• Question: What is dangerous about being a engineer ? Where is your favourate place to go on holiday ? Who is your favourite engineer ?

    Asked by floatingfether987 to Neil, Philippa, Pete, Paula, Matthew on 15 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by 653sftb43, 534sftb43, cal_wba_coyb.
    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi!

      I’m quite safe as an engineer because I work in an office most of the time! However, sometimes engineers in my industry are required to go offshore to oil rigs (some more than others). There is more risk on oil rigs because you need to fly out there by helicopter, and you are also on a platform that is processing oil and gas (fire hazard).

      Nowadays, we have lots of rules and regulations that must be followed – and these ensure that engineers offshore are safe. They also receive special training called “Offshore Survival”, so that if anything does go wrong, they are trained and know how to react.

      I mostly like travelling to mainland Europe!

      My favourite engineer is an ancient greek called Archimedes. One of the things he is famous for is Archimede’s Principle. This states that a submerged object experiences an upwards force that is equal to the weight of the displaced water (the water that the object has shifted out the way). The is called BUOYANCY, and is the reason that objects appear to weigh less under water.

      I have to use the equations behind this principle most days at work – so I’m thankful!

      Hope this helps!

    • Photo: Philippa Jefferis

      Philippa Jefferis answered on 15 Mar 2015:

      For me, I am fairly safe in the office. However, I am designing things for people to do on site – and if proper care and risk management isn’t taken then it can be a very dangerous place. You are often working with specialist machinery or concrete which can give you nasty alkali burns. So safety is paramount when doing any engineering.

      I love travelling to lots of different places – but I prefer sunny holidays to cold ones. Though I did just get back from a week skiing which was great fun.

      My favourite engineer is Brunel – he really pushed the boundaries of engineering in his time and he invented so many clever things.

    • Photo: Pete Symons

      Pete Symons answered on 19 Mar 2015:

      Hi floatingfehter987

      There can be pretty dangerous part of engineering, but none that I really have any experience of. I used to have work buddies that used to have to go out to Afghanistan to support the Army,s o I guess that’s what you could call dangerous!

      My favourite place to go in Holiday is a place called Pollenca in Northen Majorica, it’s so peaceful there and a really good environment for my two daughters. I’m going again in June, I can’t wait!

      My favourite engineer is no-one famous, but he’s my boss! I have worked with him for that last 9 years in one job or another and he inspires me to be innovative and different in my approach to problems!

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