Dis-Orientation
Yesterday I finished my orientation at my new job. As part of it, we heard a lot about customer service, relations, and safety. Safety is a big concern, because the museum caters primarily to children. Every day, over 1000 kids come through, and each one of them is a potential accident. One thing stressed to us was the danger of the escalator. Escalators are fun, but are also pieces of big heavy equipment with pointy teeth and strong motors.
We were shown a particularly gruesome video of a kid getting caught in one and almost strangled to death. It caught his jacket, pulled him down, and began squeezing it around him, choking him. It also pulled part of his arm in, gave him a vicious fracture, and tore up his side. The video wasn’t taken at our center, of course, it was filmed at some subway. We also watched a news cast about a kid who died from falling off an escalator. This was all to drive home just how important escalator safety is, but was a little shocking.
Then we watched a video set in the 24th century about how to respond to emergency alarms, and how to direct crowds and whatnot. The video was pretty standard, but for some reason, set in the future. I don’t understand that at all.
Then we learned how to not get robbed on our way to the parking lot. Exciting! Then I got permission to park my scooter very close to the building, instead of across the street in the employee lot. Another victory for the alternative vehicle!
I’ve got a few days of ‘immersion’ ahead of me where I’m expected to learn things like the location of all the bathrooms, the names and locations of major exhibits, the cost and show times for the OmniMax movie theater (a very cool theater with a huge dome screen), and so on. Basically walking around without my employee badge on so I can learn everything before people start asking me questions.
I’m very excited about this job. I think its perfect for me. Also, its a new position, instead of a replacement, so instead of being expected to do something like somebody I’m replacing, I’m expected to forge ahead and define the position on my own. There are expected duties and basic protocols of course, but the details of how the position works, and how that position fits into the rest of the center depends on me. A good opportunity, I feel. Plus, everyone I’ve met so far has been incredibly happy, excited and vibrant. The work atmosphere is decidedly different than some other places I’ve worked recently that will remain nameless. People are there because they want to be, and everyone, from custodial to management, seems to really enjoy working in the fun environment. I’ve got high hopes for this.
3 comments Wednesday 09 Apr 2003 | Sam | Personal
Hurrah for you, Sam! Working in that sort of environment can make all the difference in your work ethic and sense of worth. Also, I have always suspected something evil about escalators, now I know it’s true.
Dad
Ha! I believe I’ve actually seen that kid-caught-in-escalator film. It must be an old stand-by. Congratulations on the new toils!
I have had an almost lifelong fear of escalators because my second-grade teacher told our class a gruesome story about a woman getting caught in one and being chopped up into itty bitty pieces. I continued being afraid even after I realized that the odds are not very good that that would actually happen. But, after reading this post, I realize my fear may be founded in truth! Horrifying.