The PPE-ople’s Champion

I work in a large plant. One of my responsibilities is safety, but getting some of these burly older guys to wear the required PPE is like getting blood out of a stone. They see it as emasculating and making them look weak.

I catch someone welding without a mask, yet again.

Me: “[Worker], this is the third time I’ve told you. PPE when you’re welding!”

Worker: “You can’t make me.”

Me: “Well, you’re right in that I can’t physically make you, but you can be written up and lose your job if you persist.”

Worker: “It just gets in the way!”

Me: “Getting in the way is literally its job. It’s meant to be a barrier.

Worker: “But I don’t need it!”

Me: “Before your time, there was a guy who was welding without the PPE, for similar reasons to yours. He was squinting close to the weld, and some molten metal got into his eyes. He’s blind now, and due to not using the PPE provided, he wasn’t able to get workers’ compensation or sue the corporation. So, do with that information what you will. Be seeing you.”

He glared at me, grabbed the mask, and finally put it on.