Loud Talkers, Burn Calluses & Safety

I love loud talkers in cafes; their conversations, although not usually very exciting, are at least entertaining -  especially when you need a break from  working... it’s like a little vacation in the midst of a busy day.

Today as I was sitting in my favorite work spot – I was graced by a loud talker about 3 feet from me. I had been working for a number of hours on a talk I was going to give and so I really needed a break however, today the content of this loud talker's conversation was more applicable to me than I could of imagined. 

She started talking to her other co-workers about the “burn calluses” that were on her hands – she was laughing as she then very loudly proclaimed that a pot of boiling water could be poured on her and she wouldn’t feel a thing.  Then as casually as ever she said – “I don’t know why my thighs haven’t gotten these calluses yet – it will be so good when they do.”   I nearly had to pick my jaw up off the floor!

But she wasn’t finished yet – even louder than before she proclaimed that a new girl at work had spilled hot milk on her hands during her first shift and had skin peeling off her entire hand. Not exactly appetizing conversation – but what was strange is just the matter of fact way she was describing these injuries.

Her colleagues' responses were even more surprising; “Yes – that’s just part of the job”. I guess her manager wasn’t too crazy about the PR she was giving the company – because she quietly came to the loud talker and hauled back into a back room – I haven’t seen her in about half an hour. 

This laissez–faire attitude towards workplace injuries is exactly what makes them happen. We need to tell young people that this is NOT just part of the job – and we to encourage both companies and individuals alike to continue innovating new ways to do our jobs... so that we don’t have to put up with burn calluses on our thighs in order to be productive workers.