Hey there! My name is Dietrich and I'am a German born Newbie Steemer. I Would like to share my stories with you on this platform.
I'm working for a well known dax company that is in the real estate business and which is mainly focusing on building factories and offices. My job position sounds like some kind of German curse word. "Immobiliensachbearbeiter" basically translates to Real Estate Clerk. Basically translates to: when someone fucks something up on the construction sites It's me to clear up the situation and check what happened and why.
My work consists of 2 parts:
Controlling of all big projects (starting at 2.5Mio$) is done from Germany through a committee. Everything is discussed in theory and very pragmatic. Then the foreman on the site face the problem to conduct the project "as planned by Germans".
Sometimes... Shmul, Rodgriguez, Mohammed and Igor are not interested in the decisions made in Germany and do whatever they think is best. Or something don't work out as decided in Germany. Or they do whatever they want. If the guy in charge has the feeling to loose control, I will be called, to represent the commitee of my employer directly.
Sometimes I get an execution warrant (godmode, really!) - sometimes I only am a mediator.
To make it short: When I get to a construction side shit hit the fan. Always.
When there was no trouble on site, there definitely was: Since my company was founded in Germany and its main headquarter is there, for all employees (if not declared otherwise by local laws), GERMAN values, standards and regulations have to be applied. For example the security rules on construction sites. Unfortunately even the best rules cannot prevent accidents. Some are based on malfunctioning material, others on follyness of them locals. After each accident the insurance case is carefully examined. In addition to that it will be checked, how the accident happened and how future cases can be prevented.
As we deal with big machinery, heavy weights and great heights, most accidents I have to survey deal with at least one or two dead people. Let me say that directly: There'll be no explicit pictures of these, when I come from Germany to some Brasilian outback, most of the scene is already cleaned.
Let me start with one stories for today:
Ballerinas on the indoor crane
I dont travel far for this story - Budapest. A rather old facility called because they noticed that their crane didn't manage to keep up with the weight of their products any longer, the solution: The hall will stay as is and the existing hall will be raised with pillars in order to build a new crane. The old crane came in handy for this, since it could be used to move the material around. Such a crane consists of 1 carrier, who moves around 2 leading trusses. On it, a moving lifting machine is attached.
It looks something like that:
So the fundamental for the new pillars were already casted, and thick steel rods were pointing up, which are to be casted as probation with the new struts to build the foundation. Just imagine.... there are steel rods pointing upwards.
I have been called because a deadly accident occurred. I was told that one of the workers lost his grip while working on the crane and fell down 10 metres. The crane was located directly above one of the previously described fundaments and was pierced by the steel pointing towards the sky. A tragic accident.... so it seemed.
I went on-site and started my investigation. Said worker, lets call him Ivan, has already been removed from the scene. Only a larger stain from a puddle of blood was left next to a few pieces of tissue on the steel. What made me curious were the many splinters of glass.. all around the foundation. In addition to that my translator let me know that the workers are hesitating answering the questions and that he felt something fishy was going on.
I was not convinced with the circumstances of the accident as they were described to me and applied some pressure on the workers and the foreman (that is part of my job - as said, when I'm coming there is trouble). After 2 weeks I found the reason, or better the countless bottles of clear Russian vodka which were consumed the evening the accident occurred.
What did really happen?
On his day of death, Ivan became granddad for the 10th...whatever time. A reason to party, as the troop figured. So the apprentice was sent to the construction sites own distillery (read: depot for industrial alcohol) to open one or the other tank and get one or two or more bottles of drinkable alcohol - to celebrate the new name of the grandchild.
To make it all the more fun.... sitting on the old crane in 10meters height - following the game, who falls first, loses. Since Ivan had to cheer with everyone of his Russian colleges, he was the first one to get blind, aahm, drunk; At the floor one of those Russian Vitalis thought it'd be funny who can keep balance when he hits the "play" button. Nearly all of them could, since the crane moves really slow. Also nearly all of them found it funny, since, as I found out later, its not the first time they are doing that game. Only Ivan, one floor below the others, with his head full of steel wasn't laughing as loud any more. To be able to hold themselves, all of them Russian Vitalis dropped their bottles, explaining the shards on the floor. Only our Ivan cherished his vodka more than his life.
I don't remember the consequences for the distinct workers, but most of them had to search for another job. Vitali operating the crane from the bottom was long gone before i showed up on the construction side. I didnt' notice, since following "the official protocol of the foreman", he officially resigned a week before.
A case was made against the doctor who "forgot" to write down the alcohol levels of Ivan and rest and just put down 0 promille..for a small bundle of cash. Also against 2 guys from the local police, who where protocolling the time of accident to be 12 noon instead of 10pm in the evening.
Sometimes, my work is investigating heavy. New rule for involved members since that day: They should accept a bribe only when it comes from me - double standards :D
Thats it for now, let me know if you are interested in more or ask if you have any questions!