Some years ago, I worked in a high tech factory. Our electronics were run for many hours in large heating/cooling boxes from -50 to +100 degrees C. at times.
One day, a lot of smoke started coming out of the big box. I had no idea what was causing it. All I knew was we had several thousands of people working in a closed building, and the chambers used Freon R-12, which when heated produces deadly phosgene gas. So, I ran to the phone and called the company internal fire chief.his office was not far away. I wanted him to look at it. The operator said, he is out of the building and transferred the call to the city fire department.
It turned out to be a minor problem, and one of the supervisors made an insulting remark. But, I was also on the company safety committee, and well knew a lot of people are injured or killed in disasters because someone hesitated to call for help. The company fire chief was also safety department chief and he would have been upset if he learned I, a member of his safety committee, had not called it in.
It was somewhat embarrassing to have the firefighters traipsing in, with their uniforms, but I knew I was correct in jumping the gun as I did.
It could have been worse. I might have pulled a fire alarm switch and had a couple thousand workers evacuating the building.
Forgot. He was in the dentist chair with his portable emergency radio when the fire department reported the hit. He was one nervous man for a while. He did agree safety rules said to call it in.
