First Responder

[rmdeutz]

I've worked for this company just over 15 years. I'm an industrial electrician. When I hired on I had an option of being on the fire brigade and a first responder. I didn't chose to be on either because of my age mainly. Several years ago the company decided to become VPP certified and that included NFPA 70 for electrical workers that includes arc flash protection and shock hazard protection. I fully comply with these programs. The next step the company did was make us become first responders. This is where I disagree. In my 30 years in working in mills being on fire brigade and first responders had always been volunteers. I think that was fair because everyone isn't cut out to do these services, just like everyone isn't cut out to do electrical work.

So now I'm a first responder and don't want to be. I know of 6 more men that feel the same as I do. I asked the company about liability of being a first responder and was told it was covered under the Good Samaritan laws. I disagreed with them but got nowhere on this subject until 5 years later. (different management) I asked the same question and it was presented to a company lawyer. This lawyer said as I had all along that the Good Samaritan laws didn't cover us because we were paid to do this service. I asked if the company would cover our liability and was told yes but they won't put this on paper. So I'm still where I was 5 years ago and know I'm not covered if something goes wrong plus I was told by this lawyer that if first aid was required I had no choice but to perform that duty. (most of the time that someone has a heart attack and have to be revived you can expect them to throw up and maybe in your mouth). So to finally get to the end of this, I'm cut out well to do electrical work. I'm not the type to do well working on people. It's not my bag and sure don't feel comfortable trying to do medical type work on people.

Is it legal for the company to make us do this type of service? It worries the heck out of me that I may have to do cpr on a fellow worker. They have put me in a position that if I do first aid on someone and make a mistake I'm liable.
And if I refuse to do first aid I'm liable and can lose my job either way plus be sued. Who would want anyone working on them if they knew the folks doing the work were afraid to work on people and didn't want to do it?

 

[army judge]

I've worked for this company just over 15 years. I'm an industrial electrician. When I hired on I had an option of being on the fire brigade and a first responder. I didn't chose to be on either because of my age mainly. Several years ago the company decided to become VPP certified and that included NFPA 70 for electrical workers that includes arc flash protection and shock hazard protection. I fully comply with these programs. The next step the company did was make us become first responders. This is where I disagree. In my 30 years in working in mills being on fire brigade and first responders had always been volunteers. I think that was fair because everyone isn't cut out to do these services, just like everyone isn't cut out to do electrical work.

So now I'm a first responder and don't want to be. I know of 6 more men that feel the same as I do. I asked the company about liability of being a first responder and was told it was covered under the Good Samaritan laws. I disagreed with them but got nowhere on this subject until 5 years later. (different management) I asked the same question and it was presented to a company lawyer. This lawyer said as I had all along that the Good Samaritan laws didn't cover us because we were paid to do this service. I asked if the company would cover our liability and was told yes but they won't put this on paper. So I'm still where I was 5 years ago and know I'm not covered if something goes wrong plus I was told by this lawyer that if first aid was required I had no choice but to perform that duty. (most of the time that someone has a heart attack and have to be revived you can expect them to throw up and maybe in your mouth). So to finally get to the end of this, I'm cut out well to do electrical work. I'm not the type to do well working on people. It's not my bag and sure don't feel comfortable trying to do medical type work on people.

Is it legal for the company to make us do this type of service? It worries the heck out of me that I may have to do cpr on a fellow worker. They have put me in a position that if I do first aid on someone and make a mistake I'm liable.
And if I refuse to do first aid I'm liable and can lose my job either way plus be sued. Who would want anyone working on them if they knew the folks doing the work were afraid to work on people and didn't want to do it?

If you no longer want the CPR designation, just turn your card in, or fail the next test.
In fact, you can decline to re-certify.
Or, you can ask a physician to provide you with a note indicating that you are physically unable to perform first aid or first responder duties.
These are not your primary duties for which you were hired.

There are many ways to prevent you from doing these duties when the call comes out, like suddenly developing an urgent need to relieve yourself when (and if) the call comes.

Or, you could suddenly get ill at the very moment they call your team out to an emergency.

No one can tell you that you're not ill.

No one can ever know when you anyone develops a sudden and intense case of gastrointestinal pressure that must be addressed!

No need to get all disturbed and upset over this.

In fact, go low profile, fly under their radar; you might never get the call.

And, when you do, there are many things that could prevent you from performing.

Finally, I'm sure there are some "eager beavers".

Everywhere I've ever been had its "eager beavers".

You can slow down a tad, and let the "eager beavers" beat you to the victim.

 

[rmdeutz]

Army Judge, thanks for your reply. You gave some good options. Some that I already thought about and a couple I hadn't. I guess the big thing with me is right and wrong. I can't convince myself that what they've done is right. I know it's to satisfy an insurance company and get a better rate for the most part.

I have posted the same on another site and hope for more replies.
Labor has taken a big hit since 2000. Once unemployment is high the thumb comes down on the workers. It's like going back to the 80's for me.

Thank you again.

 

[army judge]

Army Judge, thanks for your reply. You gave some good options. Some that I already thought about and a couple I hadn't. I guess the big thing with me is right and wrong. I can't convince myself that what they've done is right. I know it's to satisfy an insurance company and get a better rate for the most part.

I have posted the same on another site and hope for more replies.
Labor has taken a big hit since 2000. Once unemployment is high the thumb comes down on the workers. It's like going back to the 80's for me.

Thank you again.

The economy sucks.
This isn't any worse for labor or any one group.
Everyone is hurting, unless you're a billionaire.
That doesn't mean starving, that just means smart people are cutting back.
Labor had a hand in some of this mess.
Management was stupid not to have stood up to some labor unions in the '70s and '80s.
But, everyone thought the good times would forever roll.
Then we started outsourcing, and Americans went along with it.
They bought cheap Japanese junk, then Chinese crap, and the stuff produced everywhere but here.

Greedy companies paid less for goods produced offshore, and raised prices.
All the while, Americans lost their jobs to offshore sweatshops.
Yet, Americans kept buying that cheaper offshore junk.
That brings us to where we are today.

Why, even in your case, all you had to do was say NO thanks.
Yet, somehow, someway, you were induced or coerced to say YES.
My kids joke about me today.
They say that anything they asked for growing up, my answer was NO.
Saying NO often keeps you (and others) out of trouble.
Saying YES, often leads you into areas that can cause you great distress.
Good luck.
I really hope things work out for you.

 

[rmdeutz]

You wrote: "Why, even in your case, all you had to do was say NO thanks.
Yet, somehow, someway, you were induced or coerced to say YES."

Oh I did say no. No to the point I was about to be fired. We were told if we didn't take the classes and become First Responders we were no longer needed by the company and would be replaced. I like my job. I like the people I work with. I still have a job and if I'd left the company I would be unemployed now. Very little work in this area now.


I agree with all the other that you wrote. It was no problem seeing it coming.

 

[army judge]

You note, for the record, I used "induced" or "coerced".

I suspected the latter, and not the former.

I'm sure you were coerced.