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Original poster

Need advice, I cannot forgive myself for a mistake at work

37 replies

CatTrees · 04/05/2023 04:49

Good morning, I have been at my new job (heavy industry) for 4 months. Due to inexperience with a particular machine I don't often use, I absolutely cocked up and caused a lot of damage. No one was hurt but I feel absolutely terrible. I was someone they could rely on and I really let everyone down.

People have been trying to make me feel better, saying it's been done before, won't be the last time but I hold myself to a high standard and can't get it out of my head or shake the feeling that everyone is disappointed in me. Please help

OP posts:
Gardenfish · 04/05/2023 04:59

Bump - was it at final operation op?
ie finishing stages? 100% it can't be rectified?

We have all done something similar.

theGooHasGone · 04/05/2023 05:01

Have you had training on how to use the machine correctly?

People are telling you the truth; mistakes happen and as long as nobody was hurt it's not a big deal. You still have a job. If it was an unforgivable fuck-up they'd have fired you.

You won't make the same mistake again, so you're wiser than you were yesterday. Just don't do it again and everything's fine. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that.

groovergirl · 04/05/2023 05:11

My sympathies, OP. I know how this feels.

However, no one was hurt and no one died. So now is a really good time for you to give the boss some useful feedback on safety in your workplace. Don't keep berating yourself, just work on a practical solution.

Were you properly trained on this machine? If so, would you and your colleagues benefit from regular practice runs?

You've made your apologies, and that is all anyone expects. You can now step up, suggest ways to improve safety, and be a star 🌟

Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 05:15

I've suggested ways it can be improved, all the other machines have alarms and are honestly more technologically advanced. The one i had to use does not and I was not aware that it didn't have the alarms

OP posts:
FlorenceOrTheMachine · 04/05/2023 05:23

That you're reflecting on it is good, but perhaps in a less negative way. Rather than beating yourself up turn it into a learning opportunity for yourself and others. Not just the specifics of this machinery, but on a more abstract sense. You might find more general life lessons beyond the work.

Pretty sure absolutely everyone has screwed up royally at some point (I know I have). It’ll soon be forgotten.

"To err is human and to forgive is divine" - Alexander Pope

Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 05:29

Everyone is telling me it's okay, I even had another manager come up and tell me he did the exact same thing years ago, I am just having trouble moving on for some reason

OP posts:
GoodChat · 04/05/2023 05:35

You're just embarrassed. You'll feel better when someone else makes the same mistake. Have you used the machine again since?

It sounds like you've found a lovely supportive workplace. That's invaluable.

Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 05:44

They are a really good bunch, I am lucky. My boss is still not happy but it is what it is. Have not used the same machine since, it's out of action for a week at least I think unfortunately

OP posts:
123rainbow · 04/05/2023 05:51

Everyone makes mistakes. Don't beat yourself up, we learn better when we do so.

LordEmsworth · 04/05/2023 06:03

Have you had training on using the machine? It sounds like not, if you didn't know it doesn't have alarms. In which case - it's not your mistake, it's theirs. Not only that, it's happened before, and they haven't put any controls in place to stop it happening again; which makes me wonder how good their risk management and health and safety practices are. This should be a warning sign to managers to do something to prevent it happening again...

Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 06:05

That's true. Training here isn't the best, it's sort of sink or swim. A lot of new employees as well so we are more or less learning as we go.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 06:06

I have had some training, it wasn't the best obviously if I didn't know it didn't have alarms. I've pointed out to management what could have helped me

OP posts:
monotonemusings · 04/05/2023 06:07

You should not have been asked to operate machinery without proper instruction

dunBle · 04/05/2023 06:24

As @groovergirl says, no-one died, no-one was seriously injured. And while the machine is going to be out of action for a while, it doesn't sound like it's damaged beyond repair. Yes, you screwed up, but you're not the first person to have done so, and part of the responsibility lies with those who were meant to train you on using the machine. If it's the only one that doesn't have alarms to warn that you're going over tolerances, then it's good practice to have warning signs on the machine (within visual range while using it if at all possible) to remind you of that, and what the limits are. If this error means that mitigations are put in place to stop other people making the same mistake, then in the long run it's a minor issue.

sorrynotathome · 04/05/2023 06:28

You’re being self-indulgent now, as you have been reassured several times and clearly you still have a job. Maturing includes accepting that you’re not perfect and you will make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is how you improve. Stop the pity party and move on, otherwise you’ll get stuck and your colleagues will get fed up.

