What is the strangest thing you have either put in the trash compactor, bailer, incinerator, or garbage can; and gotten away with? Was it official, or were you just lucky your bosses didn't catch you? I've got a few myself, so here they are:
1.) Water heater in a Trash Compactor. Yes, it was official, though I think the trash guys didn't like it. Hey, my boss said do it. You know though, those things are lined with glass? So, when you cycle the compactor, they make a rather neat and satisfying crunching sound. Scares the snot out of anyone inside the store mind you, but still it's cool.
2.) (not my story) Friend of mine was working at a grocery store that still used their incinerator. One day he and some other guys noticed if you flicked a bit of flour in the flames, it'd sparkle. Well, one brainiac got the idea of flicking a whole lot more. Grabbing a bad bag of flour, he cut the top open and proceded to throw the whole thing in. The cloud of dust caught fire and a rather large blue flame darted out of the machine only to singe all the hair off his face. Didn't hurt him otherwise, but he learned his lesson.
3.) One whole case of paint cans in the bailer. This one was a bit of an accident, I at the time was working the bailer, and didn't know that one of our managers; in a rather lazy attempt at getting rid of some paint, had tossed it up in the machine. I say lazy, because I hope he wasn't that stupid. Still, the stuff had gotten compressed somewhat, but hadn't crushed the cans. I had this huge load of boxes that I just tossed in, and then stood at the side of the machine to cycle it. Walking away, I suddenly hear a series of loud WHUMPS! Turning back, I see that our bailer is now several colors, from neon day glow pink, to a rather nice chartruse and several mixes there in.
4.) (father's story) My dad worked at a company that made lawnmowers and chainsaws. (primarily chainsaws.) His company had decided to build this burn off oven outside the plant, with the idea being that anything which had paint on it that could be salvaged, from engine parts, to paint hooks; would be placed in these large bins and put in this oven. The fire would burn off the paint, and then they'd reclaim what they could. Cost them several hundred thousand dollars and two EPA permits to get it, so the big day came. The day of the first load. A forklift came up with this large metal basket with a large lump (maybe close to a short ton) of painted chainsaw parts to reclaim. They loaded up the machine and turned it on. Dad said a few minutes later he heard fire alarms going off and they ran to his office. You see, corporate had missed something when they came up with the oven idea. Well, several somethings. 1.) The chainsaw housing was made from an alloy of aluminium and magnesium. This was done to keep the weight down. 2.) Magnesium burns. 3.) Once it gets burning, you can't put it out. By the time he gets out there, the oven's gas has been shut off, but it's too late. The steel was begining to drip, droop and well suffice to say they had to keep a hose on it for three days before it all cooled down. You know, I never thought concrete could actually burn, but apparently it can.
1.) Water heater in a Trash Compactor. Yes, it was official, though I think the trash guys didn't like it. Hey, my boss said do it. You know though, those things are lined with glass? So, when you cycle the compactor, they make a rather neat and satisfying crunching sound. Scares the snot out of anyone inside the store mind you, but still it's cool.
2.) (not my story) Friend of mine was working at a grocery store that still used their incinerator. One day he and some other guys noticed if you flicked a bit of flour in the flames, it'd sparkle. Well, one brainiac got the idea of flicking a whole lot more. Grabbing a bad bag of flour, he cut the top open and proceded to throw the whole thing in. The cloud of dust caught fire and a rather large blue flame darted out of the machine only to singe all the hair off his face. Didn't hurt him otherwise, but he learned his lesson.
3.) One whole case of paint cans in the bailer. This one was a bit of an accident, I at the time was working the bailer, and didn't know that one of our managers; in a rather lazy attempt at getting rid of some paint, had tossed it up in the machine. I say lazy, because I hope he wasn't that stupid. Still, the stuff had gotten compressed somewhat, but hadn't crushed the cans. I had this huge load of boxes that I just tossed in, and then stood at the side of the machine to cycle it. Walking away, I suddenly hear a series of loud WHUMPS! Turning back, I see that our bailer is now several colors, from neon day glow pink, to a rather nice chartruse and several mixes there in.
4.) (father's story) My dad worked at a company that made lawnmowers and chainsaws. (primarily chainsaws.) His company had decided to build this burn off oven outside the plant, with the idea being that anything which had paint on it that could be salvaged, from engine parts, to paint hooks; would be placed in these large bins and put in this oven. The fire would burn off the paint, and then they'd reclaim what they could. Cost them several hundred thousand dollars and two EPA permits to get it, so the big day came. The day of the first load. A forklift came up with this large metal basket with a large lump (maybe close to a short ton) of painted chainsaw parts to reclaim. They loaded up the machine and turned it on. Dad said a few minutes later he heard fire alarms going off and they ran to his office. You see, corporate had missed something when they came up with the oven idea. Well, several somethings. 1.) The chainsaw housing was made from an alloy of aluminium and magnesium. This was done to keep the weight down. 2.) Magnesium burns. 3.) Once it gets burning, you can't put it out. By the time he gets out there, the oven's gas has been shut off, but it's too late. The steel was begining to drip, droop and well suffice to say they had to keep a hose on it for three days before it all cooled down. You know, I never thought concrete could actually burn, but apparently it can.
Comment