US lifeguard fired after saving man...

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by DJM83

OH&S is the biggest load od crap, its only there to protect people with no common sense, worlds gone mad.

Exactly...our workplace health and safety actually includes stuff like "make sure you check carefully both ways for approaching trains before crossing the tracks"...
...look, we know what we are dealing with, we know that if we don't keep our wits about us, a rampaging lump of steel, say a locomotive weighing 130 tonnes, will turn us into strawberry jam (chunky variety), so we keep our eyes open as a matter of course. Those that don't...well...Darwin in action...

[MITCHAY]

Lol well hopefully they have some good karma come their way. But lets face it. It's not the first time someone has lost their job for doing the right thing over following the rules but the difference was this is between life and death.

It's commendable to begin with because there is no way I'd do that job for $8 an hour period!

That is ridiculous I earned $6/ph when I was 15 in a dry cleaning store. Top bloke I reckon

[NickyN]

It all comes down to money. It's economics...jobs are contracted out because it's cheaper. They in turn can only hire people for those positions and pay less, they need to see a profit. Sad for this company to say if someone is drowning within our boundaries, rescue him. If not, oh well. I'd be LIVID if it happened to a family member of mine.

You say you wouldn't work an $8/hr job but if that's what you gotta do then that's what you gotta do to support your family. Some people don't have a choice. Life is different here in the US.

[Moby Vic]

Who was on duty for Holt?

[mik]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

Who was on duty for Holt?

probably no one i`d say.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

the way the American legal system is he could sue the guy he saved because his swimming in the wrong place caused him to loose his job

Then the swimmer will sue the lifeguard because he didn't want to be saved he may be trying to commit suicide.


Who makes these stupid rules. A firefighter can't go into water 3 foot deep? I'd love to see the oh&s rule maker being in a life or death situation where they cannot be saved due to stupid rules and see how quickly they change their attitude towards the rules.

[solarite_guy]

here's an interesting report from the toronto sun

bold on the last sentence was my addition to the original article

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/07/05...g-drowning-man

A lifeguard in Hallandale Beach, Fla., canned for helping to save a drowning man can return to work, his former boss says.

Tomas Lopez, 21, was fired for leaving the section of the public beach he was paid to patrol -- and in doing so, leaving the swimmers he was responsible for unattended -- a supervisor for the employer, Jeff Ellis Management, told Orlando's Sun Sentinel earlier this week.

On Thursday afternoon, however, the company recanted the controversial decision that's made international headlines.

"I am of the opinion that the supervisors acted hastily. It was not the appropriate course of action to take, " owner Jeff Ellis told the Sentinel.

Ellis said an investigation determined the area where Lopez was stationed wasn't unattended when he left the scene to help the swimmer.

Lopez said he was at his post Monday afternoon when someone ran to him for help. He spotted a man struggling in the water in an unprotected swimming area and ran to assist. He was fired a short time later.

"It was a long run, but someone needed my help. I wasn't going to say no," Lopez told the newspaper.

The man is being treated in hospital.

At least two other lifeguards have quit in protest.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

ahh and whats liability and people sueing each other got to do with socialism?

Oh of course its all the work of commies...

A lot, and actually it is - AGENDA.

It's purpose; one aspect - to gradually weaken the western world where it is imposed. The 'agenda' is wide in application and includes items such as this story. From this point we need to avoid politics.

The US hour per pay rate is, additionally, symptomatic of how dire the economy stateside is, California remains broke.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by DJM83

OH&S is the biggest load od crap, its only there to protect people with no common sense, worlds gone mad.

Certain aspects of it are, but there are still people dying on the job every week in Australia. I have seen things on sites that can kill/maim and nothing is done about it when the issue is raised with the builder. When we sit on the grass the workers/union are the worst people in the world. If you want proof PM me.