Grassed up....

[steviespain]

.....by a lying [zb].
Got to go in for an interview tomorrow at 10:45. That already tells me that I've lost tomorrows work.

Out last week in the puddle jumper, had to deliver a trampoline that came in 3 pieces. Each piece was 50Kg.
I humped the first piece out of the back and said "we need the trolley"
Guy I was with said "Nahh, I'll carry em"
(He's a biggish lad, goes to the gym every day, never lets you forget that, has pride in his strength )
Me:Well, I think you're mad but whatever"
He humped the first package over to the clients house.
As he's humping it across I'm dragging the next one to the tail.

He arrives back, picks up the 2nd package, and off he goes.
I drag the last one to the end.
He gets back, picks the 3rd package up and off he goes.

Job done, he banks me out of a dead end, we move on, finish the day 8 hours later. All is good. This is last Thursday.

Got a txt from Agency boss today asking...

"There's been a complaint...refusing to lift packages...is this true?."

Apparently, this guy has said that I refused to carry any packages and he's put a formal complaint in.

I'm going to head on in tomorrow and stand my ground but, I am Agency scum and am aware of my vulnerability.
I can't understand it, I've always done my share, and more. Feeling a bit pissed off tbh. One bloke can cost me 150 on an unfounded accusation. Btw, he was pissed off that I was driving and he wasn't, apparently.

[WhiteTruckMan]

Go in, keep your cool, and tell it as it happened in a calm, clear manner. No bad language or anything like that.

Oh, and if work at the same company comes along again, make it clear you aren't prepared to work with such an untrustworthy person. Be prepared to walk away from the job.

[dave docwra]

The world is full of them, if they are not paying for the time to attend an interview at their request they can go [zb] themselves, better using the time to find another agency or full time job.
You requested to do the job propely using common sense and the right tool for the job, Mr Hero decided against your advice to take a risk to deliver the packages and I would guess did not
follow company procedure.

[steviespain]

Yep, thanks troops
WhiteTruckMan, that is exactly what I intend to do.
Dave,
This IS my fulltime job, through an Agency. 4 on 4 off, 11 hour shifts.

Am heading in tomorrow, in civvies (no intention of working after the "Interview"), with the full intention of standing my ground.
H&S has been mentioned to me already. While there is no legal limit to what you can carry, H&S has guidelines. This, is properly outside those guidelines. And, I have have never refused to carry anything, with anyone, ever.

[Nite Owl]

I'm sure you've done some googling already, but I found this.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq-manhand.htm

Surely you read some form of risk assessment prior to starting to work there. How much of it can you remember? Chances are, your copilot could get into bother for not using the provided MHE provided.

Good luck.

[toonsy]

Might want to mention that you suggested the barrow as to reduce risk of manual handling injury

[Santa]

No help now, but I often delivered trampolines on my own with Palletforce. Yes, the boxes are far too heavy, but if you open them up they are full of poles and bags of stuff that are no problem.

[the maoster]

It's the steroids they munch, not only does it shrink their penises it all adversely affects their mental abilities. Put it down to experience and move on Stevie. It sucks mate, but strive to change the things you can change and have the strength to accept the things you can't.

[Wheel Nut]

These guys can lift a tonne but can’t spell it!

Stay calm, get even!


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[carlston49]

Complain about your driver's mate. He was acting in an unprofessional manner. These are heavy loads that could easily cause a life-long injury to your back. Heavy loads especially bulky ones have to be handled with professionalism and care. Could you have carried them together taking one side each to reduce the chance of either of you getting injured? By the sounds of it, your driver's mate doesn't sound like the sort of person I would want to work with for safety reasons. He needs to work in a calm and considered manner when lifting heavy loads. Those steroids that gym junkies use, makes them dangerous.

