During most of my college summers, I worked heavy construction. In nearly all of those jobs, I experienced scheduling pressures. As a bottom man or laborer, I was placed in physically demanding activities that were dirty and dangerous. We took lots of chances because we thought our calculated risks were necessary to achieve our short-term goals.
Through my summer jobs I gained a great deal of respect for those who work construction and in the trades. But the push to get it done was an everyday part of the job, especially in the 1970s. Thirty years later, I’m thankful to be alive, and realize that my construction experiences lead to my career in safety.