Original poster
CatTrees · 04/05/2023 06:32

@sorrynotathome you're right, thanks for that. Can't dwell on it or hit myself over the head with a stick forever. Thanks for the reality check

OP posts:
cocoloco117 · 04/05/2023 06:34

No idea why you should feel bad, it’s entirely your companies fault. In fact you should be angry at them. Lack of proper training is entirely on them. In an ideal word there should be a culture where you are able to refuse to use equipment you don’t feel trained or confident to use, not this ‘sink or swim’ just get on with it bullshit. They should be investigating thoroughly and putting measures in place to improve their training systems. Even though no one was hurt it should still be classed as a near miss, so health and safety should get involved, though I’ll hazard a guess that’s also borderline non-existent. Needs to be taken seriously (by them) or next time someone, maybe you, could get hurt.

ThisNameIsNotAvailable · 04/05/2023 06:43

When I fuck up (because everyone does), I just remind myself that I’m not operating a life support machine which has proper, serious consequences if you make a mistake.

Ladybug14 · 04/05/2023 06:48

sorrynotathome · 04/05/2023 06:28

You’re being self-indulgent now, as you have been reassured several times and clearly you still have a job. Maturing includes accepting that you’re not perfect and you will make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is how you improve. Stop the pity party and move on, otherwise you’ll get stuck and your colleagues will get fed up.

This for sure

You ARE becoming self indulgent despite the fact that the same mistake was made before on the same machine and your employer has done nothing about it

AlwaysUtterChaos · 04/05/2023 06:54

Try thinking about what would you say if this had happened to someone else, would you be as mean with your words to another as you're being to yourself.

We all make mistakes, chalk it up to experience and be kind to yourself x

HoeAbout · 04/05/2023 07:02

A colleague made a mistake with a machine at work once, which led to it breaking - I didn't think anything negative of them, as mistakes happen and we're all human!

PP is completely right, part of being a responsible, well balanced adult is allowing yourself to move on.

I sometimes judge things by what their significance would be a year in the future - for example, will this mistake at work affect you in a year's time? Absolutely not, in a few days you won't even be thinking about it! So you can forgive yourself and let it go :)

Reallybadidea · 04/05/2023 07:04

It sounds to me like you're feeling worried that this will have changed how people see you - that previously they thought you were capable and a safe pair of hands and now they don't?

People don't usually change their opinion of someone based on one incident. If you minimised it, tried to blame others or made the same mistake again then your colleagues might think differently of you. But the fact that they're all trying to reassure you demonstrates that they have faith in you and like you. They might even think more highly of you now because you're willing to accept responsibility and obviously care about your work.

Maybe actively try to stop thinking about it? Every time it comes into your mind then change the subject in your head. It's ok to move on from your mistake now.

Lullibyebye · 04/05/2023 07:13

I know it is totally different but I broke the slush puppy machine on my second day of working at an activity centre for children. The tears. Tears all day from children who wanted slush puppies. Parents stressed because a Fruit Shoot wasn't gonna cut it. My new manager pissed because Slush Puppies were one of the biggest money makers there and she had to also pay someone to fix the machine. If 16 year old me can get over it, so can you especially as everyone at your work said it was ok.

Tinybrother · 04/05/2023 07:15

the thing that will make you feel better is time. You sort of have to live through the mortification and it’s awful, but no one was hurt, as time goes by it will feel less awful

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