[robroy]

Fight fire with fire against this low life lying weaseling piece of [zb] for losing you a days wages.
He had no qualms about lying about you to drop you in it, so you do the same........play the ''bullying card'' tell them he intimidated you throughout the day making you do all the driving, and insisting you took no part in unloading due to his ''training regime''
Show him you're too wise to be pissed about by him, and teach him a good lesson that you aint a man to be crossed..
And tell the agency you're putting a claim in for a days wage because of a non fault false accusation....not sure they'll buy it but it'll add creedence to your point.

I hate that type, he could say nothing to your face but runs to the ''teacher'' instead.

[trevHCS]

I'd also suggest that he has an "aggressive manner" and strongly "suggested" he uses substances to help him get this strong as well as the gym while boastong about what he could bench press etc. You don't gave to remember any figures as you weren't interested.

Re driving, I would say you don't feel comfortable having him drive after strong suggestions of taking substances which might seriously affect his legal ability to drive which includes your safety.

Just insert enough suggestion that they start to get worried. Would say theres a 95% chance he'd disappear after a drug test as in my experience few people get ultra strong without medical assistance and it can make them very aggressive. Seen quite a few legit and not so legit gym users and theres a big diff.

Prob do everyone a favour if he gone Inc customers. If I remember correctly, this is a company with a rep to upkeep.

[Optimum]

speak to your union.

[steviespain]

Great advice here guys (And I mean "Guys" in a non gender specific way ) Thank you.
I shall take it all in, and go over my options, and statement, as I roll in on my leccy scooter this morning.

Let me see now, which of my family should I ask for an opinion and help?
My brother, the Airline pilot? no.
My brother in law the Chartered Surveyor? No.
My sister, the Head of Employment Law at a big London firm? Hmm, lemme think....
Briefed my sis last night, been told to await her call at 09:30 this morning. She's not happy. She's spent a lifetime voting labour and working to protect the little man. You WILL have seen some of her cases (That she won) in the newspapers over the years.

Work colleague phoned me last night, he's a been a personal friend now for about 4 months as well as a work mate.
He's refused to go in today, in support. I told him he was daft. He's losing 160 quid. I like him even more now though. He DID say something that sticks in my mind ...this guy I was working with made some comments to him, as we were preparing to leave the depot, about not being able to drive that day and to "Look who's driving me". Some comments were "He's slow" (I'm not) "He won't break the speed limit" ( I won't) " He won't park illegally" (I will if I have to, got two parking tickets in 6 months).
Fine, I'll take that It shall be mentioned, if needed, today.

robroy, you raise an interesting point about the bullying thing. Making me do things etc.
Not that I would ever let myself be bullied, far too old and sneaky/vicious in a street fight to ever let that happen. But this guy was the porter that day. As such it is down to him to operate the trolley. Not once did he ever grab a hold of the trolley, it was all down to me. That is a point I will bring up. Everything that was pulled on the trolly? Was pulled/pushed by me.

I will keep all my statements legit and true. I have no worries that this is all a [zb] exercise and that I have no need to lie to clear my name.
Probably be looking for a new job later today, ffs! I love this job too.
Grrrr

[DF40]

I read the H&S manual handling policy not long ago, regarding something similar.
There is a graph that gives you what type of weight can be lifted to what part of body. ( Arms, shoulders etc)
Don't believe anything is near 50kg on this: worth a look.
Many moons ago they reduced bags of cement from 50kg to 25kg, to aid manual handling on sites.
Hit them with information & facts they can't argue with.

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[steviespain]

speak to your union.

Applied to join a Union 6 weeks ago, got the letter back with all the details and stuff, declined to join as I was on 2 shifts a week at the time. Money was tight.
In hindsight, I'm an idiot

[steviespain]

I read the H&S manual handling policy not long ago, regarding something similar.
There is a graph that gives you what type of weight can be lifted to what part of body. ( Arms, shoulders etc)
Don't believe anything is near 50kg on this: worth a look.
Many moons ago they reduced bags of cement from 50kg to 25kg, to aid manual handling on sites.
Hit them with information & facts they can't argue with.

