Idiot Customer, curious kid

[Acp]

******* stressful job yesterday. First before anyone says anything we send out a prep email on every single job. At the top in bold it says "please read very important"

one of the first key points it says is keep kids and pets secure, the equipment can be dangerous. All young children and pets need to be kept in a area away from where we are working.

We are finishing up a bunch of upholstery for a deaf family and getting ready to clean some stairs and a few rugs when their kid comes home through the front door. I guide him into the kitchen where his mom is, she is watching him at this point and keeping him in the kitchen.. so I thought


I start running solution line downstairs and my guy is bringing the vac line into the hallway, he sets it down and turns around to get more slack... in less than 5 seconds this kid walks away from his mom into the hallway.. grabs the ******* vac line and sticks his hand into it.


long story short the TNT was literally sucking this 4yr old kid into the vac hose, he was screaming extremely loud (deaf) and the vac hose was literally sealed to his shoulder and the lift was charging up.

his entire ******* arm was sucked into the vac hose.

I got so mad at the lady.. she was messing with her phone while this happened. I told her if the kid would have put his mouth up to it that would be it.

such a dumb situation, we literally had to grab this kid by the shoulder and rip his arm out of the vac line

if you arent sending out a prep email your an idiot, and if you are.. shit can still happen

 

[steve_64]

Geesh again I'm an idiot.

But I've never had these problems.

 

[Cleanworks]

I can understand your frustration but you should never leave your vac hose loose like that when your unit is running. It should always be attached to a tool. If the kid had put the hose in his mouth and something bad happened, it would be YOUR fault.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

This happens too much. We could have pages on commentary on inattentive parents.

My favorite remains the guy who was talking to a lady and found his back was getting wet and looked up to find a little boy urinating on him from the second level railing. If it was told here, details would be great, as my memory has faded.

I do seem to remember that the mother was unfazed by it.

 

[Zee]

Yes some people are idiots.... But you're a bit of an idiot too to try to rip the kid out of the vac hose instead of disconnecting the vac hose at the very nearest connection point or simply jump on the hose with two feet to cut the airflow.

 

[Acp]

I can understand your frustration but you should never leave your vac hose loose like that when your unit is running. It should always be attached to a tool. If the kid had put the hose in his mouth and something bad happened, it would be YOUR fault.

actually my girlfriend works at a law firm, she confirmed with someone at the office that its very unlikely they could put fault on us because they were warned.

If there never was given any kind of info about keeping children away then yes its our fault.

 

[Acp]

Yes some people are idiots.... But you're a bit of an idiot too to try to rip the kid out of the vac hose instead of disconnecting the vac hose at the very nearest connection point or simply jump on the hose with two feet to cut the airflow.

you mean all the way out at the truck while the kids screams, it was much faster to pull him out. you can stand on this hose its pretty hard to pinch it

its really the customers fault, maybe you had to be there but she was warned, I also brought the kid to her so she could keep him in the kitchen...

then while playing with her phone/facebook or whatever the kids sneaks away from her. Im not kidding the hose was set down for literally 5 seconds, we all set our hoses down while working in a house its part of the job

plus at his age that kid should have been taught to not touch things like that. My Nieces and Nephews are 4 and 5 and they would never touch a hot stove etc, because they were taught you dont do that

 

[hogjowl]

That kid will take a gun to school one day.

 

[Acp]

I can laugh at it now... at the time I was really stressed and felt really bad for the kid.

now I cant stop thinking about the look on this kids face when the TNT was sucking him into the hose HAHA, priceless

lol his entire arm was in the vac line and it was sealed to his shoulder

 

[Cleanworks]

actually my girlfriend works at a law firm, she confirmed with someone at the office that its very unlikely they could put fault on us because they were warned.

If there never was given any kind of info about keeping children away then yes its our fault.

Yeah keep thinking that if it makes you feel better. I remember a story about a carpet cleaner who did the same thing, only it was a curious cat that became attached to the hose. The cat freaked out and tore up some draperies trying to escape. Just keep your hose attached to your tool. No, not that one.

 

[SamIam]

This happens too much. We could have pages on commentary on inattentive parents.

