I'm just messing with you. I know LC and he is a very responsible person just to let everyone know but he knows how to party.

 

True:D

If he operates heavy equipment and hurts or kills somebody and you knew he was drunk and didn't say anything beforehand, how would that make you feel?

If he operates heavy equipment and hurts or kills somebody and you knew he was drunk and didn't say anything beforehand, how would that make you feel?

 

Probably responsible.:irked: That's what ticks me off about this.

Probably responsible.:irked: That's what ticks me off about this.

 

Then what to do should be a pretty simple proposition. Like Barney Fife would say, "Nip it in the bud."

We operate somewhat heavy equipment (Bobcats mainly) on this job. However, the job just depends on what we are on (enviromental cleanup crew). He was fine coming into work, but after the first break he was stumbling and slurring his words. That's when he admitted to me that he was drinking and I told him to go home. I told the boss that he didn't feel good and that he went home. I would like to keep it between me and him, but if this is a repeating pattern I'm not sure if I could put up with it.

 

I agree with some of the above posts. He isnt a waiter, or a house sitter, he operates HEAVY MACHINERY!

 

There was a tragic accident recently in which a man accidentally ran over, and killed his co-worker. A complete innocent accident. Horrible enough for all involved.

 

How would you feel if your co-worker "accidentally" killed a co-worker and you could have prevented it? Feeling responsible is just the beginning. You would have to live with that the rest of your life.

 

A lot of us like to partake on occasion, but when you show up to work drunk, there is clearly a problem. Saying something to him will not fix it. He is an alcoholic. You gave him one chance and that was all he deserves. If it happens again, ratting him out may seem terrible, but the life you save could be your own.

I agree with some of the above posts. He isnt a waiter, or a house sitter, he operates HEAVY MACHINERY!

 

There was a tragic accident recently in which a man accidentally ran over, and killed his co-worker. A complete innocent accident. Horrible enough for all involved.

 

How would you feel if your co-worker "accidentally" killed a co-worker and you could have prevented it? Feeling responsible is just the beginning. You would have to live with that the rest of your life.

 

A lot of us like to partake on occasion, but when you show up to work drunk, there is clearly a problem. Saying something to him will not fix it. He is an alcoholic. You gave him one chance and that was all he deserves. If it happens again, ratting him out may seem terrible, but the life you save could be your own.

 

Very good points. Thank you.

When you told him to go home, did he drive? Just asking because if he was stumbling around, you should have had more sense than to put him in a car. I understand you not wanting to rat on a co-worker, but at some point, common sense has to step in front of trying to be a friend. His family will be a lot worse off if he kills someone than if he loses his job.

When you told him to go home, did he drive? Just asking because if he was stumbling around, you should have had more sense than to put him in a car. I understand you not wanting to rat on a co-worker, but at some point, common sense has to step in front of trying to be a friend. His family will be a lot worse off if he kills someone than if he loses his job.

 

Fine, I'll tell you exactly what happened.

 

We are operating a Bobcat, with a plainer unit. This plainer unit is similar to what you would see being used on blacktop to "rough up" the surface before resurfacing. We are using this unit to take off a contaminated layer of concrete. I'm on the unit all morning, boss is there, everything as normal. We were operating for about 2 and a half hours and took a break. We all seperated during break time. Comes back, boss says he's leaving to go back to the office. So we go back to work for about another half hour, guy takes a "cig" break. Come back half hour later. We continue and he seems messed up. I finished what I was supposed to do and after that I told the guy I was going to clean up with the equipment. Told him to take a break. SO, I get a call (cell phone) 5 minutes later and it is my co-worker telling me he is leaving because he felt "bad". He eventually told me he had been drinking. By the time it got to him driving he was already gone. I called my boss as soon as I got off the phone. I didn't tell him about the co-worker drinking, but he did tell me that he got home alright. So there you go. That's it, that's exactly what happened today.

