Fatality at work: safe cellphone use

[shootingstar]

Since a worker fatality at our construction site workplace is still under investigation, one doesn't know.

But... all employees today, were given the drill-down on NO use of cellphones with emphasis to pay attention, not use ipods when operating equipment or being around moving equipment.

Do any of you use cellphones while cycling? Please reconsider. No this was not a bike accident. But already it's just amazing to read about split second accidents (not as fatal but injurous) when one is not totally concentrating on the primary task/activity at hand.

[Zen]

But already it's just amazing to read about split second accidents (not as fatal but injurous) when one is not totally concentrating on the primary task/activity at hand.

Like driving a car?

[LBTC]

shootingstar - so sorry to hear this news. Sending butterflies to you and your crew.
I agree - I think it is unsafe to cycle while using an ipod, just as I am too much of a spaz to talk on my cell while driving my car.
Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[OakLeaf]

Hugs, shootingstar. That's bad.

LBTC, it's the ones that DO talk while driving that are the "spaz"s, not you. Don't perpetuate the myth that people who talk while driving have magic powers that give them twice the amount of attention as other people.

[Grog]

Sad to hear about the fatality at your work site. Construction is dangerous business. No need to make it worse with distractions!!

The other day on a local bike route (i.e. shared with cars but not many of them) I rode for a few blocks behind a guy who was talking on the phone, holding it with his left hand, while his right hand was tucked away in the right pocket of his pants.

I was pretty impressed with the skills level but not too much with his judgment. I was really not feeling too safe either, as it would have caused trouble for me if he went down.

[SadieKate]

I just laugh at all the people, particularly young women, I see walking down the street talking on the phone or listening to an iPod. I would guess the muggers love them. Periodically, I can't resist a little "Boo!" from behind them.

[shootingstar]

Let's put it this way, what I know now that could happen on a construction site (not just unsafe use of cellphones /ipods), I now just tend to walk more quickly away from an active construction site.

I have also heard stories from guys who know others in the transport truck industry. Yes, there are careful ones, then there are those prone to drug abuse.

As cyclists, we just can't assume people are alert to think about us.

[carpaltunnel]

Periodically, I can't resist a little "Boo!" from behind them.

Last Friday I was biking home from work down a city trail, approaching a big guy jogging with ipod things in his ears. I could see him a long way off, and rang my bell, yelling "On your left" at least three times. Then, as I was passing him he finally noticed me out of the corner of his eye and he screamed and jumped. He was so intent on his music that my presence in his peripheral vision really startled him. If he'd been on a construction site...
ShootingStar, Comforting thoughts and hugs for you and your co-workers today.

[milkbone]

I totally agree.... I work as a paramedic and I see all kinds of stuff on a daily basis, and it seems most people have the "it won't happen to me" attitude. I am so "over-protective" and cautious myself and for my two boys, heck my two boys are the only two that wear helmets when riding their bikes.

Be careful everyone.

[Dianyla]

My boyfriend operates vintage trolley cars in San Francisco. Seems like at least a few pedestrians per year walk into/in front of/under their cars, usually with a cellphone in hand. One guy was on his cellphone, looked right at the moving trolley car, and stepped in front of it accidentally.

[Tweet]

I know too many people who do this. so sad.

[HoosierGiant]

Invariably the car that's left of center, that rolls through a stop sign, or that whiffs us with only an inch or two of clearance is being guided by an inattentive motorist talking on a cell phone. True drivers don't engage in such antics.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I bought a new phone only because I had to. It's the Walkman one so I can play MP3s on it. The best part is that I can answer my phone through my headphones.

Now when I ride on the road, I usually don't wear them or I have the headphones with music off and I can answer my phone hands free. The reason? Well there are people that worry about me riding my bike to work and it's easy for them to call and say "you okay" and a quick "yeah goodbye" makes them happy. I can't talk and ride for too long.

Now mtn biking I wear headphones and listen to music and the phone will ring through and I can answer the phone. Again the "are you ok" calls. For me this makes me not as hesitant to ride because someone can check on me. I hardly run into another person on most trails I ride on but the ones I do know there are other people, I take one headphone out and can easily hear.

Now wearing headphones and cranking it and not hearing traffic would not even be an option. I got the cheapy headphones where I can hear everything behind me. I saw a guy riding a bike (no helmet) with noise cancellation headphones. What is he thinking?