My favorite remains the guy who was talking to a lady and found his back was getting wet and looked up to find a little boy urinating on him from the second level railing. If it was told here, details would be great, as my memory has faded.

I do seem to remember that the mother was unfazed by it.

No pretty sure that was Dave!

 

[SamIam]

That kid will take a gun to school one day.

To soon

 

[SamIam]

I can laugh at it now... at the time I was really stressed and felt really bad for the kid.

now I cant stop thinking about the look on this kids face when the TNT was sucking him into the hose HAHA, priceless

lol his entire arm was in the vac line and it was sealed to his shoulder

Well that sucks!

 

[1900 North]

Dude, you’re clueless. “HaHa, priceless?” That last statement brought my blood pressure up. You injure a small child or a beloved pet, I don’t care what you told the customer, you’re toast. If the customer can’t or won’t control their child, children or pets, politely walk away from the job. If you keep the attitude you have at the moment, you’d better hope you have good insurance and an even better attorney.

 

[SamIam]

My story was I presprayed a living room dining room.

In the living was a built in alcove with ceramic tile for plants or a tv.

This ladies 7-8 year old was running around and I warned him with her in ear shot!

Be carful you run onto the tile with wet feet your going to slip and fall.

Sure enough he dashed across the carpet from the alcove hit the opposite wall and turned to head back to the place he was warned would kick his arse!

As he ran a yelled Noooooo!

He hit the wet tile slid into wall lipping above the outskirt of the alcove, slammed into the ground, and crashed into the wall!

Only to groan and cry!

After the loud thud!

The Mother exclaimed “ HE TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT!”


She was right I did!

She proceeded to whack him on his noggin and get him out of my way!

On his way out He looked at me with a hurt ego wondering how he could of administer such a self inflicted butt whooping upon himself!

I left and never laughed so hard!


I still hear that voice

“He told you not to do that!”

 

[SamIam]

Dude, you’re clueless. “HaHa, priceless?” That last statement brought my blood pressure up. You injure a small child or a beloved pet, I don’t care what you told the customer, you’re toast. If the customer can’t or won’t control their child, children or pets, politely walk away from the job. If you keep the attitude you have at the moment, you’d better hope you have good insurance and an even better attorney.

Pretty sure no one wanted this to happen!

But I agree, don’t leave hoses running unattended.

 

[Acp]

Yeah keep thinking that if it makes you feel better. I remember a story about a carpet cleaner who did the same thing, only it was a curious cat that became attached to the hose. The cat freaked out and tore up some draperies trying to escape. Just keep your hose attached to your tool. No, not that one.

so never in your career have you set a hose down in a home without a wand attached?

what does your prep email say that you send out to every job? just curious

 

[Acp]

Dude, you’re clueless. “HaHa, priceless?” That last statement brought my blood pressure up. You injure a small child or a beloved pet, I don’t care what you told the customer, you’re toast. If the customer can’t or won’t control their child, children or pets, politely walk away from the job. If you keep the attitude you have at the moment, you’d better hope you have good insurance and an even better attorney.

ya okay, im clueless. shit happens man. and ya when I look back on it, it was kinda funny... only because the kid was fine and not hurt at all, just scared. Trust me I wasnt laughing when it happened, I felt horrible.

This mom doesnt keep track of her kid, her phone was more important.

what if I was a carpenter and had a saw in the house, is the kid going to walk up and chop his own hand off? I guarantee most contractors out there dont have any warning to the customer about keeping their kids away from dangerous tools, its common sense

what about if I was cutting wood outside and a kid walking by runs up and cuts himself when I walk away from the saw for 5 seconds

 

[SamIam]

It all comes down to negligence!

If it can be proven or not.

 

[Acp]

My story was I presprayed a living room dining room.

In the living was a built in alcove with ceramic tile for plants or a tv.

This ladies 7-8 year old was running around and I warned him with her in ear shot!

Be carful you run onto the tile with wet feet your going to slip and fall.

Sure enough he dashed across the carpet from the alcove hit the opposite wall and turned to head back to the place he was warned would kick his arse!

As he ran a yelled Noooooo!

