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Quick summary for those who can't read Polish: - He was a water spider in an Amazon warehouse. - On 5 Sep, 2021 he asked his team lead to assign extra help be

Quick summary for those who can't read Polish: - He was a water spider in an Amazon warehouse. - On 5 Sep, 2021 he asked his team lead to assign extra help because he and his colleagues couldn't keep up with the amount of work. An argument between them ensued but some help was assigned at the end of the day. - In the morning of 6 Sep, 2021 he felt stabbing in his chest and had difficulties breathing. He asked the team lead to call a medic (there were medical care worked employed by Amazon) but he refused and offered to walk him to the medic instead. - He passed out on his way to the medic and never regained consciousness. - An investigation was opened on 7 Sep, 2021.

fhaldridge7 5y ago
What's a water spider?
- lqet 5y ago
  I found this: https://www.flexpipeinc.com/ca_en/role_of_waterspider/ https://www.flexpipeinc.com/ca_en/role_of_waterspider/ > Water spider is a term that refers to a specific person whose main job is to take care of intermittent tasks such as supplying material at workstations.
- GaryTang 5y ago
  It’s the only species of spider known to live entirely underwater.
- grn 5y ago
  According to https://kanbantool.com/kanban-guide/water-spider https://kanbantool.com/kanban-guide/water-spider: > A water spider is a Lean production personnel role centered around timely and accurate stock replenishment. The water spider team member is similar to a mobile Kanban system that refills the production line with the required materials to maintain a steady flow.
- okl 5y ago
  "The water spider is a term that refers to a specific person whose main job is to make sure that materials are supplied to where they are needed. While this is mainly a material replenishment position, it offers a bit more flexibility, and some additional benefits if well-implemented. The rationale behind having such a person is to allow the rest of the personnel to devote their full attention to tasks that add value to the process. This also highlights how much transportation waste and inefficiency exists in the process by isolating it all into one or more positions." https://www.shmula.com/what-is-the-role-of-the-waterspider-in-lean-manufacturing/22565/ https://www.shmula.com/what-is-the-role-of-the-waterspider-i...
- jes 5y ago
  I had not heard the term either. Based on what others have written here, the position sounds similar to, but not exactly the same as, what manufacturing companies call an expeditor: A person assigned to the manufacturing floor who gets hot (late) orders finished and shipped as soon as possible.
  - tyingq 5y ago
    It was "rover" or "free safety" a long time ago when I worked in a factory. Both borrowed American football terms that seem to fit reasonably well.
  - JJzD 5y ago
    An expeditor works on (late) customer orders, and does what is necessary. The water spider supports the people working on customer orders. I'd consider that a major difference, but your mileage may vary :)
londons_explore 5y ago
> He asked the team lead to call a medic (there were medical care worked employed by Amazon) but he refused and offered to walk him to the medic instead. This is the step that most people would point out as the main 'mistake'. However, a medic without his equipment isn't a lot of use, and it's pretty likely the facility had a medical bay. For a patient who can walk, taking them to the medical bay will probably lead to better care quicker than calling the medic out. Walking there with someone is a very sensible precaution. Imagine the reverse... Medic called to employee. Medic doesn't have defibrillator in equipment bag (it's filled with stuff for more common accidents). Employee dies because now the medic has to make the journey from the medical bay to the employee four times, taking far too long.
- Randosaurus 5y ago
  This isn't what would have happened. The trained medical personnel would have been far more likely to identify that emergency services was needed. Those personnel are on site for a reason and it isn't because they're expected to be able to deal personally with every single medical emergency that happens. This type of comment happens far too often on HN.
- yardie 5y ago
  I took a CPR/First aid class a few months ago and one of the things we were told was to grab the portable defibrillator or know where one is nearby. Our office defib is no larger than a lunch box so not sure why a medic wouldn’t carry one. Also heart attacks is one of the most common incidents. 25% of my CPR training was dedicated to using it properly.
- meheleventyone 5y ago
  If you think someone is having a heart attack please call the emergency services immediately and hope you don't need a defibrillator or to perform CPR. Edit: To add I had one in May despite being fit, young-ish and with no cardio-vascular problems. It came on whilst swimming and I foolishly carried on through it, got dressed and walked home, lay down for a bit before I got my wife to take me to the emergency room where they did approximately 4 seconds of EKG before stuffing me full of drugs and rushing me to surgery via an ambulance. For an idea of the level of potential for dying the ambulance came with a doctor as well as paramedics.

