The Most Dangerous Job I Ever Took

I'm 62 and when I'm listening to you I feel like I'm a young man again listening to my Grandfather. I could listen to you all day my friend.

It was back in the 80s. I was working my way through college on a construction job, and we got a call from a landowner who had some old, abandoned structure on his property, that he wanted us to tear down and haul away before we started building the apartments that were going on this guy's land. Sort of a "side job" and a "bonus" (as the landowner put it) for the small company I worked for. We got deep into the back of the tract of land, and found this old three story stone building back there, overgrown with weeds, saplings, and goddess knows what else. Bob, the "foreman" (he was also the owner's son) said to me (the youngest, most inexperienced guy on the crew) "Tomorrow, I want you to get a couple of guys and you all go in and climb up on that building, and start tearing it down". (By hand, since we couldn't get any equipment back in there) I took one look at it, and one look at him, and said "No. That's too dangerous. Somebody's going to get hurt." His reply was "You're fired." So I left the site, went on back to the dorm, and took a nap. The next Monday morning, he was standing outside my door when I was leaving to go to class, and said "Hey, I'm sorry about last week. The building collapsed with some of the guys on it, and two of them are in the hospital. Do you want to come back to work?" "Hell no!" I told him, and went on to class.

As a young business owner I learned the difference between being hurt and injured. If you’re hurt, you kept on working until the job was done, if you’re injured you seek medical attention. Fortunately I gained enough wisdom to only get hurt before I found out you shouldn’t be doing something.

Damn... I really enjoy hearing stories of peoples experiences. You should share more.

I could listen to him read the legal section of the local paper and never get bored!

After working 25 years as a construction engineer, I was called too cautious and then 15 years as a safety engineer in construction I was still called too cautious but everyone went home under my watch. And, I still have stories like yours. The work needs to be done and you just look at all the options and proceed with the safest one. Reevaluating every step along the way. A wise man once told me to keep thinking “what’s going to kill me next.” If you stop thinking, it will catch up to you. Remember, “Safety Third”.

Great story, Scott! I worked for over 20 years as an engineer designing mostly mine and quarry equipment for a manufacturer and I heard a few stories in that business. One was a worker who had been assigned the job of cleaning up dribbles from the tail of a belt conveyor that was tucked underneath some other equipment. The conveyor had, iirc, a six foot wide belt that carried crushed stone from beneath a crushing plant to another conveyor that fed a screening plant. The belt on this discharge conveyor went from the head pulley past a snubber pulley (to get more wrap on the head pulley) down at an angle to a hold-down pulley near the tail, then horizontally to the tail pulley, then to back to another hold-down pulley on the top side and back up at an angle to the head pulley. The safety guards had been removed and the employee was shoveling dribbles while the conveyor was running. (all this stuff was in violation of OSHA/MSHA safety rules and the employee had several warnings against doing this in his employee file.). Someone, just before the accident, told him he was asking to get hurt and he reportedly replied that he was too quick to get hurt. Well, his shovel got pulled in between the conveyor belt and the hold-down pulley and he was either too slow letting go or the shovel handle knocked him off balance and he too fell onto the moving belt, and got sucked between the conveyor belt and the hold-down pulley. He was kinda like a sock going through an old fashioned wringer washer. I saw photos of the scene, including his dead body. It was really gruesome and sobering.

You are the best storyteller, and this story made me laugh with you, because when we're young we're so full of spunk and spittle, but not always wise. And as we look back on those crazy things we pulled off, just to get the glory, we can smile, and shake our heads a little at our youthful follies. (And as human memory isn't always good, we always get some details wrong in the telling. Lol) I didn't have a beer listening to you, but you made my cup of green tea much more pleasurable as I felt that wistful tinge of recalled adventures of my own. Thank you. This was a gift.

Those hard jobs will stay with you forever. At moments when I think things are over my head I recall the harder things I've done and realize "if I could do that, then I can definitely do this" it's good to find out the limitations of your self

I worked in underground coal mines for several years as a younger man. The mining industry has always relied of the strong backs of stupid young men that think they are invincible! I was one of them! Looking back I have no clue how any of us made it out of that hole intact every night much less that mine only having 1 fatal accident in the 25 years it was running. You mentioned that you wanted the glory of having done that job yourself. Was it that or in the back of your head you could risk another for you stupid decisions? The dumbest of the many stupid decisions I made in the mines my worst fear was hurting one of my buddies. They put their lives in my had on a nightly basis and I held their safety will above my own!

I recently found your channel. I cannot stop. It’s as if I’m listening to my Grandpa describe his work to me. Thank you!

Great story Scott. I think that's part of growing up as a man, taking on dangerous tasks to build will, courage, knowledge and skills. I know as a machinist I have done some down right hazordus things. I had a part that required a high polish on the inside, just shy of 3ft in diameter, the best way to do so was to have it spinning in the lathe at about 30rpm and use an air powered drum sander. Trouble was it was a little bit longer than my arm is so it resulted in me head and shoulders deep inside of a spinning part. Hands down, the dumbest, most dangerous thing I've ever done, but I did it and did it as safely as I could at least safe enough that no injuries occurred. Keep up the great work!

I think I speak for all of your viewers when I say you sure know how to tell a story, and we're glad you got away with that risk. Merry Christmas!

Great story, Scott. You are a gifted story teller and, like other commenters said, would love to hear more! Glad you had a positive outcome to that job and can look back with the mixed emotions of doing something that in hindsight was stupid but, in the end, has left you with the satisfying feeling of accomplishment and a job well done.

What a story!! I’ve been there as well, done some dangerous stupid things working my guts out. Sounds like a lotta guys on here have. We’re still alive to tell the stories. Thanks for sharing Scott

Love your videos. I loved the story, HATED the ending… What platform would you now have if you where seriously injured or worse. “Just keep chewing”!?!? Is that a situation you’d ever put one of your own children in? Keep up the great encouragement Scott. You encourage me to be a better tradesmen and take pride in my hard work. But let’s all come home at the end of the day able to chew our dinner. Thanks for that gift.

Any of us who have worked construction have done something that made us wonder how we survived. I've done a lot of stupid stuff and at 70 years old, am paying for it now.

As a woman, I was introduced to Scott through Construction Experts online Construction Project Management Instructors Out of San Diego State -My favorite thing about Scott's Training/Experience is if you are patient and listen to him to end of the Story, that's the Lesson. Attention To Detail!!! I'm pretty sure his Son is doing the video! Happy to support the cause!!! See you Soon! Sophia!❤

About 6 years ago I came across your channel and a video titled something like "become a chainsaw pro". This lead to more arborist-related videos via the YT algorithm (mostly arborist mishaps and fuck-ups). I told myself I'd never seek that kind of work. Well... an unexpected layoff and a few weeks later I found myself applying to become an arborist. Tomorrow is my final day at this company and I can't help but feel it's come full circle. Your recent video regarding back pain (the dentist's advice) has helped a bit. This video now, on this day in my life, is perfectly coincidental. I'm not yet 36 but your videos and wisdom within have lead me to both overcome a fear of chainsaws and speaking my mind when it comes to knowing my limits. EC, I thank you for leading me into both the worst and best job I ever had. I met some great people along the way and learned all sorts of things I never would have sought if it weren't for your simple video years ago. Damn glad that mine entrance didn't collapse on you. With love from Milwaukee, happy holidays!

Love your work stories as I have gotten older I resonate with this a lot. You're an excellent father figure to many of us men who didn't have that growing up. God bless you sir.