Absolutely agree with Eric on this. No radios allowed in our office or lab - if your head isn't in the work, you need to work somewhere else.

Edison Coatings, Inc.
Michael P. Edison
President
3 Northwest Drive
Plainville, CT 06062
Phone: (860) 747-2220 or (800)341-6621
Fax: (860)747-2280
Internet: www.edisoncoatings.com
         www.rosendalecement.net
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]

---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Hammarberg, Eric" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:21:07 -0500
Subject: Re: [BP] Our Incredibly Precious Trades Heritage + mobile phones

> Agree absolutely!
>
> I discourage people in my office from iPod listening as I intentionally
> group my team together so the less experienced can hear how the senior
> folk work and the senior hear if/when the less experienced make
> mistakes on the phone etc.
>
> I can't work with music on as I am a 100% engrossed type person. When I
> worked at Bob Meadows office, there was a great guy there who listened
> to Charlie Parker etc a lot and I could not get anything done with that
> on - it requires 100% of my head to listen to it and I could not focus
> on anything else.
>
> I know people who ride bikes and ski with iPods. Can't do it! Gotta
> hear the trail under my tires and the gears shift, or when skiing,
> hearing is incredibly important to gauge edge on the snow.
>
> Wood work is the same nuanced endeavor, actually more.
>
> Eric Hammarberg, Assoc. AIA
> Vice President
> Thornton Tomasetti
> 51 Madison Avenue
> New York, NY   10010
> T 917.661.7800  F 917.661.7801  
> D 917.661.8160  
> [log in to unmask]
> www.ThorntonTomasetti.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The listserv where the buildings do the talking
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Leeke
> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 11:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [BP] Our Incredibly Precious Trades Heritage + mobile phones
>
> > On another note (John?)
> > what is y'alls' thoughts on cell phone activity on the job site?
>
> Cell phones? Just like iPods and boomboxes, these devices are
> distractions from the work. The obvious distraction is that while
> fiddling with the phone the work is not getting done. But there are more
>
> important issues.
>
> I have noticed that some of the best craftspeople and artisans I have
> worked with need and used the audible connection with their work to make
>
> the work better. If the carpenter can hear and listens to the
> ssssssssnick, ssssssssssnick, sniiiiickKKK of the wood shaving passing
> over the steely edge of his hand plane he can use that connection to
> know more about how the work is going, know perhaps when to shift the
> angle of the plane, or when the edge is getting dull. Subtle but
> definite improvements to craft work can be made through the ears. In
> my own work this has been true since I was a kid.
>
> Some will say their music gets them in the "zone" with the "flow". Their
>
> music may make them feel better while they are doing their work, but
> it is a disconnect from the work. They make get some good work done
> while listening to something else, they could get better work done
> while listening to the work.
>
> I know of one case where a worker saved his life when he heard a
> subtle creak for the scaffolding just before it failed, while the
> worker right beside him who was wearing an iPod lost his life. Of
> course I do not know that his happened BECAUSE of the iPod, but I do
> know that I will never wear an iPod while up on a scaffold.
>
> All else equal, I will select a worker who listens to his work rather
> than an iPod or cell phone, and have sometimes actually used this as a
> selection technique.
>
> John
>
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