I am continually amazed atwhat some people will subject themselves to.

I just spent four days as a juror on a mine accident case. The details are not relevant here, nor is the verdict. However, the plaintiff was working 500 feet below when a large (table sized) chunk of rock fell from the 'ceiling' and crushed his machine. One week later, in the same location, the same miner had another huge chunk of rock crush another machine.

If you were that miner, wouldn't you seriously consider a change of career???

Frozenny

yes I would, But did the miner have a realistic choice? How often would this normally happen?
As all the people on this website we enjoy risks - at different levels of course. But what I am getting at is that anything without risk would create boredom.

(I fully understand your point.)

Reinhardt

Reinhardt
>>>As all the people on this website we enjoy risks - at different levels of course. But what I am getting at is that anything without risk would create boredom.<<<<<

Don't think so. I spend good time without risks and enjoy avoiding risks. I thought that was what it is all about. First rule to survive: Avoid all possible risks. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Burak

Ironically the professions that provide our food ; commercial fishing and farming, are the most dangerous. Many people have few options in terms of occupation. I think everybody could find at least one life threatening condition in their job, from formaldehyde offgassing in "sick" buildings, the ill effects of work shifts out of tune with natural biorhythems to the fully clad, white uniformed pesticide applicator spraying the contemporary equals to Agent Orange as a pregnant office worker walks past.

I met a hardrock miner while visiting family in Ouray, Colorado.
At 45 years old he had to read lips because his hearing was shot from the drilling noise. He had to wear dark glasses when outside to protect his eyes - he couldn't tolerate the light after years working in darkness. And who knows what his lungs looked like. If the mines opened up again he'd go back in an instant. When I asked why, he said it was a good job that let him live in the mountains that he loved.

Working at McDonalds might be safer but the mines probably pay a living wage.

Brian

That is exactly it, some places of the coutry there are no other jobs. My father lives on a family farm, been in the family for over 200 years, he has to drive 1 hour and 15 minutes each way up and down steep curvy mountain roads for a job because the local business have all closed. I might make a higher salery, but I have a small house where I can reach out and touch my neighbors. I think we both envy each other. Everything you do has risk, you just have to decide what risks you are willing to take to live the lifestyle you want. While the miners risk a cave in so they can live in the country, we risk stress induced heart attacks caused by corporate America and road rage on the overcrowded highways. Who is to say weather we or the miners are better off?

There are risks in every job. We all have to take risks at sometime just to do our work. But I never like to take a risk when I do not really need to. I find this a key to keep life going. When you look at the nature you see most of the creatures only take risk when they really have to. They do not usually take risk just for fun.

The bomb squad sits on the other end of the corridor where my office is and every time I pass by their door I try not to look inside. I do not want to know their faces or names.

Burak

I think that risk factor can be helpul as well as your worst enemy. Adrenaline rush can help you do a job better or it can freeze you therefore killing/seriously injuring you or your teamates. In the EMS I see that rookies have a tendency to drive faster, rush to the scene more often (even as uncalled backup) and take risks more frequently. Old timers or veterans are more calculated and indifferent. I don't mean it in the bad way, they are just more experienced so they know better. I like to take risks, I like to be first on the scene, I like to work where things are happing around me but also I have to remember that safety of my crew and me is the first thing that should be on my mind. Sometimes dangerous situations can't be avoided but all safety techinques and protocols should be implemented to make the scene as harmless as possible.

In every job that carries the risk people who get injured and killed are either rookies because they don't know everything yet and veterans becasue they think they know everything. We will never stop learning and I tell my crews and friends that are going out to always think safety becasue I'm not calling anyones mother, wife or girlfriend.

Matt