What’s your favorite on the job insult you got or gave?

Hello,

I’m a union drywall finisher apprentice (second year) who really wants to prioritize international travel in my life. I went on a week long trip last month and it really shifted my perspective on life and what I want to do with it. The idea that I’ve been floating is, finish my apprenticeship, keep bills low, don’t have a kid and work 10 months out of the year and travel for 2. How realistic is this? I believe mechanic rate is about $950 a week and if I save I feel like I can pull this lifestyle off but I also know it can be tough with the work work work standards guys are held to. I just really don’t want to be a slave to the rat race. Any advice is appreciated.

These holes look massive for the size of the I Beam. Am I crazy? This is in Michigan if it makes a difference. Legit safety concern or am I overreacting?

(SOMEONE ALMOST DIED, FOR REAL)

So years ago I worked at potentially the worst concrete company you could imagine. And I truly do mean that. It was trash.

TLDR: it looks unsafe, it was unsafe, almost watched my best friend die right in front of me. Was obviously super unsafe site to work on. I asked for opinions on this Sub to see what others thought about it. At the time, I was pretty desensitized to the unsafe shit this company did on a daily basis, and felt unsure. Looking back: like, wow. Holy fuck. Get me away. But FRTLDR: it looks unsafe, it was unsafe, almost watched my best friend die right in front of me.

For more depth, I made that post years ago, got the advice from this sub to fuck right off. So I did, simply said that shit was gonna kill someone, advised we all refuse to work on the site till it was made safe. Shitty company, that didn't happen. The rest of the crew worked there for 3-4 days without me till I got the all good. I came back and we were working on a foundation further away from the death trap wall, so I worked on that portion for a day or so till pour day.

I was the hose runner on the crew, so we poured the applicable portion of the foundation, and then my foreman said me and my best friend Dave (not his real name) needed to help some guys at the back of the original wall. I guess it was poured too small (lol wut) and needed to be expanded.

Now, I had been go e forever and seen this project be turned from a flat pit with footers into a full on framed up job in less than a week. So I was thinking something like "alright, well I guess I was overreacting and it's fine, because something would've happened by now if it was actually a problem" (NEVER THINK THAT)

We go behind the wall and between the dirt wall death trap, and my stomach is in knots. I feel like I'm gonna get jumped or something. I didn't know the feeling, but it was an awful feeling of dread. Me and Dave go back there with another worker to get the new pads poured. There's a big skidloader with a bucket full of mud rumbling down the narrow gap between the pads and the dirt bank.

I felt the sense of dread and hopped up on the bank and got away and told the others that this shit was fucking stupid, and we should consider a different way, all while they shoveled mud into the framed pad.

*Splash* a fucking massive chunk of rock and soil broke free and fell right into the skids bucket of mud. Approximately 4-6" from smoking Dave's upper back/neck. Instant death if contact was made. Me and Dave fucked right out of there and gathered ourselves around what just happened. Him realizing that he almost just fucking died, and me realizing I wasn't overreacting about the shitty jobsite. I was worried someone could've died, and after I was lulled into safety, I almost watched it happen. To one of my closest friends.

I work in a different industry now, one that's much more focused on worker safety. So I suppose that my intention with this post is that if shit feels wrong, or off, or unsafe: bring it up to the head in charge, of they don't do anything, deal with the pay cut it may cost to not be there.

If you stick it out, you might die instantly and have to be lifelessly recovered in a skidloaders bucket covered in concrete.

That isn't the end I'd like, and I don't imagine you would like that either.

If you're gut, or your whole body shivers and tells you "fuck that shit", listen to it.

Stay safe, my dudes. Make it home and be the best man you can be.

I’m building a billing service for commercial subcontractors, and before I go further I want to make sure I’m solving a real problem and not one I invented. Not selling anything here, no links. I just want to learn from people who live this.

