I started Monday feeling optimistic 'cause I was going to get to do actual work for the first time since I moved here. It didn't last long. Went to a meeting at 8 where we talked about our task, all the different ways we could get hurt doing our task, and how we were going to be safe while doing our task. Then we got all our PPE on (personal protective equipment for those not in the know) including hard hat, safety glasses, TWO sources of light (per person), gloves, ear plugs, at least one radio per team, and steel toed boots all around. We called the control room to tell them who we were, how many of us there were, where we were going and what we were doing there. Then we wrote all our names down on the accountability board with where we were going, what we were doing, and when we were doing it. Then we walked the 20 feet down the hall into "The Plant." I'm not kidding nor exaggerating what we had to do before going to do our task. I wish I was. At that point we split into groups by discipline, piping, controls & instrumentation mechanical, and my buddy and me, civil (just don't ask us to be nice, har har).
My team mate and I decided to start at the roof since our system would be easiest to find from there. Up the elevator we went, and then out onto the roof. The whole while pointing out "step there, don't trip" "watch your head, there's a pipe here" "don't grab that without your gloves" "don't get pinched in the door" because a normal person totally can't see black and yellow danger tape and know to pay attention... or something. Anyway, we made it onto the roof. There was water everywhere, probably a good inch of standing water. We were looking for two tanks, they're pretty obvious. Walked over to the tanks, sloshing through the water "careful, don't slip." Our direction was to inspect the concrete, structural steel and anchorage for these two tanks. The roof, as far as we could tell is concrete with a tar/rubber membrane over it. Meaning you can't see jack shit 'cept the membrane. Looked at the tank bases. We could see an inch or so of the bolts and the nuts that the tank saddles were bolted down with, but we couldn't see the bolt heads to determine their size/type/material. Nor could we see any of the structural steel because it was buried under the membrane and who knows how many layers of tar and calk and sealant they used to patch up the leaks over the last thirty years. We headed down one level to see what we could see from below.
Since the rest of the team was taking the elevator up, we took the stairs down. I've gotten better over the years, but I still dislike stairs that are grating, but it doesn't really slow me down much anymore. Then we got to the mezzanine level... The whole thing is grating, probably a good 50 feet above the floor. I froze. Couldn't breathe, heart stuck in my throat, the whole nine yards. That hasn't happened to me in quite some time. I told my boss when he interviewed me that I am afraid of heights but I will not let it get in the way of doing my job. So I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other. I set my eyes on my partner and just focused on walking towards him. Then we looked up. We were about 30 feet below the roof. We could see the bottom of the framing members for the pumps. They looked ok. But how much detail can you really see 30 feet straight up? We pointed, shined our flashlights around, mumbled, looked at the drawing, repeated ourselves and each other and generally wasted time. Then we went back to our desks.
Later we met back up with the rest of the group to discuss. We told the requester that we couldn't see any of the structure from above without removing the roof membrane, should we submit a request to have it pealed back? No, that's too much work, the tanks haven't fallen through the roof yet, so the structure must be fine, we'll go with that. Thanks for the help! Um... that's it? That's all you wanted? THIS is what you hired me for? I'm a civil engineer with a bachelor's degree from a school that regularly ranks in the top 25 engineering schools in the country, I have over five years of experience as a structural engineer on a nuclear project and I have my PE license and you want me to look at something and tell you "Yup, it hasn't fallen through the roof yet?!"
I have recorded 170 hours in my new position. 169 of those hours have been "training." The one hour that I actually charged to my job was doing something a high school intern could do. I don't know if I feel awkward because I'm so over qualified, or insulted 'cause they told me this was a great career move or what. I've already been reminded untold times that I'm not in "design" any more, I need to get into "walk-down" mode. We don't need to look up stuff in codes, think about capacities or how to repair anything. We observe and report physical findings, that is all. Why did they rush to get me here when they don't even have anything for me to do, simple though the job is?!
Between not having anything to do, worrying about money (moving is freaking expensive!), and everything else my anxiety is in high gear which means my OCD symptoms are getting worse again. I also can't get my Rx for my meds filled here 'cause a NP signed it in WA and that's illegal in Alabama. So I get to drive back into The City Friday to meet a new doc and hope I can get a new Rx before I run out. Maybe she can give me something for the anxiety, and they I just won't care that my job requires absolutely no brain whatsoever. Oh yeah, and my new position, since it requires no brain, I can't get tuition reimbursement to go back to school to keep myself occupied! Sooooo does anybody want to give me tuition money for Christmas??
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