Fight at work today... avoided

[mrhtbd]

Felt like I was a teacher again in the hood. Was cleaning welds on 54" electrical panels in prep for shipping but was constantly distracted by welding flashes in my peripheral vision. The welder never pulls over his screen although he has been told by the super many times. I don't like the constant distraction and "spots" from weld flashes. Rather than say anything, I simply went near the weld area and moved a pallet of metal boxes next to an I-beam, blocking the direct line of the flashes, and cordially leaving the welder 2 feet of access through his station. Returned to my work station. He quickly moved the pallet back then came over saying, "Wha-choo f-ing dis and f-ing dat around my blah, blah, blah!" I told him it was to "block the weld flashes," that "they were leaving spots in my eyes,"and "were distracting me," and that "he had a red see-through screen he was supposed to use. OSHA regulations, common courtesy and all that." Well, he unleashed on me with his ex-prison vocabulary and got in my face. I felt like smashing his face in, puny little loud-mouthed shit from Equador. Hey LaRasa, go fuck yourselves!, but I cooled the jets, figuring I had planned to attend my daughter's swim meet tonight and take them camping this weekend. He kept at it, and moved closer blocking my right hand. I laughed inside as I'm a south-paw, but after he gained the attention of most of the shop and me realizing he would be destroyed in less than 15 seconds, I decided to stick to my plans for the weekend instead of spending it in prison (being from Equador, I figured he would sue me and the company and probably win, poor baby) then I laughed, took off my gloves, turned and said, "I'll be outside!" Then walked out, softer bed for him in the grass. He didn't follow. As I walked around the building reassuring myself my daughters were the priority, I couldn't help seeing the event as a parallel of the very reason I retired from being an inner-city Special Education Teacher. Evidently I can't escape ignorance, like gravy to a white shirt, it seeks out and finds a target. The strange thing is the arthritis in my knuckles has subsided and I can clench my fists again. "Hey Yogi Berra, is this deja-vie all over again?"

[ozzy69]

How far were you from his booth? Cuz your about to open an argument you don't want

[Darkness]

You should pinched his cheeks and told him how cute he is

[mrhtbd]

My work stations are 20 and 30 feet away, but he is in my periphery and the flashes leave spots. He has a red plastic curtain and was told to use it. This has gone on for 5 months. My eyes get watery and grainy making it difficult to focus. My bother got blinded in June 2016 by welder's flash then died in March because he couldn't work or ride his bicycles. I question its my lot now to allow my eyes to be destroyed by a lazy ass, is that right?

[Dawgpound_Hank]

You've made it well known that you're in ca-hoots with the boss/bosses there - that they like your work & assertiveness. If this has gone on 5 months and you couldn't get it straight with this dude face to face, why didn't you simply approach the boss about asking this guy to use the curtain bcoz it's fucking with your eyes, not to mention it's supposed to be used anyways duh? All things considered, sounds like he would have had no qualms handling it with Pablo. Something don't jive IMO.

[ozzy69]

20-30 feet away that arc does nothing to a naked eye

[mrhtbd]

No disrespect but you probably have brown eyes. I have very light blue eyes, like a Husky, and they are sensitive to any kind of light. Flashes of light are very distracting to me, making it more difficult to focus on my work. I work in a dangerous environment making focus of paramount for safety. Today a coworker told me he called me a dickhead and that, "this has been going on for 5 months, since I originally complained about putting the red screen up to protect the rest of the people in the shop from welding flashes." He also said he was doing it deliberately. All I did was move the pallet and he jumped on it as the opportunity to spout off his fat mouth. Whatever. At least management saw how I can function in a crisis situation. In retrospect, it's nice to see I'm finally taking my life back.

[A1food4u]

next time just set up his red plastic screen on the outside of your station, that way all the stuff is in your area. Nothing for him to object to...

[Darkness]

That's very adult of you. But this thread would be far better had you reported having coated all his tools in cat shit or something.

[mrhtbd]

Damn Darkness that is some original shit right there, but it would be easier to get dog shit from the 2 Labradors I take out every morning (I left the ex with the cats)! I also found out he did the same shit to the lead welder 2 years ago and was fired for it. He begged for his job back and the owner is a generous dude. Also, just last week he flipped out on the Shop Supervisor. Needless to say, all three of us are tall white men with blue eyes. Three weeks ago after they hired a Hispanic painter he commented in the lunchroom to him, "Alright mang, we gonna take dis chit over!" At present, I am sharpening the toe steel of my Nordic sized 13 work boots. One swift kick will send his azz back to eating monkey brains in the "yungle!" I worked a 12 hour shift today, then locked up the 3 warehouses like I do every night, while the owner and his friends had "Friday Beer Tasting." On my way out, the owner's best friend said, "Man, what happened, 4 months ago you had all sorts of problems, now you look like a Million bucks!" Very nice. Down 45 pounds since January, down 5 beltloops, shoulders are popping from all the steel work, the owner loves me, I earned employee respect by professionally taking care of business, saw my girls swim and win at 2 meets this week, and I get to go camping with them tomorrow morning. Lastly, on Monday the 24th, I turn 58! Like Masefield wrote, "All that I gave shall be repaid!" Indeed, faith, effort and self-control; I have arrived!

[ozzy69]

My eyes are a light blue as they come and I am a welder trust me 20-30 feet away does nothing to a naked eye. But I'll let you argue with your co workers

[A1food4u]

congrats to the little swimmers! what events are they swimming?

[mrhtbd]

Both are IM'ers, all around but weak in breastroke like me. The 16 yr old is top 2 in Backstroke on the team, the 11 year old is best in fly.

[A1food4u]

Awesome!!!! Girls in sports get into a lot less trouble than others!

[mrhtbd]

My eyes are a light blue as they come and I am a welder trust me 20-30 feet away does nothing to a naked eye. But I'll let you argue with your co workers

I'm sure you're right, but sensed for months his negative attitude and brought it out. Been dealing with jealous/envious pukes for years, fuck that. I guess in a positive note my body restructuring has been noticed and intimidates! He is a smoker. I am buying a pack of Back Woods Cigars and going out with the smokers tomorrow. Gonna break that F-ing strike line once and for all.