The deaf and the blind

So no sooner was it determined that lack of useful vision required a home stay then the jackhammer fired up, just outside the house. On went the OSHA-approved ear-protectors and the very very dark glasses and out went I to see what was going on. Two poor subcontractors were blasting out the three anchor bolts holding down guy cables for a pole owned by the telephone company. They were subcontractors of a subcontractor and envied my ear protection, which isn't furnished to them and which they, judging by their ancient, worn equipment, aren't prepared to spring for. I begged them not to put one of those hideous kazillion-feet-tall yellow plastic sleeve warnings on the new stays. Nobody walks in that location, which is inacessible because of vegetation. They said they thought they had to do it in order to be in compliance with the terms of their contract but took a name and number and gave a name and number (the sub for which they were subs) and said they'd see what they could do. We find that there is a sleeve protector but that it has been cut short so as not to be visible from the house and also that the locking tag has been left unlocked. They were pleasant to talk with and wrote down for me what I couldn't see to write down for myself, and now we learn that they're sensible and understanding people in other ways as well.