[gtvwill]

One of my closest friends was killed in a workplace accident due to the implementation of the safety switch in the device he was operating.

Elevated work platform. He was working underground. They use a small joystick with a safety button on top to control the up and down action of the machines. His offsider was directing movement from the ground.

Ewp hit a obstacle and bounced, my mate ended up falling over the side rail and in the process fell on the lift switch. Pushed it up and pushed the safety switch in because it was located on top. He got crushed and killed between the ewp and the mine roof.

This was a safety device that was specifically put in to increase the safety of the machine. The engineers overlooked this aspect of its implementation during design. Now they have cages over the lift control. That lessons learnt in blood.

Needless to say from this experience I never assume an engineer has thought of all dangers and certainly hasn't engineered devices to be as safe as they can be. It's a downside of designing from the office and not the field. Its also why field monkeys like me get called in to talk to engineers and provide consult. There's a lot yo be learnt when you work on the tools that you don't get in textbooks.