And you let hime drive home drunk , not only the heavy equipment but a car, too . this fellow needs some kind of help and Quick ! ! ! !

And you let hime drive home drunk , not only the heavy equipment but a car, too . this fellow needs some kind of help and Quick ! ! ! !

 

READ ABOVE!!! We are not working on a small site. It's about the size of a football field and not outside, its indoors. So if he goes for a "cig break" how am I supposed to know he is driving home.

READ ABOVE!!! We are not working on a small site. It's about the size of a football field and not outside, its indoors. So if he goes for a "cig break" how am I supposed to know he is driving home.

 

So him driving home is not your fault, neither is his drinking. But it is your responsibilty, along with every one else on the site, to insure the safety of the site. If you know of behavior by anyone on site that could hurt someone, it is your responsibility to report it. If it came out that you knew about his drinking on the job and didn't report it, you would deservedly lose your job if you worked for me. On top of operating a planer unit while buzzed. Take too much off and cost the company $ by having to replace more than needed. Don't take enough off, cost the company $ by having to go over what shoulld have been done right the first time. The only course of action you should take is to cover your own butt and report this incident. The guy needs help and most employers have programs to help those that need it.

 

And I am just curious, how old are you.

So him driving home is not your fault, neither is his drinking. But it is your responsibilty, along with every one else on the site, to insure the safety of the site. If you know of behavior by anyone on site that could hurt someone, it is your responsibility to report it. If it came out that you knew about his drinking on the job and didn't report it, you would deservedly lose your job if you worked for me. On top of operating a planer unit while buzzed. Take too much off and cost the company $ by having to replace more than needed. Don't take enough off, cost the company $ by having to go over what shoulld have been done right the first time. The only course of action you should take is to cover your own butt and report this incident. The guy needs help and most employers have programs to help those that need it.

 

And I am just curious, how old are you.

 

I'm 26, the co-worker is 41.

 

I guess when I told him to go on break I didn't figure he would leave the site.

I would confront him directly, and privately, at work tomorrow.

 

Tell him in no uncertain terms that he has used up his one chance to mess up. Be direct and firm and back up your position with all the sensible reasons outlined above. Make sure he understands first and foremost that you will report him the next time he shows even the hint of any type of use on the job and be prepared to back up your threat.

 

If he gives you any static or is uncooperative in any way, report him.

 

If he is cooperative, and after he understands your position clearly, then and only then if you want to listen to his problems or offer him help in getting help, that is up to you. But you have to remain firm in your committment and don't let him take advantage of your friendship or misjudge it and think it will cause you to look the other way. There is simply just too much at stake.

I'm 26, the co-worker is 41.

 

I only asked that question because I thought you sounded young. I have worked in the construction industry for almost 20 years, the last 11 in supervision. While wanting to have your co-workers back is admirable, it is pretty irresponsible for a 41 year old man to put a young man like yourself in this kind of predicament. If this situation presented itself on one of my crews, I would try to get some help for the man w/ the problem. If I found out about this from a third party, your job would be in serious jeopardy. You need to sleep on that, and do what you need to do tomorrow. Good luck.

I only asked that question because I thought you sounded young. I have worked in the construction industry for almost 20 years, the last 11 in supervision. While wanting to have your co-workers back is admirable, it is pretty irresponsible for a 41 year old man to put a young man like yourself in this kind of predicament. If this situation presented itself on one of my crews, I would try to get some help for the man w/ the problem. If I found out about this from a third party, your job would be in serious jeopardy. You need to sleep on that, and do what you need to do tomorrow. Good luck.

 

I guess you could label this situation as being in a really heavy rock and a really heavy hard place. I've only held the position that I am at for a year and I am up for promotion in a month. I'd hate to ruin my job but at the same time I don't know what my co-worker is going through. I think I'm going to go in tomorrow giving the guy a chance. However, if he does this again consider it over and reported. We'll have a talk tomorrow, but I can't put my job on the line either. Thanks guys for your help.