Example Too Much of a Good Thing

I was involved at a large hazardous waste site cleanup in the Midwest that took many years to complete. At this particular site, an edict was made stating that anyone and everyone who entered the exclusion zone was going to successfully complete confined-space training and rescue. So, one of the training objectives at this site was to ensure that all team members entering the exclusion zone would have successfully completed confined-space and rescue training. 

The site was so large and the team members moved between departments so rapidly that it was difficult to keep crews trained as needed. But management did not ever want to hold up work because of lacking adequate training credentials. From an outsider s point of view, it would appear that there should be an easier way to solve the dilemma. People pointed out that with a little more organizational skill, the problems could be resolved however, the problems 

It turns out that truck drivers had to enter the exclusion zone therefore, they had to complete confined-space training and rescue just like other team members who entered the exclusion zone. The truck drivers protested not wanting to spend time seated in a training class all day taking training that they had no interest in and would never use. The protests fell on deaf ears. The edict had been made and would be followed  

Early on in the conhned-space and rescue class, a rather portly truck driver had been assigned to complete training. One of the exercises for mock rescue included pretending that a team member had been disabled while performing a work task in a confined space. The hole watch person would notify the rescue people, who had already set up a tripod that was sitting over a mock circular entry. The (mock) disabled truck driver was already equipped with a safety harness and lifeline attached to his body and a rescue tripod and winch. 

All that the rescue team had to do was to crank the winch and lift the (mock) disabled truck driver through a reinforced cardboard tube through the opening to safety. Even with all of these precautions, things did not go too well. As the rescue crew cranked the winch, the truck driver s body was being lifted through the tube and toward the opening. But as soon as the truck driver s midsection entered the tube, he advised the rescue crew that his body was stuck in the tube. 

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