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Yeah, while there is no law per se about what you can and cant lift, H&S guidelines say 25Kg at waist height is recommended as max. But, no law, so.....

[edd1974]

Did you deliver all you jobs complete the jobs you was given?
If so what's the problem does it really matter if you carry them or use a trolley?.
Plus the way I'm seeing it your provided with an extra man who is there to assist/help you
Yet he didn't seem to want to help you he wanted to do it all himself. .
Also ask to see a.copy of there manual.handling procedures booklet/leaflet.
As im.sure in there there will be a weight limit around 20/25kgs which can be lifted safely on your own.
If they want you to lift carry everything yourself then why do they provide an extra man?

[DF40]

I read the H&S manual handling policy not long ago, regarding something similar.
There is a graph that gives you what type of weight can be lifted to what part of body. ( Arms, shoulders etc)
Don't believe anything is near 50kg on this: worth a look.
Many moons ago they reduced bags of cement from 50kg to 25kg, to aid manual handling on sites.
Hit them with information & facts they can't argue with.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Yeah, while there is no law per se about what you can and cant lift, H&S guidelines say 25Kg at waist height is recommended as max. But, no law, so.....

Yeah by the HSE.

Most documentation isn't law just a guideline.

This is used so that so that to get the job done we sometimes work out with the parameters of these guidelines, as long as no one gets hurt & nothing goes wrong.

As soon as you do you can be sure someone from HR will be quoting these "guidelines"

Good for goose

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[steviespain]

edd, yep, all jobs got done.
Doesn't matter if we use a trolley or not, the problem is that this guy says I refused to carry packages (I didn't).
My job is to deliver packages.
I've delivered packages for JL for 6 months.
I have never refused to deliver a package. Oh, wait, I did fail a job once. 4 floors up, private apartment building, no lift, fridge freezer in fridge freezer out. Old fridge freezer was a stinking, leaking, pile of awfulness. The maid informed me that the stair carpet was 20k of newness, lovely and beige. If we'd have had to carry the old one down it would have leaked onto that carpet, and John Lewis would have had the bill to replace it. Plus, carrying the new one up we would have not been able to put it down for a rest (carpet marks) so I failed it. Told line manager at end of day, he said "Yep, no probs, good call"
This porter guy is, therefore, an idiot.

[steviespain]

DF40, cheers bud, yes, got those figures in me head and will produce them when required

[yourhavingalarf]

Jeez!...

What a two faced foppy numbnuts he was.

Knowing agencies like I do, win or lose you might be damned. If they do decide you were at fault (which you weren't) obviously you won't be driving there again. If you win, the agency might decide to keep things sweet with the client by not sending you there anyway.

This is another example of the utter bollox that this job throws at us. You go about your daily business and out of the blue some complete crapstorm is thrown at you. In days past the gaffer would have told the roidhead to just 'do one'.

[steviespain]

Jeez!...

What a two faced foppy numbnuts he was.

Knowing agencies like I do, win or lose you might be damned. If they do decide you were at fault (which you weren't) obviously you won't be driving there again. If you win, the agency might decide to keep things sweet with the client by not sending you there anyway.

This is another example of the utter bollox that this job throws at us. You go about your daily business and out of the blue some complete crapstorm is thrown at you. In days past the gaffer would have told the roidhead to just 'do one'.

Totally agree.
Having a good time at work, making money, it's effin HARD work but the money is good, and along comes a ...a...problem like this, with no foundation, no truth in it, and you think "Whaaat, where did that come from"? And more to the point ..why?
I have no intention of leaving the Agency or the job, I'm going to fight this [zb] to the end. If I get binned? Ok, I'll go do me class 2 (Again!) and me class one, I can afford it now.
I'll follow Sammys career path and just dodge the bullets along the way

[noisycarl]

Although there may be no legal definition of 'too heavy' you are more than able to do an individual health and safety risk assessment, if you feel a package is too heavy to lift 'safely' then don't lift it alone, get help or use equipment to move it. You suggested a trolley, a sensible option, Mr He-Man wanted to show off, more fool him. I would point out that you followed the guidelines for manual handling, followed closely by, are you lot paying my wages for today or do I take action against Mr He-Man in the small claims court for loss of earnings and deformation of character?

