Dirt Moving Any ideas on how to be reachable when operating your tractor?

[Ford tractor]

We had some walkie talkies that I used to take with me if I knew that someone was coming but with a broad time period of arrival such that I couldn't just wait for them. Now, we have cell phones, those prepaid things (have made a grand total of one call and received one since Christmas when daughter bought them for us). However, I'd have to put a carrier on the tractor to take it with me, as I normally am totally naked except for shoes, hat and ear protection (except during yellow jacket season when I suit up).

Ralph

Too much information!

 

[tulenutn2o]

Serious question... I know part of the joy of tractor ownership is not being reachable.

I've worked at the local Hospital for 19 years... for the last 15 I'm required to be reachable by pager 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

My official day off is Thursday... but still must be reachable.

Here's the problem and it happened again today just like last year.

I was running my Cat D3 Dozer cleaning up fire trails on my parents property in preparation for the annual fire inspection on June 15th.

Hospital paged me three times and I didn't know it till my 76 year old mother was called and drove to where I was working and hiked down the trail and flagged me down.

Between having no cell coverage in the Canyon (Dead Zone) and wearing Ear Protection and the general noise and vibration of the Dozer... didn't realize I was paged until I turned off the Dozer. I keep the pager on vibrate in my shirt pocket... still missed it with the Tractor running. I've also missed one a couple of years ago running the Kubota... also on my "Day Off"

Boss went ballistic and told me in no uncertain terms that I will have to hire someone to do tractor work if it makes me not reachable... not responding is grounds for termination. Hospital has a 5 minute call-back rule.

By the way, I let everyone know at work yesterday that I would be running my Tractor today and not to page me and I had already been in contact with work earlier in the day on a page... had to hike up to the road and attempt to call out having the signal drop twice.

If jobs were not so hard to get these days... I was ready to call it quits...


My question... How do you stay reachable when operating heavy equipment? How do the operators that run tractors, loaders and such day in and day out stay reachable?

I've many times exactly what's involved with fire suppression work and reducing the fuel load... doesn't help. None of the Doctors or Nurses have any concept of what's entailed when someone is operating heavy equipment in remote locations and how a simple page can easily result in 4 to 6 hours of lost time.

Sorry for my rant... hope there is a suggestion out there.

PS... the emergency turned out to be a small 3 hp auxiliary air compressor on the roof mezzanine that was stuck "On" (Pressure switch Contact Points stuck together) causing the pressure relief valve to pop open... staff thought something was going to blow and was making preparations to cancel surgeries.

That must be a wonderful place to work if your Boss is that uptight and non- understanding that employees have lives outside of work. I do not know what your profession is, but if I were to get chewed out because I was not at their every beck and call, I'd have some choice words to fire back. Granted, they would then have reason to me. Have you sat down and figured your "true" salary, given the fact that "your" time is not really yours? I understand the economy is tough and jobs are scarce, but how much control are people willing to give up? I guess I am getting stubborn in middle age.

 

[radman1]

I use to ride motorcyles and carry pager. Clipped it to the top of my shirt, just under my chin. Could hear or feel it well even running down the road at 65 mph. The original cell phones (bag phones) had 3 watts and much more range than any current cell ph. Similar concept to the 3 watt repeater someone mentioned earlier. I would give the repeater or 3 watt booster a try if needed.
Most hopitals will spend the $ to find any reasonable solution for your situation. I do think you should be compensated for being on call 24/7. I do that for my employees, who are not as skilled as you are at your job. However, if you are paid to be on call, then you are expected to respond or be able to respond IMHO. If you are compensated to be on call and can't respond, you may lose your job.

Hospital should have a back up plan if you cannot respond (vacation, illness, personal emergency ect.) Your job seems like mechanical repair or engineer? Other companies can fulfill that need in emergent situations. It does not alway have to be you and redundancy needs to be considered. I work in the medical field. Hospitals hate not being able to perform in critical situations. You will never win any hospital battle if it goes against patient care or critical situations. Not having OR capability or providing expected critical services is one of those. You and your boss will need to find a solution. It will occur again in the future as it has in the past. Maybe next month, next year or in five years. The problem this time seem minor. A compressor issue. However, no one knew how critical the situation really was at the time. Can't risk doing a surgery if a known potential malfunction could occur. Cancelling or diverting OR time is major issue for a hospital.

