You work for a small firm that does various small-scale projects such as photovoltaic power system installations, wind turbines, heat pumps, and backup generators for homes and small businesses. You are the only electrician on a crew that includes two mechanics, two general workers, a millwright, a sheet metal guy, and a plumber/pipefitter.

Roger, the crew boss, asked you to help work some sheet metal for a couple of hours because you were caught up with the electrical work, and the rest of the crew was busy. You agreed to help the sheet metal guy, serving as a rather expensive helper to him. It was only for a couple of hours, so this seemed sensible compared to hiring a helper for the whole day.

Pete, the sheet metal guy, decided to start with a safety orientation, since you’d never worked sheet metal before. After explaining how to safely handle sheet metal, Pete explained the rules of using the sheet metal brake safely and had you demonstrate. Roger came by at that moment and told Pete to stop goofing off. When Pete said the safety orientation wasn’t complete, Roger said, “It is now. Get the work done.”

As you were scoping out a future project the next day, you realized it would require two electricians or at least a second year apprentice to help you. When you mentioned this to Roger, he said, “Pete can help you, just the way you helped him. There’s practically no sheet metal work on this job.”

You said that might be OK for something where you just needed an unskilled helper, but this was going to require someone who can safely work around 480V power, can take voltage measurements on live equipment, and has taken a lockout/tagout course among other things. Roger said he’d talk with the project manager and get back to you. A week later, you asked the project manager about the problem, and he said it was the first he’d heard. Next, your crew went out on a job that involved installing solar panels on a roof. You could see right away the equipment for getting them up there and maneuvering them in place wasn’t on site. When Roger arrived, you told him about the problem. He said there were enough people that equipment wasn’t needed. When you objected, Roger said to go home if you didn’t want to work. At this point, what should you do?

Roger gave you a false choice. It’s not that you don’t want to work; it’s that you don’t want to work dangerously. Not only would the panels be at unnecessary risk of damage, but there would also be personal safety risks. A back injury or a fall are both distinct possibilities.

Roger already bullied Pete for being a safe worker. Roger is a crew leader and has abused what little authority that position actually provides. Don’t walk off the job. Call the home office, and explain what just happened. A similar problem happened with a small, family-owned firm in the Midwest. In that situation, one of the workers was bullying other workers into taking safety shortcuts, and the crew leader neither stopped the behavior nor reported it. Both of these people were fired.