[edd1974]

I'd go to citizens advice.
As sounds like you did all the drops completed the job. Yet haven't been paid for the work.

[alamcculloch]

Is this your word against his? Are there any witnesses to what happened, the customer who signed for the delivery? I was delivering beds once and the second"man" didn't want my help, he would carry heavy things himself. I had customers saying to me how can you stand watching him struggle? You cant fix stupid. A two man TEAM can get things done.

[ArcticMonkey]

Putting the grassing bit aside which is totally out of order, 20 or more years ago this thread would have had a totally different reaction by way of you been told to be a man and bloody carry the 50kg piece, but over the years so many people have been brainwashed into accepting this H&S culture and taking every last bit of it literally. So what if you get a few aches, pains, scrapes and bruises from a bit of handball, many years ago it was accepted as part of the job but the cottonwool brigade are takingover the asylum.

[dieseldog999]

Putting the grassing bit aside which is totally out of order, 20 or more years ago this thread would have had a totally different reaction by way of you been told to be a man and bloody carry the 50kg piece, but over the years so many people have been brainwashed into accepting this H&S culture and taking every last bit of it literally. So what if you get a few aches, pains, scrapes and bruises from a bit of handball, many years ago it was accepted as part of the job but the cottonwool brigade are takingover the asylum.

^^^^^^^^
+1
mabey the guy thought you were taking the piss.
mabey he thought you were being lazy as you never took one of them (on your trolly)
mabey the guy just dont like you or the way you work.
either way,listen to the complaint.if its truthfull,be truthfull,if it has added on extras (which most complaints have to make them worthwhile),lie through your teeth and tell them its not the 1st time you have refused an offer of coke,or whatever from him plus he tends to be in your face agressively ect....

[no1dieselman]

Putting the grassing bit aside which is totally out of order, 20 or more years ago this thread would have had a totally different reaction by way of you been told to be a man and bloody carry the 50kg piece, but over the years so many people have been brainwashed into accepting this H&S culture and taking every last bit of it literally. So what if you get a few aches, pains, scrapes and bruises from a bit of handball, many years ago it was accepted as part of the job but the cottonwool brigade are takingover the asylum.

And we used to use children as chimney sweeps and sent them down pit. Thousands have died due to industrial injuries and diseases but you think we should all be stupid like you and man up?
This is called progress and for good reason too. Time you was extinct.

[dieseldog999]

Putting the grassing bit aside which is totally out of order, 20 or more years ago this thread would have had a totally different reaction by way of you been told to be a man and bloody carry the 50kg piece, but over the years so many people have been brainwashed into accepting this H&S culture and taking every last bit of it literally. So what if you get a few aches, pains, scrapes and bruises from a bit of handball, many years ago it was accepted as part of the job but the cottonwool brigade are takingover the asylum.

And we used to use children as chimney sweeps and sent them down pit. Thousands have died due to industrial injuries and diseases but you think we should all be stupid like you and man up?
This is called progress and for good reason too. Time you was extinct.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
its called being a snowflake and being indoctrinated into the h&s snowflake world of operating.
a 50kg box from the back of a truck onto your shoulder isnt too bad.
yes,its heavy,but no biggy unless your a woman or a wimp in which case you would be better off not being a driver and looking for a shift in kfc.
its only the same weight as an old bag of cement and its not as if its a dead lift handball from the deck. plus there was only 3 boxes.
dont be a fanny and have some respect for what the job entails.