I did a little tree and site clearance job last week on a local cottage development. I watched the driver on the 4 tonner stoving the toothed bucket again and again into the dumper skip, face shovel mode, in order to try to get the last bits of concrete out. No finesse, and the dumper driver just sitting there on the seat. He kept trying and trying, smashing the bucket into the skip making both machines shake like shitting dogs, oblivious to the fact that 3" of bucket teeth would render his attempts to get the last concrete out futile. Then he swung the lot over the heads of the ground crew.
It's tiotal madness, and outside of the men on this forum who at least take some interest, I think it's the norm in the UK groundworks industry. Hard not to get worked up about it when you could do the whole job better and safer, but it's not good for blood pressure to worry about it.
I see a sharp divide between 'farming/rural based' groundworkds contractors, and housing development types.
Without being too offensive and I don't aim it particularly at anyone.
However.
People don't treat stuff like their own.
There is such an I'm all right back attitude that on a daily basis I'm disgusted.
I've worked, I own my own tools and equipment, not plant.
I give a Damm about cost.
I look after stuff I am given and stuff I have brought.
I'm sure most on here are the same.
I don't want to see your freshly polished cab, I really don't give a Damm about that, we work in the mud, we carry dirt with us.
But we should look after what earns our crust.
We should treat whatever it is we have access to with care.
Yes we need to push it at times, sometimes to abuse to achieve.
But not through bone idleness.
I don't like the way we have gone.
Just treat equipment like you take a responsibility for it.
Your job the same.
Have the guts to put your neck on the line and stand by our working actions.
I don't give a Damm about so much but people just don't seem genuine.
That saddens me.