Thinking about giving our maintenance boss at work a (1st verbal) warning tomorrow that I deem his actions towards me this afternoon to be workplace harassment.
Long story short. I work at a export hay processing plant and all operators there use the forklift and hay grab for sweeping the floor around the plant,( we are not supposed to, it wears out the bottom of the grab and clamps) 12-18 months ago the clamps that hold the grab to the fork were replaced. I made a point then with the maintenance boss and the site manager then and on a number of occasions since that something needs doing to prevent the new clamps from wearing.
OPTIONS CONSIDERED
Chain adjustment to keep grab off floor. (bolts seized)
Stopper setup to keep grab off floor
Replaceable wear strip. My preferred option, stitch on some flat bar and replace as required.
I decided about 2 months ago when the wear had progressed to the point of wearing the bolts in the grab clamps that I have wasted enough energy , MORE THAN ENOUGH ENERGY, trying to get something done about this.
Today I was told that if I or anyone else get caught dragging the grab on the ground we will be given a written warning. HOW THE .. can he justify giving me a written warning for something I've pursued to resolve and got to the point of giving up on it.

From what I saw at a hay plant once, steel vs concrete floor was very very frowned upon as fire was bad.
The fire I saw was spectactularly bad
So if you are suggesting a wear strip, say sacrificial nylon flat, then you are an OHS champion saving lives. Tell him to fk up.

It's only harassment if it is sustained and/or repeated on multiple occasions.
If this is the case there needs to be objective evidence of this, such as your personal records of each episode, including dates, times, witnesses, what occurred, and what was said, as well as context of the situation.

You can express your view of todays event, and how you feel about it.

If the offender is straight forward without personality difficulties it should end there.

If the offender is a repeat offender it is not a good idea to advise him/her of your intentions, as the type of personality that perpetrates these type of acts will take it to a next level of harassment, including commence trying to frame (psychological term, not cliche') you as an employee, and person, of poor worth, including expressing doubtful remarks to his axemen, who will then disperse this view to their respective associates and so on. It will also be repeated up the chain of command. Your work will be criticised, and you will generally be rubbished to your colleagues.

In the event of the latter, keep a record. If you have access to a computer as part of you duties the easiest way is to flick an email describing the event home, and drag it to a folder on your desk top. Do not open it at home. Home is your refuge. Do not relive works unpleasantness there.
Put you head down, do your job to expectation, and record all inequities you witness or experience.

You must keep in mind that some are at work to get the job done. Others are there for propping up their fragile egos. Many bosses come under the latter description.

Good luck.

PS, I just reread your post. He is making you responsible for preventative action that he has failed to take. Classic move of a narcissist. Refer to second recommendation

In the mean time all have been told not to do this practice....but people still do.

So they have now issued a final warning....it is simple do not do it!

If you can't clean the place without the forklift, different issue.

The point I've always pushed with the wear strip and contact with the floor is you pick up a small amount of longer fibre straw in the grab then lift it a few cm above the floor, that hay bridges underneath and there's no need to drag the grab on the concrete, but there's operators and there's opperaters

Keep an eye on auction sites like Grays online, you might have to do some digging around, but, there is usually something like this;

May as well try and get the right tool for the job.

res0.graysonline.com/handlers/imagehandler.ashx?t=sh&id=11423367&s=n&index=0&ts=635917066705170000

Surely you don't actually think that's harrassment?

I dare say it's as simple as having to tell everyone, regardless if they are part of the problem or not... It's simple and common however if you're still upset, why not man up and simply speak to him calmly and get his side.

The most important thing is documentation. It's a PITA, but you need to keep a diary with dates and what has been said. If you had a diary of every time you have tried to get the problem solved, his arse would be toast. The problem is that you only realise that you need the notes way after the event when something like this happens. Still, sit down and write your account of the past and then keep it up to date. Legally they are called "contemporaneous notes" and if done well they are worth a shytload in an unfair dismissal case.

Also, make a request in writing, or in some formal setting such as weekly team meeting, for the problem to be fixed. It will then be his WHS matter, and he'll be legally liable if it's not fixed.

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pirrad said..
Thinking about giving our maintenance boss at work a (1st verbal) warning tomorrow that I deem his actions towards me this afternoon to be workplace harassment.
Long story short. I work at a export hay processing plant and all operators there use the forklift and hay grab for sweeping the floor around the plant,( we are not supposed to, it wears out the bottom of the grab and clamps) 12-18 months ago the clamps that hold the grab to the fork were replaced. I made a point then with the maintenance boss and the site manager then and on a number of occasions since that something needs doing to prevent the new clamps from wearing.
OPTIONS CONSIDERED
Chain adjustment to keep grab off floor. (bolts seized)
Stopper setup to keep grab off floor
Replaceable wear strip. My preferred option, stitch on some flat bar and replace as required.
I decided about 2 months ago when the wear had progressed to the point of wearing the bolts in the grab clamps that I have wasted enough energy , MORE THAN ENOUGH ENERGY, trying to get something done about this.
Today I was told that if I or anyone else get caught dragging the grab on the ground we will be given a written warning. HOW THE .. can he justify giving me a written warning for something I've pursued to resolve and got to the point of giving up on it.

