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Unread 01-04-2013, 08:58
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Re: Petition to end the shouting of ROBOT

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetraman View Post
I'd rather sign a letter being sent to FIRST Headquarters, rather than an internet petition. I feel that FIRST may not even be aware of the issue, and sending a letter addressing the concerns and asking for action is a lot more convincing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EricH View Post
Yes to all three. I would actually start out with the third one, pointing out that "safety" advisors are actually advocating practices that either hinder safety or do not advance it, in addition to actual safe practices. (And be specific.) Actually, I'd be sure to point out that it's only at some events, so there is distinct inconsistency. Then I'd cast the first two as better alternatives to one of the issues discussed previously, and note the need for better training on other items. I just think that that order makes better logical sense, better flow, that sort of thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebarker View Post
Where do I sign up ?

When someone yells 'ROBOT'

I want to say "oh look, a robot ! bless your heart"
Quote:
[and so on]
Question: are we all serious about this? Something like

We are writing to you today as a group of concerned mentors and volunteers. It has come to our attention that some teams are receiving advice from safety advisors that either hinders or does not advance safety. Though there is considerable variation between events, we are concerned that some competitions have begun to advocate unsafe practices or reward spectacle, potentially at the expense of safety. Here are a few examples:

• Requiring teams to yell “Robot!” when relocating, despite the contribution to chaos and dangerous noise levels in the pits. It is additionally startling and distasteful to the general public and desensitizing to teams, while a simple “please excuse us” has proven effective at many other events.
• Rewarding or abetting teams that engage in this and similar “spectacle” practices (such as stopping all traffic or attempting to control intersections) that have minimal if not negative safety consequences.
• Requiring the use of gloves in situations contrary to OSHA standards (for instance while operating small band saws), or mandating other non-standard or even unsafe practices. This can create very serious safety hazards for both teams and visitors.

As an alternative, we propose that safety advisors across all events reexamine the safety value of the practices they support, and ensure they are advocating OSHA standards correctly. In addition, we support the use of a polite escort in front of teams’ robots during transit in order to request specific people to move as required. For situations in which the pits are overly crowded, we suggest the safety advisors routinely remind teams that all equipment, personnel and visitors remain in their pit area, and that any overflow is best remedied by limiting equipment or team members (so as not to impact visitors’ access to FIRST).
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