Page 20 - Boiler Operator’s Handbook

Operating Wisely 5

occur if you take on the new requirements. Should your monstrative use of the list of priorities. The problem
boss insist you assume duties that will alter the priorities is not usually associated with swing shift operation
you should oppose it. Every place of employment should because the duties are balanced over time. When op-
have a means for employees to appeal a boss’s decision to erators remain on one shift it is common for one shift
a higher authority. Seek out that option and use it when to complain another has less to do. Another common
necessary but always be pleasant about it. problem is the one operator that, in the minds of the rest,
It is during such contentious conditions that the doesn’t do anything or doesn’t do it right. If you’ve got
value of documentation is demonstrated. A wise opera- the priority order right in your mind you already know
tor with a documented schedule, SOPs, and to-do-list that number 6 applies; train that operator.
will have no problem demonstrating that an additional There’s nothing on the list about pride, conve-
task will have a negative effect on the safety and reliabil- nience, or free time. Self interest is not a priority when
ity of the boiler plant. On the other hand, documenta- it comes to any job. You can be proud of how you do
tion that is evidently self-serving will disprove a claim. your job. You may find it convenient to do something
The wise operator will always have supporting, qualify- a different way (but make sure your boss knows of and
ing documentation to support his or her position. approves the way). You should always have a certain
Another situation that produces contentious con- amount of free time during a shift to attend to the un-
ditions in a boiler plant involves the work of outside expected situations that arise, but no more than an hour
contractors. Frequently the contractor was employed per shift. Keep in mind that you are not employed to fur-
to work in the plant with little or no input from the ther your interests or simply occupy space. You can, and
operators. That’s another way a boss can be a fool, but should, provide value to your employer in exchange for
it happens. When a contractor is working in the plant, that salary.
it changes the normal routine and regularly interferes Most employers understand an employee’s need
with the schedule an operator has grown accustomed to handle a few personal items during the day. They’ll
to. The wise boss will have the contractor reporting to tolerate some time spent on the phone, reading personal
the operator; regrettably there aren’t many wise bosses documents, and simply fretting over a problem at home.
in this world. Even if I’m just visiting a plant I still make They will not, however, accept situations where the em-
certain that I report in to the operator on duty and check ployee places personal interests ahead of the job. I’ve
out as well. I always advised my construction workers encountered situations where employers allowed their
to do it. Regardless of the reporting requirements the employees to use the plant tools to work on personal
operator and contractor will have to work together to vehicles, repair home appliances, make birdhouses and
ensure the priorities are maintained. the like during the shift. On the other hand I’ve encoun-
The wise operator will be able to work reasonably tered employers that wouldn’t allow their people to make
with the contractor to facilitate the contractor getting his personal calls, locking up the phone. Limiting personal
work done. Many operators have expressed an attitude activity as much as possible and never allowing it to take
that a contractor is only interested in his profit and treat priority over getting that list we just looked at should
all contractors accordingly. Guess what, the wise opera- prevent those situations where, because the boss’s good
tor wants the contractor to make a profit. If the contrac- nature was abused, the employer suddenly comes down
tor is able to perform the work without hindrance or hard restricting personal activity on the job.
delay he will be able to finish the work on time and Your health and well being is at the top of the list
make a profit. If the contractor perceives no threat to the primarily because you’re the one responsible for the
profit he contemplated when starting the job he will do plant. Keep your priorities straight. Maintaining your
everything he intended, including doing a good job. If priorities in the specified order should always make it
the operator stalls and blocks the contractor’s activity so possible to resolve any situation. The priorities will be
the contractor’s costs start to run over, he will attempt to referred to regularly as we continue operating wisely.
protect his profit. If the contractor perceives the opera-
tor is intentionally making life difficult he may complain
to the operator’s boss as well as start cutting corners to SAFETY
protect his profit. A contractor can understand the list of
priorities and work with the operator that understands The worst accident in the United States was the re-
the contractor’s needs. sult of a boiler explosion. In 1863 the boilers aboard the
Dealing with fellow employees also requires de- steamship Sultana exploded and killed almost eighteen