He hit the wet tile slid into wall lipping above the outskirt of the alcove, slammed into the ground, and crashed into the wall!

Only to groan and cry!

After the loud thud!

The Mother exclaimed “ HE TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT!”


She was right I did!

She proceeded to whack him on his noggin and get him out of my way!

On his way out He looked at me with a hurt ego wondering how he could of administer such a self inflicted butt whooping upon himself!

I left and never laughed so hard!


I still hear that voice

“He told you not to do that!”

I had the same thing happen pretty much, the place was small so we asked the customers to leave while we completed the work. Out of nowhere the wife comes bolting in the front door to grab one last thing, I dont know why she was even running ADHD or something... comes running in jumps over my hoses and eats shit on the tile floor.

I was like wtf....

 

[Andy]

A prep and warning letter or not you are required to do your due dilegence. Standard industry practice and direction when you purchase a truckmount, DO NOT LEAVE THE HOSE UNATTACHED WHILE THE MACHINE IS RUNNING!! If there had been any serious injury your lack of due dilegence would put you on the hook.

 

[Dolly Llama]

My turn

You're only half wrong, Bjorn

yea, the parent is at fault
But as professionals, we also have a responsibility to guard against hazard


the part you're wrong IMO, is trusting a homeowner (that has no clue how dangerous our equipment can be) to take it as seriously as we have to

you were aware a little kid came in.
If your Wingman wasn't aware, you should of made him aware and cautioned him



I don't think there's a damn thing funny about this either
You could of just as easily been his g'damn EYEBALL!!!

Yea, she was stupid and irresponsible
But so were you!!
we as professionals have a responsibility to NOT be stupid and take it a little more seriously

ain't nothing funny about this dude
was it "your fault" she didn't watch the kid?...nope
But you absolutely could of prevented it
and you have a responsibility to do so

..L.T.A.

 

[hogjowl]

I once had a lady break both wrists after being warned. She didn’t sue, but she never called me again either.

 

[Acp]

I knew I shouldnt have posted this here lol

oh well, a little scare for the kid, he probably learned his lesson.. really not that big of a deal but could have been much worse. Glad he was okay.

Changing the policy to nobody in the house while we are working. Now I know why some of the big franchises require that.

 

[hogjowl]

Yeah
Good luck with that

 

[Acp]

Yeah
Good luck with that

lol ur prob right but ill try.

I can think of one nationality that will have a big problem with it

 

[Dolly Llama]

I knew I shouldnt have posted this here lol

why?
we've all done stoopit chit

oh well, a little scare for the kid, he probably learned his lesson

more important, did you learn from it?

Changing the policy to nobody in the house while we are working

yea, that's real realistic ....

..L.T.A.

 

[DAT]

Preprare
Protect
Prevent

You clients in their home are your responsibility when you bring dangerous tools in the home. This is very serious even in shop or field in construction, welding or cleaning, and is firable offense.
Unattended active vac hose is 100% preventable. I hope i dont make that mistake. I think it be best to have a razor to cut hose for vac release to assist that scenario..

 

[Acp]

why?
we've all done stoopit chit




more important, did you learn from it?

I definitely did, this literally happened in a matter of 5 seconds.. never take your eye off small curious kids.

a lot of customers do leave during the job, mostly because they dont have time to sit and watch... Im at least going to try and convince the rest that we need the house for a couple hrs

 

[Acp]

lol

 

[Cleanworks]

so never in your career have you set a hose down in a home without a wand attached?

what does your prep email say that you send out to every job? just curious

Not that I haven't or done other stupid things but I have learned not to do some things. I once had a kid prespray himself in the face. Luckily not with a harmful substances. Taught me not to leave a pressurized tank lying around. I try to have a standard system for my setup, cleaning and wrap up. After I finish my pre inspection, pre vac and anything else I need to do, I bring in my solution line and hydroforce. After prespraying, I hook up my wand making sure the ball valve is off. Then I bring in my vac hose, hook it to the wand and roll it back out to the truck. I learned the hard way when doing 2nd and 3rd floor apts, to shut off the TM before dropping the hoses back down. Don't really need to be sucking in people's flower gardens.