Latest on MJJC

I need some insight, please

Minnie

Proud Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2011
Messages
0
Points
0
Long story short, I experienced a grease fire yesterday at work where I was responsible for the store, all employees and all guests. I was in charge.

No-one was hurt, and I pulled a so-called ansul system which is an especially designed system to kill grease fires without spatter of the grease. I've been told it's VERY expensive to fix after pulling, but truth be told, I felt I had no other choice.

Only issue is... all day today, I've felt like crap. I keep visioning the fire, and I go over the scenario again and again, wondering if I should've acted differently.

It sounds absolutely ridicilous since nobody was hurt, it never escalated outside 3-feet tall flames in a deep fryer, and the only loss was the money and hours it takes to fix the deep fryer.

So why do I feel like crap? Why do I keep wondering if I should've done things differently?

I thought about talking to my boss yesterday, asking him if him and I can have a private conversation about what happened. I guess I need to hear from him specifically that I did the right thing. Would it be a good idea to do this?

I HATE feeling like this... cause nobody got hurt!!!
 
Minnie said:
Long story short, I experienced a grease fire yesterday at work where I was responsible for the store, all employees and all guests. I was in charge.

No-one was hurt, and I pulled a so-called ansul system which is an especially designed system to kill grease fires without spatter of the grease. I've been told it's VERY expensive to fix after pulling, but truth be told, I felt I had no other choice.

Only issue is... all day today, I've felt like crap. I keep visioning the fire, and I go over the scenario again and again, wondering if I should've acted differently.

It sounds absolutely ridicilous since nobody was hurt, it never escalated outside 3-feet tall flames in a deep fryer, and the only loss was the money and hours it takes to fix the deep fryer.

So why do I feel like crap? Why do I keep wondering if I should've done things differently?

I thought about talking to my boss yesterday, asking him if him and I can have a private conversation about what happened. I guess I need to hear from him specifically that I did the right thing. Would it be a good idea to do this?

I HATE feeling like this... cause nobody got hurt!!!
Click to expand...

I think it's what happens when you feel you had no time to think with your full concioussness after something happens under huge stress.
It's a bit like post traumatic stress syndrom but hopefully not that strong... it follows you, you do live it through again and again... seems your soul wants an answer if the situation was solved ok.
So I do think it is a good idea to talk with your boss or whoever you feel is right for it.
My personal impression out of this short description of the situation by you is you did 100% right as you've solved it without that anyone was hurt.
If there is a thingy like that to use when it's under fire, you did absolutely right because it simply was under fire.
Is anyone at your work in doubt about that but you yet? I don't think that would be fair. You were the one responsible and you did act like that.
 
aww hugs Minnie, I know what its like to be in position of responsibility. Yes absolutlty, you did the right thing. As ridiculous as it might seem, what you could be going though is POST TRAMATIC STRESS. Now I know people most associate it with soliders who have been to war, but actully many people experience it without realising it. Its actully the bodys delayed reaction to a major shock. I went though something similar after coming home from September 11 in New York. You get flashbacks, feel guilt, and wonder if you could have done something different. Its al totally ok to feel like this, and unless you have actully experienced it, its very hard to explain to people what you are going though.

You were responsible for the saftry and well being of your satff and you did what you though best at the time. Thats all that matters. In extreme circumstances, people react on instinct, and survival is the most important thing. How ever expensive, buildings and equipment can be replaced, but no insurance money can replace a person
 
I feel absolutely ridicilous... I'm tearing up right now, litterally at the verge of crying.
I don't know if anyone doubts I did the right thing, maybe that's why I'd like to speak to my boss, because I need to know he doesn't doubt me.
 
minnie, its ok, you have been through a big shock and what you are going though is delayed reaction. At the time, you were calm and resonsible and made sure everyone was ok. While you were taking care of everyone else, no one was taking care of you. Its only now, that you are safe and that you dont have to do anything, that your brain is catching up on what you have been though. Scream, cry, do something, let it all out, you need to. Dont bottle it up, its part of recovery

some info about POST TRAUMATIC STRESS

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalheal...ressdisorder/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx
What does PTSD feel like?

Many people feel grief-stricken, depressed, anxious, guilty and angry after a traumatic experience. As well as these understandable emotional reactions, there are three main types of symptoms produced by such an experience:

1. Flashbacks & Nightmares

You find yourself re-living the event, again and again. This can happen both as a "flashback" in the day, and as nightmares when you are asleep. These can be so realistic that it feels as though you are living through the experience all over again. You see it in your mind, but may also feel the emotions and physical sensations of what happened - fear, sweating, smells, sounds, pain.

Ordinary things can trigger off flashbacks. For instance, if you had a car crash in the rain, a rainy day might start a flashback.

