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"Categories of Risk", or "When Everything is Emphasized Nothing is Emphasized"
Warning labels. Everything has one or more. Every medication says not to take with alcohol. The sleeping pills warn about causing drowsiness. What do we accomplish? We teach people to ignore warning labels, so that when it really matters they ignore that one too.
We squawk and scream here on SS about something being unsafe. I propose a labeling system for "unsafe".
Category 1 UNSAFE - attempting to do something in this category will have a higher than 50% chance of resulting in catastrophe even if attempted once. Things like trying to towbar a 5ton at highway speed with a pickup truck. (Don't ask - I once talked a guy out of trying this).
Category 2 Unsafe - not something you want to try outside of an emergency. Towing a nonrunning 5ton with a chain attached to the tow vehicle and air tanks full. Acts of this order.
Category 3 Unsafe - things you'll probably get away with, but if something unexpected happens it'll bite you. Towing a 5ton with another 5ton without airlines and the brakes caged. Operating a truck with caged brakes, etc.
Category 4 unsafe - not the best way to do things, but not likely to get you, with a small enough sample size. Towing an empty M105A2 with a 3/4 ton pickup truck etc.
Legal and Safe are two completely separate issues. Legal varies by location. Safe is universal. Please please please no comments about legality.
Warning labels. Everything has one or more. Every medication says not to take with alcohol. The sleeping pills warn about causing drowsiness. What do we accomplish? We teach people to ignore warning labels, so that when it really matters they ignore that one too.
We squawk and scream here on SS about something being unsafe. I propose a labeling system for "unsafe".
Category 1 UNSAFE - attempting to do something in this category will have a higher than 50% chance of resulting in catastrophe even if attempted once. Things like trying to towbar a 5ton at highway speed with a pickup truck. (Don't ask - I once talked a guy out of trying this).
Category 2 Unsafe - not something you want to try outside of an emergency. Towing a nonrunning 5ton with a chain attached to the tow vehicle and air tanks full. Acts of this order.
Category 3 Unsafe - things you'll probably get away with, but if something unexpected happens it'll bite you. Towing a 5ton with another 5ton without airlines and the brakes caged. Operating a truck with caged brakes, etc.
Category 4 unsafe - not the best way to do things, but not likely to get you, with a small enough sample size. Towing an empty M105A2 with a 3/4 ton pickup truck etc.
Legal and Safe are two completely separate issues. Legal varies by location. Safe is universal. Please please please no comments about legality.