Sunday, May 17, 2009

Don't Touch That!

We have had a snack and have collected all of our safety gear. We are wearing closed toed shoes, hardhats, eye protection and now we have our ear protection. We are now going to enter the plant and ear protection is a must. Maybe we should have paid closer attention to this sign just outside the plant doors. Things were going to get difficult for Sarah. If she had only known.

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Some groups had escourts if the employee wasn't comfortable walking around the plant. Sarah was confident in her abilities to lead this bunch of yahoos. She was only allowed to take six people maximum on a tour. We were to stay in the designated walking paths (marked with yellow feet) and we were to stay within six feet of her. Easier said than done. She was constantly waiting for us to catch up and get within our six foot area.

Look at all of the safety gear she has. Hardhat, safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, and steel toed shoes. Of course, they don't make work shoes in her size (4) so she buys Doc Martens which just happen to have steel toes.

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We weren't in that plant five minutes when some unnamed person touched one of the pipes, "just to see if it was hot". The look of panic on her face was instant and the words, "Don't touch that!" were immediate. Sheesh. He just wanted to see if it was hot.

But to be fair there was a lot of this going on by this unnamed person.

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We were all amazed at what we were seeing.

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We did a lot of walking and looking.

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All of a sudden another, "Don't touch that!", rang out. It seems someone was touching a valve. Sheesh. It's not like this unnamed person was going to turn it or anything.

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Sarah was so patient with this group of yahoos. She patiently explained, in a very loud voice, everything that we were seeing.

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Yes, Sarah was the perfect guide. Knowledgeable with a sense of humor. What a great combination.

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Watch out John!! Listen to your guide and mind those signs.

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Despite the challenge of leading this group through "her" plant she still had a smile on her face. Nuclear power has that effect on her.

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She even had a smile for her unnamed grandpa despite the fact the words, "Don't touch that!" were uttered more than once.

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We all appreciate the time Sarah took to take us on this tour. We all learned a lot and have a new repect for the security and safety that this plant maintains. It was loud, it was hot and it was thouroughly fascinating. Thanks, Sarah!

5 comments....porters always have something to say!:

jporterGOP said...

Yes, a very big thank you to Sarah from me as well.

Anonymous said...

I'm not so sure he wouldn't have turned that valve. It's what he knows. I'm surprised you could take pictures. Wouldn't happen at Dow.

carriegel said...

Sarah was surprised too. But she had asked and they said it was ok.

JP said...

I have Doc Martins! (And safety glasses and earplugs but not a hard hat... we have those we borrow, there's only one little place we need them). But I love my steel toes. I just got them Friday. =)

megawatt miler said...

i have two pairs-one i love and one i dont. the one pair is super broken in because ive been wearing them three years, the other isnt broken in at all and i just dont wear them because the others are so confortable

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