Expensive Mistakescoopsweb asks "What's the most expensive mistake you've ever made? Should I mention a certain employee who caused 4 hours worth of delays in Central London and got his company fined £500k?"
No points for stories about the time you had a few and thought it'd be a good idea to wrap your car around a bollard. Or replies consisting of "my wife".
(
chthonic, Thu 25 Oct 2007, 11:26)
« Go Back
Mine air analysisCarbon monoxide in underground coal mine air is usually present but indicates problems if it starts to increase above a few parts per million. Mine thinks they have a problem, I analyse the air, get 0.0006% CO, which is a bit high but not anything to panic about. I phone the safety officer and tell him "point three zeroS six". He writes ".306". CALLOUT. Mines Rescue teams on standby, we fly to the mine on a chartered plane, mine closes for 48 hours.
We installed a telex machine a few months later. This was about 1978 so no email existed.
Lesson -
Never say anything over the phone which is capable of being misinterpreted. Don't gabble mutter or mumble on the phone. They cannot see your face and do not know whether they are writing down what you mean. If they have to write it down, say it at dictation speed.
Use fax or email for anything numerical. If some message you get looks dodgy, call back and confirm. Not funny I know but at least no canaries suffered.
(, Wed 31 Oct 2007, 21:15, 1 reply)
Good adviceFor anyone staring work, anywhere. I just wish this was taught at schools and people thought to do it, it would avoid all sorts of silly and needless mistakes.
(, Thu 1 Nov 2007, 8:05, closed)
« Go Back