2. Avoidance & Numbing

It can be just too upsetting to re-live your experience over and over again. So you distract yourself. You keep your mind busy by losing yourself in a hobby, working very hard, or spending your time absorbed in crossword or jigsaw puzzles. You avoid places and people that remind you of the trauma, and try not to talk about it.

You may deal with the pain of your feelings by trying to feel nothing at all - by becoming emotionally numb. You communicate less with other people, who then find it hard to live or work with you.

3. Being "On Guard"

You find that you stay alert all the time, as if you are looking out for danger. You can't relax. This is called "hypervigilance". You feel anxious and find it hard to sleep. Other people will notice that you are jumpy and irritable.

Other Symptoms

Emotional reactions to stress are often accompanied by:

  • muscle aches and pains diarrhoea irregular heartbeats headaches feelings of panic and fear depression drinking too much alcohol
  • using drugs (including painkillers).
 
Last edited:
It's one of those things where part of me wonders if my boss will think I'm not up to the job if I tell him how I feel, yet if I don't, the fear and the... stress, I guess, will eat me up anyways...

A catch 22...
 
It seems a bit... I don't know... extreme labelling how I feel at PTSD. I just took an exam in psychology 3 weeks ago, so I know PTSD... LOL

I like 'delayed reaction' better...

Bah... I'll probably set up a meeting with my boss tomorrow. Then if he doesn't think I'm up for the responsibility, he'll have to fire me.
 
you are up to the job and by doing what you did shows you are. You acted responsibly, activated the correct safety device, and made sure your staff were out of danger. In extreme circumstances you kept calm and followed procedures. You demonstrated leadership and resonibility and great character strenght. Thats what your boss will see. Im sure though that your boss will recomend you take some time off. You will probally say, No, its ok, Im fine. In reality you do actually need some time off. You need to be able to deal with this in your own time. Now its hard, cos you are a mess but thats ok. In a few days you will have a different view, and hard as it might seem now, you will be a better person cos of this. You did it, on your own, you made the decissions, and yes you can cope in exteme situitions.
 
My next shift at work isn't till next wednesday. It's just a part time job - my full time occupation is as a student - I study social work.

But thank you so much for everything, moonstreet :)
 
your welcome, just glad I can be of help. I went through 3 months of hell after september 11, had no idea what was happening to me, but finally made it though and now I can use my experiences to help others. You will be ok and if your boss fires you, Im on the first plane over to tell him what an idiot he is!!!
 
Minnie you're under shock. If talking about this doesn't really help the situation you'll please go and look for some professional support. Heck ppl go with a cold to the doctor at times also.
Don't worry about your job. You're in a european country and your boss can't fire you for acting simply responsible as you did. I mean ok McDonalds is known not to be too nice with employers here also... but geez you will just apply at Burger King... they pay even better as far as I know and the work will be pretty much the same not worse.
No seriously... if your boss really wants to fire you then please know you don't need a boss like that really and someone like you will most likely find a good job again.
 
Thanx Mechi :)

I set up a meeting with my boss this afternoon, so it should be fine. And I do feel better today :)
 
Hi Minnie, it sounds like you did exactly the right thing. A grease fire can go out of control rapidly. You may have saved lives by your quick action! I'm sure the meeting with your boss will be fine.

Keep us posted?
 
Hey guys,

Just wanted to update y'all. I had the meeting with my boss today, who said that I followed procedures. That I did the right thing, but that he might've reacted differently. He did make it very clear, though, that since he didn't see how big the flames were, he doesn't know if there were any other options than what I did, but that I did the right thing.
He also said that if - God forbid - anything like this should ever happen again and I crash like I did yesterday, that I should just give him a call, regardless of what time it is etc. So that's good to know.

One of my co-workers made a comment about how there was a mess the next day and she thought we should've cleaned up more, but after I spoke to my boss it didn't bother me, because her opinion just isn't important. What's important is that my boss things I did it right.
 
Hey Minnie! I agree with the others that you probably are/were still in shock. Your subconscious mind probably was thinking what "could" have happen and was shaken by it. And I think that in any job where you have a lot of responsibilities, you can't help but to think if you did the right thing sometimes. I often have days when I leave work and keep going through everything I did to make sure I didn't forget anything, and of course especially in emergencies you always wonder if you did the right thing, if you reacted quick enough, if you shoudl have done something differently, etc. etc. I think that's probably just called being human and being a responsible person. I know you did the right thing (I mean really...money vs. people getting injured if the fire would have gotten out of hand? You did what you could do protect the people around you and that can only be the right thing to do!!). I think it's good that you talked with your boss. It's always good to get things like that out of your chest and it gives you confidence for the future too when you know you can always go to your boss with whatever problems you might have. :)

Don't worry about it! I know you did a good job and did the right thing! *hugs* Love ya! :)
 
aww, Im so glad you sorted thngs out with your boss. Hopefull now your subconscious mind will relax and you wont be as anxiouis and fretful. Its all a learning process, and in time you will see how this experience will make you stronger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top