I only heard about on it the Monday after.
The week-end computer operators were told that, on Saturday, there would be a large delivery of computer tapes, about 1 english tons worth ( US 1000 pounds, metric 500 Kgs ).
They were told to take the tapes off the pallets, load them into the goods lift and take then up to the first floor, where the computer was, and then carry them round to the computer room.
( Is this a UK thing ? First floor is above the Ground floor )
Then the "Smart-Alec" ( there is always one...) says,
"look I can drive a fork-lift, why don't I pick up the pallet, drive it into the lift ( elevator to you Americans )and we can get half the tapes up to where we want in one easy go ?
They all looked at each other, checked, it all looked good the elevator was rated for 2 tons, no problem, so they did it.
Unfortunately ( you knew I was going to say that...) it was rated at 2 tons in 1904 when it was first built but over the years this had been reduced to 1 ton, so , on pressing "up" it sank 3 inches, doesn't sound much but it activated all the safety alarms so the lift would not move.
Think of it, they have done something they should not have done, broken something they should not have touched....
They try to back the fork-lift out of the elevator but it has sank too much........
OK says the Smart-alec, we will back another fork-lift up to it and tow it out.
They have a sort of fork-type of tow hitch,which you put a pin through for towing
they back another one up, set it up niceley, drop the pin through and try to pull it out, yes, you will have guessed, it could not pull over the lip of the sunken lift ( elevator )
By this time you will have guessed they are getting rather stressed as the company they work are not very forgiving.
So they try to seperate the 2 fork-lift trucks, unfortunately the pins are so badly bent this is not possible.
So on Monday when Managment arrive..........
The tapes they need are not in the computer room.....
The goods lift is out of action
2 of their fork-lift truck are stuck in the lift.....
OK, I should have been sympathetic, but how would you have been ????
Dave Moffitt