OPTIONS CONDIDERED:
get a written warning.
don't get caught dragging the grab on the ground.


Seems Maintenance at your workplace don't want to modify the machinery (probably for good reason) Maintainence cant go modifying stuff because of operators There is a process which takes place to modify a machine to do tasks its not ment to. I.e risk assesments load rating wear rating etc.
Its just a roundabout of bull**** ass covering brought to you by OHS .

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pirrad said..
Thinking about giving our maintenance boss at work a (1st verbal) warning tomorrow that I deem his actions towards me this afternoon to be workplace harassment.
Long story short. I work at a export hay processing plant and all operators there use the forklift and hay grab for sweeping the floor around the plant,( we are not supposed to, it wears out the bottom of the grab and clamps) 12-18 months ago the clamps that hold the grab to the fork were replaced. I made a point then with the maintenance boss and the site manager then and on a number of occasions since that something needs doing to prevent the new clamps from wearing.
OPTIONS CONSIDERED
Chain adjustment to keep grab off floor. (bolts seized)
Stopper setup to keep grab off floor
Replaceable wear strip. My preferred option, stitch on some flat bar and replace as required.
I decided about 2 months ago when the wear had progressed to the point of wearing the bolts in the grab clamps that I have wasted enough energy , MORE THAN ENOUGH ENERGY, trying to get something done about this.
Today I was told that if I or anyone else get caught dragging the grab on the ground we will be given a written warning. HOW THE .. can he justify giving me a written warning for something I've pursued to resolve and got to the point of giving up on it.

You could, progress how you have indicated..
However here is a small tip from one who has observed such actions over my work life.
Taking on a boss, in this manner, may feel good at the time. However, there is a brother in arms mentality at this level. I know, I have been there
You will be on a hiding to nothing, branded a trouble maker, and ostracized within the work group. Happened day in day out.
Never works out well from (and I use term loosely) underlings taking on a boss in this manner.
Yes its all warm touchy feely stuff being sprouted in the workplace by the likes of HR and such, but the end result will be, you zero, boss, 0ne.
Best to adopt the old tried and true method.
Swallow a bit of humble pie, catch him on his own, ask him what had happened to your recommendation, pointing out its your efforts along with his, to keep this area free, or down to minimal maintenance. Point out your efforts don't look to have moved far, and can he help in improving on your recommendation.
Giving verbal warnings from top down, or bottom up in area's other than full on OH&S related, is all touchy feely stuff, and thought up by some chair skidder direct from Uni who thought it sounds warm and fuzzy.
Hope this helps .

Some sensible words here, assuming u value your job.

Walk straight up to him with a big doobie in your mouth dropping ash all through the hay shed.
Blow some smoke in his face and kick him in the nuts at the same time.
It wont solve anything but you will feel amazing and wont have to work there ever again....
Free your soul

Some sensible words here, assuming u dont value your job.

You have lost already at the we are not supposed to but everyone does it. Now they are saying don't do it or else. You are just proposing a common sense work around an unallowed practice. It will never fly because what you are presuming is common sense. So suck it down. It sucks to not be the boss. You have to not do it. Get back at the cant by whitening him at every opportunity if u aren't happy. That's the way things are

are you his superior ?

If not written warnings go down not up :)

Where are you on the Org Chart ?

Unfortunatley sh*& flows down the chart not Up.

I just came from a meeting with my boss and was informed "The management don't want to know as it just makes them look bad, and if you keep raising concerns you will be dismissed"

This was regarding a $1Mill+ FUped bit of outsourced software .

I am now in the sucking it up lounge as I value my job

How did you go?

In my opinion he is actually following the correct process providing he has informed all staff regarding the new policy.

He would be in the wrong if he had singled you out or issued a written warning to someone without prior advising of the policy. If he did not include you in the new policy then he could then be accused of harrasing the other staff.

All staff including the best have to be advised of policy changes such as this to comply with workplace law. If the implications are dismissal then the advice should be in writing to all concerned.

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Toph said..
How did you go?

Fronted him this morning and asked if he had told everyone of his intent to give written warnings if caught, half chuckled and replied "you told night shift, everyone knows" Did ask if it was one of his rules that only applies to some, he has a history of requesting certain things be done but not following through, if you don't give a rats you get away with it. learnt that there's a wear strip in the workshop to be fitted, first I heard about that.
I popped the end off of one of the grab clamp rams late this arvo, one of the maintenance staff was taking it back to the production shed when I was leaving and I believe the boss was there late, think I might find a wear strip fitted when I get to work tomorrow.

Maybe he is a Seabreezer and he saw the flogging he was about to cop

Sounds like you had a win to me though.