OT: Fire Extinguishers

[Finney]

Had a guy come by the shop today asking who serviced our fire extinguishers. (we were fabbing 8" steam line in the back, lots of sparks & fire)
I told him we did not use extinguishers. We started fires, we did not put them out.
He said we had to have fire extinguishers with all the welding.
I walked him out the door and pointed down the street to the fire station and told him those guys put fires out not us. If we put them out they would not have anything to do and would not get to drive the shiney red trucks and could loose their jobs.
He looked straight at me and backed around his car and got in and left without saying another word.
Some of the guys in the shop had overheard the whole thing and were rolling in the floor.

(I actually did this with a straight face, didn't laugh until he left)

[Rig Hand]

Had a guy come by the shop today asking who serviced our fire extinguishers. (we were fabbing 8" steam line in the back, lots of sparks & fire)
I told him we did not use extinguishers. We started fires, we did not put them out.
He said we had to have fire extinguishers with all the welding.
I walked him out the door and pointed down the street to the fire station and told him those guys put fires out not us. If we put them out they would not have anything to do and would not get to drive the shiney red trucks and could loose their jobs.
He looked straight at me and backed around his car and got in and left without saying another word.
Some of the guys in the shop had overheard the whole thing and were rolling in the floor.

(I actually did this with a straight face, didn't laugh until he left)

The joke might be on you before it's over.

A good rule of thump is not to f**k with people who ask about fire extinguishers, air monitors, insurance certificates, first aid kits, and hot work permits.

Hope it all works out ok.

[kcstott]

Depending on local ordinance you are required to have them. How many, how big and what type is up the the local Fire Dept.
This Bozo that walked in your shop just might have been a local inspector. He could have also been a sales schmuck from Acme fire extinguishers. Who knows but I tend not to screw with people that ask those kinds of questions. I simply give them the answer they are looking for and then send them on their way. If this guy was just Joe Blow off the street It's no business of his what you do in your shop. I've chases guys like this out of the shop with the nearest big tool or cordless drill I could find

[Desertrider33]

Had a guy come by the shop today asking who serviced our fire extinguishers. (we were fabbing 8" steam line in the back, lots of sparks & fire)
I told him we did not use extinguishers. We started fires, we did not put them out.
He said we had to have fire extinguishers with all the welding.
I walked him out the door and pointed down the street to the fire station and told him those guys put fires out not us. If we put them out they would not have anything to do and would not get to drive the shiney red trucks and could loose their jobs.
He looked straight at me and backed around his car and got in and left without saying another word.
Some of the guys in the shop had overheard the whole thing and were rolling in the floor.

(I actually did this with a straight face, didn't laugh until he left)

Is this a joke??

I can't believe in this day and age a business owner would actually think this way. Rediculus.

Have fun when your shop burns down!

[Bob the Welder]

I have to agree with Rig Hand and kc on this one. Might want to make sure you have enough extinguishers around with clear access to them to show the next guy who shows up. He might have a lot more horse power than you counted on!

Hope everything turns out alright and good luck.

Bob.

[PTsideshow]

The previous posts are right. Having been, a facilities manager most of my life before retiring. And have dealt with some very strange and sleazy people. In the inspection end of things, you may be surprised by what will happen next. You might now have a steady stream of local,county,state, federal inspectors. Is all your permits, and other government paper work up to date? Is your insurance? Are your floors clean.

I hope it was just the salesman from the extinguisher company. But he my drop a dime on you too, to the guy with the shiny red truck to inspect your place. They tend to wait a week or so, before calling. That way you forget what they look like.
Since I worked for a public entity and was an agent of, and had no control over replacement of equipment. The beef was always with the air quality people.local and feds.
Before I changed buildings, they were up to 3 million in fines and tried arresting me. The smoke inspector, brought his own cup and every morning. He would come by and have coffee and then write me a pollution ticket 5 days a week.
You may have closed your biz or job, by government intervention.

[fjk]

Like the others said, you may have done The Wrong Thing,

But I do have to applaud your style
and the fine way you did it.

Frank

[Finney]

I was just messing with a salesman. I hope he does report me. We have more safty equipment than is required by insurance co or OSHA.

[Finney]

davedarragh,
We have unannounced inspections by codes dept, fire dept, OHSA and AI inspectors.
We someone comes in with XXX sales on the side of their car/truck I figure they are fair game to be messed with.

[JTMcC]

Some of you people obviously haven't had to deal with a constant stream of salesmen year, after year, after year, after year.
If I spent 2 minutes talking with every salesman/woman, I wouldn't have time to make enough money to afford a bucket full of water much less a fire extinguisher.

John

[PTsideshow]

Some of you people obviously haven't had to deal with a constant stream of salesmen year, after year, after year, after year.
If I spent 2 minutes talking with every salesman/woman, I wouldn't have time to make enough money to afford a bucket full of water much less a fire extinguisher.

John

But as it has been said, "in the OP, he either was BSing from the start. Or did an OPPS big time. As no mention of the O Poster knowing who he was dealing with was said. Read the first post again. And a simple no salesmen sign and a not interested would work.
But like some other posts this is just one to get drama going from the direction it is taking.

[JTMcC]

[QUOTE=PTsideshow;207782] And a simple no salesmen sign and a not interested would work.
QUOTE]




No, that won't work with the hundreds of salesmen/women I come in contact with every month. Maybe you are deluged with a more kinder, gentler type of salesperson than I am.

I did read the original post. I took it a a fairly humorous post with a couple of good lines in it.
But I don't fear inspection from any agency (including the IRS who audited my last three years of business returns, all in one swoop), we try to stay good to go around here.

Again, it was just a bit of fun, nothing for me (or anyone) to get worked up over. I like humour.

If Mr. Finney ends up in the Federal Penitentiary System over this international incident, I'll probably go see him on visiting day, and might even sneak him in a few hacksaw blades and some smokes.

JTMcC

[kbraby]

I've gotten to the point where at home, rather than fearing that the knock on the door is another solicitor, I see how fast I can get them to leave my property, and if I can scare them out of the neighborhood. I start by asking to see their solicitation license. It hasn't happened yet, but if one ever fails to let me ask the question before they start a second sentence, I'll be calling the non emergency police number while ignoring them talk. I have yet to have a single one produce a license. Many of them leave rather quickly. One of the started to get into it with me. I told him that the quicker he got off my property the less likely I was to call 911.

[Finney]

Fellas,
I was having fun with a salesman. I thought it was funny and wanted to share it with you.
I don't care if he or someone turns me in.
I probably deal with more different codes, certs and inspectors than anyone else on this board other than JTMcC.
If you are going to get bent out of shape or go off the deep end by what I post. DO NOT READ MY POST, PUT ME ON YOUR IGNORE LIST!!!

[MMW]

I thought it was very funny.