Looking for advice about workplace safety:

Looking for advice about workplace safety:

I currently work in a dangerous industrial job. I really like the work, however, if I do not know how to do something safely, of course, I ask.

However, sometimes, when I ask a question, some bosses (but not all) take it as a sign of disrespect or incompetence. I understand some people do ask silly or disrespectful questions on purpose, but I DONT! I have literally never disrespected someone by asking a question in my life!

My questions are not, "why did you promote Bob and not me?" But rather, "what should I know about using this tool safely?" And if you are reading this, please don't say, "you should know" or "its common sense, bah." And being a woman does not help.

If you do something unsafe, you get in big trouble, as you should, but part of workplace safety is creating a fair and respectful environment so people can ask questions and so people don't make mistakes because they are unnecessarily stressed and distracted by poor management. When you give someone a LOOK because they ask a question that you think that they should know the answer to, instead of answering it, then you are not contributing to a safe work environment. I thought questions were how we learn!

Sometimes, I just pull the most approachable person aside and ask the question with just him or her. Sometimes I wait until they are done talking and see of the question answers itself so as not to appear too annoying. Sometimes I Google it, but just for basic knowledge, because Google does not replace people who are paid to train us! And yes, I always use the most respectful tone I can muster, and I NEVER bother anyone during lunch or when they are doing a dangerous task themselves and I don't interrupt them when they are talking to someone else just to ask the question. There is no union at this job, but there is an HR. I don't like going to HR over every little thing though.

I also always read the instruction Manuel too. However I learn best by doing. I also learn best when someone takes a few minutes to show me how to do something, then let's me do the task right away so I remember it forever. However, as you probably already know, bosses don't always care how you learn best.

For those of you who currently work in a dangerous field, how do you go about safety questions and issues and just asking questions in general without some boss assuming that you are being disrespectful?