Dirty Great Machines

[lastlid]

All tunnelling (well, construction work for that matter) is potentially dangerous, but when you're working with such powerful and incredibly noisy machinery, 10,000 volt electric supply lines, an unsupported tunnel with a rough rock surface, a foot or more of water on the floor and gallons pouring in all the time...all in partial darkness and restricted space...

I used to call it 'a vision from hell'.

It was always 'interesting' probing the ceiling with long steel bars to locate insecure rock so that it would come down....hopefully in front of you before falling on someone else's head.

WOW. I kind of get the picture. Potential for injuries and dare I say it fatalities...

I would have said that I imagine it paid well but no doubt they used Philippino labour...

[grahamw48]

WOW. I kind of get the picture. Potential for injuries and dare I say it fatalities...

I would have said that I imagine it paid well but no doubt they used Philippino labour...

I was in charge of a gang of HK-born Pakistani workers.

Chinese either wouldn't go down there because of superstitions, and when the govt did send some on a work programme, they were either lazy so and so's or just couldn't cope with the (surface) work. None would go down the tunnel.

We did have some very capable Chinese engineers and the odd fitter/welder, so I won't rubbish all the Chinese staff.

[lastlid]

I was in charge of a gang of HK-born Pakistani workers.