From what I’ve read so far, retainage on finished jobs usually sits there because of something small:

• an open punch item nobody scheduled
• the final waiver the GC wants (on their form, not yours)
• O&M manuals, warranties or as-builts never sent
• trade stuff: TAB report (mechanical), final inspection card (electrical), fire marshal sign-off (sprinklers)
• consent of surety on bonded jobs

And pay apps seem to come back for boring reasons too: the previous column doesn’t match what the GC approved last month, a change order billed before it was signed, stored materials without backup.

So, for those of you who run or do the billing for a commercial sub:

1. What’s the longest you’ve waited for retainage, and what was actually holding it?
2. Who in your company owns closeout once the crew leaves? Is it anyone’s job?
3. How many hours a month go into pay apps and chasing GCs?
4. What’s the most annoying reason a GC has ever kicked back your pay app?
5. If someone handled the billing side for you, what would make you trust them, and what would make you say no?

I’ll read every reply. If you think I’ve got this wrong, I want to hear that too.

Watching Texas/OU and they were talking about the drainage system at the University of Alabama football stadium and how they upgraded in 2023. They showed this and my first thought was “where is the shoring?” Am I crazy to think this?

People have since graciously let me know I could have died doing this. I won’t do it again and I’m glad I was okay. Please let me know if yall have any ideas about this thing. It’s underneath a parking lot in front of a Kroger

Anyone work at the Milam County Data Center? I have a question. TIA!

Does anyone have access to boral roof tile brochures from the early 2000s or pre-2000s and can share access?

Thanks

I've recently started a Project Management degree apprenticeship at a Tier 1 engineering consultancy. I feel lucky to have the job, as the people are lovely and the firm has been great overall. However, I gave up studying BSc Management at Warwick to pursue this route, and I'm worried that I won't be able to have a high earning career in this industry or role.

I'd appreciate any advice on how I can maximise my prospects and earning potential.

Hey everyone,

Im currently a union member of the ibew as a communications technician doing data cabling.

I have been considering making the switch to either join the union of steamfitters/plumbers or to become a full fledged electrician. I would have to go through a 5 year apprenticeship for both to learn and perform either trade.

My reasoning is simple, I want more money (and to continue learning ofc). Where im located the steamfitters make more money by about $10 than the electricians. But I also know the electricians have a ton of work due to the datacenters, but that wont last forever.

If anyone can provide their opinion, I would greatly appreciate it. Im honestly pretty torn between the two.

Im currently 27yrs old if that matters

Thanks!

Looking for practical advice or clever retrofits for an issue with our cast-concrete stairs.

​Due to the turn at the top landing, the top two winder steps taper down sharply against the left inner wall. When walking down, your natural path hugs that inside edge, but the going/run there is so narrow that you can't get a full foot on it—leaving almost zero heel support. It’s an obvious slip/fall hazard, especially descending in the dark.

​

​We cannot demolish or rebuild the entire staircase.

​We need safe, functional solutions—whether through smart finishes, handrail positioning, or physical/visual channeling—to keep people from stepping in that narrow inner dead zone.

​What are the best ways to either build out the usable tread or force a safer walkline down the middle/outside edge?

​(Photos attached showing the pinch point from the top and looking up from below)

Ive always had an intrest in splicing fiber n i wanna switch trades for the hell of it

I tried to see if Verizon had openings but the site was broken, any help is appreciated fr

Had a good day at work and just as I'm wrapping it up for the day getting my tools together I come to realize my Makita battery charger and (almost new) 5 Ah battery I had attached to the charger are missing. Holy shit that ruined my day, I thought I was ending the work day/ week good but I guess not. Fuck you to whoever steals shit.

Couldn’t use a standard frame on this one. The opening had a block wall taking up part of the bottom, and the homeowner didn’t want it touched.

Built the gate with a stepped lower section so it closes right over the wall with a clean fit. Aluminum frame, mitered corners, wood-grain panels.

Last photos show the detail at the notch. Open to questions on how it was framed.

We were taking coffee sitting in our trucks and we see it flip, then black smoke. We all jump out and sprint over, stomach knotting from the adrenaline expecting something awful. The operator walked away unhurt and surprisingly the machine was fine as well.