Community Chat

[Cakers3]

Just because one disagrees with the employee does not mean the person doesn't like animals.  Nor does it mean a person cannot post about what they do for animals.

In fact, telling posters not to post about what they do while tooting one's own is rather rude and actually unprovable.

The issue is not the cat; the issue is the employee violated a company rule.

The question is should he have been suspended without pay and for 3 weeks.

Personally I find letting your pets roam freely around the neighborhood irresponsible on the part of the owner.  I don't know if this cat got out on her own or if the owner let the cat roam around.

Also-cats are terrific climbers.  However, coming down from that pole would have meant climbing down backwards-not an easy task for the cat.  Eventually she would have come down but it may have been with a risk to claws and/or a fall.

[Mz iMac]

@nomless"I'm not seeing the answer to my question in the linked article. I googled for more info, but came up with no explanation of why Animal Rescue didn't respond."

Our local news reported that the cat owner who is an animal activist & neighbors tried to coaxed the cat down for 12 hours prior to calling the folks mentioned in the article.  No explanation as to why an "animal activist" waited so long to call.

When he finally called, no answer = left messages.  That was omitted from the article.  Sorry about that.

After he got off the phone he saw the Verizon employee & asked him to help.

[x Hedge]

Thanks for the additional info @Mz iMac .

[Carmie]

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@Ketra wrote:

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@x Hedge wrote:

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@Ketra wrote:

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@ Montana wrote:

Obviously, he did not think of all the things that could go wrong. He responded with his heart.

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@ Montana I’m glad he did it and didn’t lose his job. He weighed the risks and thought he could safely rescue the cat. Good for him!

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WHAT?

You obviously never had to deal with OSHA.

I guarantee Verizon is currently preparing mandatory updated safety inservices for all field staff, and these inservice will be conducted and documented ASAP.

   and

Those poles and power lines are property of the power company. If anything had gone wrong they'd have gone after Verizon too.

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@x Hedge I’ve dealt with OSHA my whole career. We are still humans and have a right to make our own decisions and deal with the repercussions. I would have done exactly what he did and suffered the consequences. 

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I doubt you ever dealt with OHSA personally.  The very word sparks fear in companies.  They can fine companies between $7000 and $70,000 per violation.  There could be more than one violation per incident, and if there is a fatality, the fines are hundred of thousands of dollars.

You do not have the right to make decisions while at work or with your employers equipment if it violates safety rules or company rules or it is not part of your job description.  They own you, if they are paying you.  You just can't go rogue on their dime or on their time.

On your own time and with your own equipment, you can do what you want to and suffer the repercussions.

[ECBG]

What a wonderful person to reach out to save an animal!  Bless him and people that have his courage!

All people need to do is go to Verison's home page and "let 'em have it"!!!  Someont that knows him may very well start a "Go Fund Me" page to help him pay bills.  This likely may cause people to transfer plans!

[sidsmom]

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@ECBG wrote:

What a wonderful person to reach out to save an animal!  Bless him and people that have his courage!

All people need to do is go to Verison's home page and "let 'em have it"!!!  Someont that knows him may very well start a "Go Fund Me" page to help him pay bills.  This likely may cause people to transfer plans!

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@ECBG 

I posted above 👆👆👆

He has over $10,000 in GoFundMe funds.

[Carmie]

@ECBG   I agree, he was a big hearted man.

But, I understand why Verison had to do what they did.  This rescue could cost them heavy fines.  What the employee did was against federal safety rules.

it was a kind gesture, but very illegal and could have cost the man his life.  Verison would have been responsible for his death.

I am happy that all turned out well for the cat and the employee.  He was lucky he didn't lose his job or his life.

[ECBG]

@Carmie Thank you for your kind post.  I read the information as well.  If Version has a bucket, they also have trained linemen that operate them.  This employee is trained around wires and would know the safe distance to keep away from the wires as well as other safe methods of operation.

I feel in light of Verizon having the bucket truck, they are making a test case here.  How can going up on one day to one poll be any different from going to another poll on any other day?

  I fear this may also be a liability issue.

[nomless]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

@nomless"I'm not seeing the answer to my question in the linked article. I googled for more info, but came up with no explanation of why Animal Rescue didn't respond."

Our local news reported that the cat owner who is an animal activist & neighbors tried to coaxed the cat down for 12 hours prior to calling the folks mentioned in the article.  No explanation as to why an "animal activist" waited so long to call.

When he finally called, no answer = left messages.  That was omitted from the article.  Sorry about that.

After he got off the phone he saw the Verizon employee & asked him to help.

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Thanks for the additional info, @Mz iMac .  I appreciate your update.

[1Snickers]

I’m glad both the man and cat are safe.

That  being said, my Grandfather worked for the telephone company. On his last day before retirement he climbed a pole to help a new employee and somehow fell to his death.

I was only three at the time, so I never knew my Grandfather. 

There were no “Go fund mes” to help my Grandmother. (She later became a practical nurse).

Rules are in place because any pole climbing, work or rescues are dangerous.