Warning: My back hasn't been the same since the days of dragging full cable reels solo

Honestly, back in the early 2000s, we just muscled through everything without a thought for our bodies. Tbh, I'd spend whole days in tight attics or crawl spaces, hunched over and pulling wire until I was stiff as a board. Ngl, I woke up one morning and couldn't stand up straight, which was my wake-up call. It took weeks of ice packs and cheap painkillers before I could work normal again. Now, I see crews using hand trucks for heavy loads and actually discussing warm-up exercises. It's wild how the trade has slowly started to care more about keeping us in one piece. I make a point now to do a couple of back stretches before I even pick up my tools, and it makes a huge difference. Really makes you realize how much damage we did just by not knowing any better.

3 comments

3 Comments

kevin_hernandez831mo ago

Yeah @michael_mason you're right, the actions are way behind the talk. The culture shift is real but it's slow as hell. What finally got me was forcing myself to do a 5 minute warm up, like actual leg and back stretches, before any heavy lift. Also stopped carrying everything on my shoulder, got a rolling bag for my big tools. Saved me more than any safety meeting ever did.

michael_mason1mo ago

You mention the trade caring more now, but that feels way too positive. I still see guys throwing out their backs on the regular because they won't slow down. The talk about safety is nice, but the actions haven't really caught up yet.

the_willow1mo ago

Well, we have the safety meetings now with the fancy new hard hats and vests. Then you watch a guy try to lift a water heater alone because asking for help would hurt his pride more than his spine. Real culture change right there.