fhaldridge7 5y ago

What's a water spider?

lqet 5y ago
I found this: https://www.flexpipeinc.com/ca_en/role_of_waterspider/ https://www.flexpipeinc.com/ca_en/role_of_waterspider/ > Water spider is a term that refers to a specific person whose main job is to take care of intermittent tasks such as supplying material at workstations.
GaryTang 5y ago
It’s the only species of spider known to live entirely underwater.
grn 5y ago
According to https://kanbantool.com/kanban-guide/water-spider https://kanbantool.com/kanban-guide/water-spider: > A water spider is a Lean production personnel role centered around timely and accurate stock replenishment. The water spider team member is similar to a mobile Kanban system that refills the production line with the required materials to maintain a steady flow.
okl 5y ago
"The water spider is a term that refers to a specific person whose main job is to make sure that materials are supplied to where they are needed. While this is mainly a material replenishment position, it offers a bit more flexibility, and some additional benefits if well-implemented. The rationale behind having such a person is to allow the rest of the personnel to devote their full attention to tasks that add value to the process. This also highlights how much transportation waste and inefficiency exists in the process by isolating it all into one or more positions." https://www.shmula.com/what-is-the-role-of-the-waterspider-in-lean-manufacturing/22565/ https://www.shmula.com/what-is-the-role-of-the-waterspider-i...
jes 5y ago
I had not heard the term either. Based on what others have written here, the position sounds similar to, but not exactly the same as, what manufacturing companies call an expeditor: A person assigned to the manufacturing floor who gets hot (late) orders finished and shipped as soon as possible.
- tyingq 5y ago
  It was "rover" or "free safety" a long time ago when I worked in a factory. Both borrowed American football terms that seem to fit reasonably well.
- JJzD 5y ago
  An expeditor works on (late) customer orders, and does what is necessary. The water spider supports the people working on customer orders. I'd consider that a major difference, but your mileage may vary :)

londons_explore 5y ago

> He asked the team lead to call a medic (there were medical care worked employed by Amazon) but he refused and offered to walk him to the medic instead. This is the step that most people would point out as the main 'mistake'. However, a medic without his equipment isn't a lot of use, and it's pretty likely the facility had a medical bay. For a patient who can walk, taking them to the medical bay will probably lead to better care quicker than calling the medic out. Walking there with someone is a very sensible precaution. Imagine the reverse... Medic called to employee. Medic doesn't have defibrillator in equipment bag (it's filled with stuff for more common accidents). Employee dies because now the medic has to make the journey from the medical bay to the employee four times, taking far too long.

Randosaurus 5y ago
This isn't what would have happened. The trained medical personnel would have been far more likely to identify that emergency services was needed. Those personnel are on site for a reason and it isn't because they're expected to be able to deal personally with every single medical emergency that happens. This type of comment happens far too often on HN.
yardie 5y ago
I took a CPR/First aid class a few months ago and one of the things we were told was to grab the portable defibrillator or know where one is nearby. Our office defib is no larger than a lunch box so not sure why a medic wouldn’t carry one. Also heart attacks is one of the most common incidents. 25% of my CPR training was dedicated to using it properly.
meheleventyone 5y ago
If you think someone is having a heart attack please call the emergency services immediately and hope you don't need a defibrillator or to perform CPR. Edit: To add I had one in May despite being fit, young-ish and with no cardio-vascular problems. It came on whilst swimming and I foolishly carried on through it, got dressed and walked home, lay down for a bit before I got my wife to take me to the emergency room where they did approximately 4 seconds of EKG before stuffing me full of drugs and rushing me to surgery via an ambulance. For an idea of the level of potential for dying the ambulance came with a doctor as well as paramedics.