 

[AKfish]

How about one of those "ear phones"? You know... the ones like that lady that ran her shopping cart into you had in her ear as she scowled and hastily said "Sorry"...

AKfish

 

[ultrarunner]

I use to ride motorcyles and carry pager. Clipped it to the top of my shirt, just under my chin. Could hear or feel it well even running down the road at 65 mph. The original cell phones (bag phones) had 3 watts and much more range than any current cell ph. Similar concept to the 3 watt repeater someone mentioned earlier. I would give the repeater or 3 watt booster a try if needed.
Most hopitals will spend the $ to find any reasonable solution for your situation. I do think you should be compensated for being on call 24/7. I do that for my employees, who are not as skilled as you are at your job. However, if you are paid to be on call, then you are expected to respond or be able to respond IMHO. If you are compensated to be on call and can't respond, you may lose your job.

Hospital should have a back up plan if you cannot respond (vacation, illness, personal emergency ect.) Your job seems like mechanical repair or engineer? Other companies can fulfill that need in emergent situations. It does not alway have to be you and redundancy needs to be considered. I work in the medical field. Hospitals hate not being able to perform in critical situations. You will never win any hospital battle if it goes against patient care or critical situations. Not having OR capability or providing expected critical services is one of those. You and your boss will need to find a solution. It will occur again in the future as it has in the past. Maybe next month, next year or in five years. The problem this time seem minor. A compressor issue. However, no one knew how critical the situation really was at the time. Can't risk doing a surgery if a known potential malfunction could occur. Cancelling or diverting OR time is major issue for a hospital.

Hospitals are used to getting service anytime day or night... most vendors charge portal to portal and some charge upwards of $300 an hour and close to that for travel...

Vacation is handled by bringing someone in for the two weeks I try to get away each year... the reason I said try is because I've been called to work on my way to the airport and on my way home...

Facility Engineer encompasses a lot in a small facility... basically responsible for facility operation, including security, bio-med, building systems and point of contact for regulatory agencies... I stop short of direct patient care in most cases... I think 6 times over 15 years?

My first priority has been getting an up to date job description... so far, nothing forthcoming... part of which is due the planned merger, 2 1/2 years in the works that was cancelled.

I'm paid for 40 hours a week... never more. Recently, the Boss has started to say I'm salaried... that is news to me since I have to turn in a time card and take vacation time for jury duty... something that State Law specifically prohibits for salaried employees

The new T Mobil Cell Phone seems to have much better coverage than AT&T in the areas I frequent and this is a good thing... pager is now history.

 

[tommu56]

ultrarunner

I was just told last week that I have to be reachable 24hrs a day 365 and I need a good pager Co who do you have/ recommend?

They said it wouldn't be a problem that it could be 12 hrs before I get to the plant from my cabin.
We don't get cell service there and they said come up with a plan and we will work it out so it looks like a pager would fit in the gap.

tom

 

[tulenutn2o]

I look forward to my seat time as a time of solitude.A time when I can just think what I want to, or nothing at all. That's being in the ZONE for me. I don't answer phone when on tractor. Any phone calls can wait. I'm available the other avg. 22 hrs a day/7 days a week.:laughing:

 

[tommu56]

I look forward to my seat time as a time of solitude.A time when I can just think what I want to, or nothing at all. That's being in the ZONE for me. I don't answer phone when on tractor. Any phone calls can wait. I'm available the other avg. 22 hrs a day/7 days a week.:laughing:

Like the towing co's that have 23 1/2 hour service

 

[tulenutn2o]

Like the towing co's that have 23 1/2 hour service

Right on!!:thumbsup:

 

[lhfarm]

...My first priority has been getting an up to date job description... so far, nothing forthcoming... part of which is due the planned merger, 2 1/2 years in the works that was cancelled.

I'm paid for 40 hours a week... never more. Recently, the Boss has started to say I'm salaried... that is news to me since I have to turn in a time card and take vacation time for jury duty... something that State Law specifically prohibits for salaried employees

The new T Mobil Cell Phone seems to have much better coverage than AT&T in the areas I frequent and this is a good thing... pager is now history.

As I wrote at the beginning of this, I don't believe your job is correctly classified. You are, it would appear, in an "exempt" i.e. "salaried" position to keep the hospital from paying you overtime. That is illegal. Keep working on the job description. You have a right to know the expectations of the hospital and to know your rights as an employee.

The new phone is good, but it is still an electronic leash - you deserve better than that.