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+--- Thread: Nobody’s Perfect: Real-Life Slip-Ups from the panswork Community (/thread-6074.html)
Nobody’s Perfect: Real-Life Slip-Ups from the panswork Community - MikePhua - 07-03-2025
In one of the earliest and most endearing threads on the panswork forum, administrator digger242j set the tone for a welcoming, judgment-free space. His post, titled “Just so nobody feels bashful about looking stupid in front of everybody else,” was a candid invitation for users to share their most embarrassing moments on the job—starting with his own.
A Close Call with a House
digger242j recounted a nerve-wracking experience operating a Case 580 backhoe near a house foundation. The ground was slick, the space was tight, and every move brought the machine closer to the house. Eventually, he had to use a skid steer and a tree as an anchor to pull the machine out sideways—thankfully, without damage. His takeaway? He now knows how to extract a 580 from a foundation pit... but whether that makes him wiser is still up for debate.
Community Confessions
The post struck a chord. Soon, other panswork members chimed in with their own tales of mechanical misadventure:
- One user nearly drove a skid steer into a customer’s swimming pool after sliding down a hill—he now refuses to operate without tracks.
- Another shared how a Lull telehandler punched a hole through a house wall and had to be rescued by an excavator.
- A late-night operator flipped a backhoe off a gravel pile and had to “borrow” a track hoe from a nearby site to get it upright again.
This thread became more than just a collection of bloopers—it helped shape the culture of panswork. It reminded everyone that mistakes happen, even to seasoned pros, and that sharing those moments helps others learn (and laugh).
Final Thoughts
In a field where precision and safety are paramount, it’s refreshing to see a space where humility and humor are just as valued. The panswork community thrives not just on technical know-how, but on the honesty and camaraderie that come from saying, “Yep, I’ve been there too.”