking stupid.
I've seen one fall and it ain't pretty or cheap. My crew chief had a brain fart one day and forgot he had just unscrewed the gun from the tripod. Then went to pick up the tripod and carry it and the gun to the next traverse. Gun, meet pavement. I still have nightmares.
Beer Legs, post: 338303, member: 33 wrote: His response was a smirk and "Dude, why are you so pissed? It didn't fall...". And then he climbed in to the work truck, turned on the hotspot for the GPS and surfed the internet with his phone the rest of the day.
Is this "dude" an employee of yours, or are both of you employed by someone else and you just got "stuck" with this unfortunate soul?
Directions, Man, we need directions. Where is this intersection?
Beer Legs, post: 338303, member: 33 wrote: ...and I about had kittens. After going over and over and over the procedures on how to set up the instrument, the 1-1/2 month new IO left my less than 2 weeks old S-7 unbolted to the tripod head and walked away.
Heck, even a newbie like me figured that one out on day one.
Of course, it shouldn't have to be your own money that makes the difference to an employee charged with such responsibilities.:-(
I saw one fall. But it wasn't too bad. A Wild T-100. It was secured to the tripod just fine and the legs were tightened appropriately. The tripod was set, temporarily, alongside the truck as I was loading up my bag. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw (in slow motion) the tripod lean and then fall. One of the thumb screws that held the leg up was apparently stripped. It seemed to be tight when I set the legs there and it held the gun...at first.
My only saving grace was that I wasn't on the pavement. I was actually in some sandy soil at the edge of a vineyard. The bad leg slipped down and there was enough lateral momentum that it took the whole tripod over. The outside of the instrument had no damage. But we were concerned that the innard had gotten "joggled around", so I used the old T-16 for the day and whipped the steel chain around (thankfully I knew how to do that). And we sent the gun in for a checkup. I got off cheap with a $500 "check up" of the instrument.
I paid a LOT of attention to the reliability of my tripods after that...
FL/GA PLS., post: 338316, member: 379 wrote: Is this "dude" an employee of yours, or are both of you employed by someone else and you just got "stuck" with this unfortunate soul?
Unfortunately for me, he is "connected" to someone else higher in the company so I'm stuck with him. It would be nice if they stuck him in the secretary's office instead of with me. He makes very good money for being fresh out of high school, not knowing anything about survey, does not care about survey and plans on leaving in a year or so for college. Or so he claims...
I had one similar once. He never made a "Good" employee, but he understood that I would not brook any BS from him after a couple of Head butting sessions.
I suppose I could forgive the mistake. Once. I couldn't forget the 'tude. Ever.
I dropped a total station about 15 years ago. It was one of those days where I felt rushed. I put it on top of the tripod but failed to secure it, brain malfunction. I shifted the tripod and watched it tilt, my life flashed before my eyes, OH SPIT, tried to catch it, it rolled down my arm and landed in a cushion of duff a foot thick. Didn't hurt it.
I never move the tripod with the instrument on it any more. That was a bad habit learned in the rush and hurry private sector. I set up using a tribrach then put the instrument on after.
In other words you are stuck with "babysitting" the "bosses" brat so he won't have to "visit" the local juvenile detention center. 😉
Beer Legs, post: 338323, member: 33 wrote: Unfortunately for me, he is "connected" to someone else higher in the company so I'm stuck with him. It would be nice if they stuck him in the secretary's office instead of with me. He makes very good money for being fresh out of high school, not knowing anything about survey, does not care about survey and plans on leaving in a year or so for college. Or so he claims...
Time for a written warning - with a copy cc'ed to "higher up"
Dude, he's gotta go