Disciplinary Hearing Help

[mattbrfc]

Just after a bit of advice if possible. I work for a smallish Heating firm, where i have worked for coming up to 4 years. I am a qualified HEating Engineer. This company had me doing plumbing installs and minor electrical works (disconnecting pumps, 2 ports etc). I have had various leaks on different sites where i have had to go back and sort out. After all this the boss made all of us sign a sheet which stated anything that is deemed our fault we have to sort in our own time at our own cost. The biggest of the leaks was the other night where i had installed some 35mm copper pipework upto some lever ball valve (open ended, no caps) on a job i had been on from the start. (after other leaks boss told us he would keep the same men on their own jobs) i started another job in manchester where a guy didnt turn up and had to finish that job off. the guy then carried on with this job and in the darkness knocked one of the valves which once he switched the mains back on flooded one side of the building.

My boss is holding me responsible for not capping this pipework of which had been in for around 3-4 months and i was the only person previously to go up in the roof space where these pipes where. he has now suspended me till a disciplinary hearing on monday on the grounds of gross misconduct and bringing the company into serious direpute.

I know its long winded and its not the whole story but its the main points i could get in rather than writing a whole book. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[lame plumber]

bit sad but not capping live pipework is only going to lead to tears.

 

[kozak1968]

Did the guy who turned the water back on not check for open ends?

 

[hammers4spanner]

Tell them to stuff it go self employed and earn more money wouldn't loose any sleep over that

 

[PhoenixServices]

Learn you lesson cap pipe work as there are idiots about. I livened up a site the other day and the chippys had cut off a temp and left two open ends in a boxing. You just move on.

 

[REDSAW]

you get a lot of leaks?

 

[chris watkins]

What advice are you after then Matt ??
Can he hold you responsible for not capping off ?
How not to have leaks ?
How do you know he knocked the valve in the loft when he was up there & how do you know it was dark?

 

[TBServices]

What advice are you after then Matt ??
Can he hold you responsible for not capping off ?
How not to have leaks ?
How do you know he knocked the valve in the loft when he was up there & how do you know it was dark?

Sounds to me like if you have all that information, the other guy has pretty much accepted responsibility.

Cap it off in future.

 

[SimonG]

Always stick a bit of pipe with a cap end on into a left valve.

As Murphy says, if it can go wrong, it sure as hell will.

 

[Unregistered]

Apologoes for the late reply. The problem is I am not a qualified plumber and a few of my leaks are on plumbing item which I haven't had a days training in my life. He expects jobs done quickly and rushes us to get done so things go wrong.

I know it's dark as its a roof space with with no lighting. I am wonderin can this be classed as gross misconduct potentially resulting in dismissal. Even thought the pipework h's been valved for months with no problems. Yes I understand it should be capped but as it was supposedly my job I knew it was safe.

 

[tamz]

Well now you know better. He employs monkeys he gets monkey shyt (nothing personal)
Your boss is probably being hit with a load of contras (bucks) over this so feels he has to do something.
You are just the unfortunate at the sharp end which is tough but if you haven't been trained how do you or more importantly he, know if you are doing it right.
Fk him. He made the rod for his back.

 

[REDSAW]

ay up tam,
been asleep?lol

 

[tamz]

Wakeing up slowly to the beat
felix - don't you want me (with the original video in it too) - YouTube

 

[Neil K]

Sounds like you best need to start looking for a new job mate, regardless of what happens with this. Fresh start, time to move on. And be more careful in future

 

[Rickster123]

I think the first thing you need to do is work out why you are getting various leaks. Is there a constant theme? Ie not pasting rad valves? I soldered joints? I can understand your bosses view point. They can't afford to pay for your mistakes.

 

[oz-plumber]

If i were you I would expect the worst - marching orders!

Why have you not tried to get yourself qualified?
You seem to have experience but without any qualifications.
Your - soon to be ex-boss - will have to pay the damages caused by you.

Fault and blame will be hard to attribute to any one person, but it sounds like you're going to cop the most of it.

There's always retribution if you feel really disgruntled.

Depending on how you are treated could determine the degree of retribution

 

[Ermintrude]

Your probably better just to resign. Sounds a pleb. But u never leave an open end live. Water gas air steam all the same. Cap the valve then whoever re energises has to reconnect = their problem as u left it safe.

 

[newcastle phill]

All of the above...
But I have never had a job that when it goes pear shaped the employer says I have to pay for it.
That says alot about the person

 

[chris watkins]

All of the above...
But I have never had a job that when it goes pear shaped the employer says I have to pay for it.
That says alot about the person

Call backs on maintenance work I understand but installation work no.

What does your contract of employment say about it ? let me guess, you haven't got one ? Then he hasn't got a leg to stand on.

 

[kris]

This is how if im doing similar id use wheel head valves, how many times have you been working in a sink cupboard where you have washing machine valves that have been disconnected but not capped and you accidently knock it, Ive done it a couple times but you shut it off as quick as it opened so I always stick a cap on, ,,,, I can just imagine a 35mm gusher,,, I wouldn't like to have been the plumber that was onsite at the time,
What I will say in your defense is the plumber should've had a light when crawling in past piopes in darkness as he could've damaged anything with no visible light to assist , also if your put onto a job that someone else started then you go over everything with a fine toothcomb so he should've checked to be fair, hope everything goes ok for you and welcome to the forum,