Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Its been a long few weeks, Covid-19, on top of the normal medical and safety issues. After a particularly frustrating few days i penned this. when im off contract ill be able to share more,
6/24/2020 10:00am
I have to say,
I am disheartened and disappointed. I am unsure what to do or say to motivate and encourage those to make good choices.
I could talk about, the company having a legal right to deny any workers comp claim, or death payout when an employee is injured or dies on the job when not following known, safety policies and failing to wear PPE. About them, the place you have dumped your heart and soul in being able to come after you personally, for costs they incurred due to employee negligence. That safety is a condition of employment.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about how Alaska is the 7th ranked state in the US for work related fatalities. A death rate of 63.1, compared to that of the lower 48 which is 49.4. About how the commercial fishing industry is ranked as one of the highest for death rate 99.8 per 100,000 workers. In 2017 33 work related fatalities. 14 being from the fishing industry. In 2018 there were 32, 13 from the fishing industry. And 2019 was a worse year yet..
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about what its like to do a death notification, for a loved one back home. I could talk about the ones I have done in my life so far. The way people react to news like that, some with instant anger and hatred. Others will deny it, scold me for playing a sick joke. I have them shut the door in my face, or simply hang up. Some with sobs, tears and begging for an explanation. An answer I am not able to give, I can’t explain why their son, daughter, father, mother, husband, wife choose to not work safely that day.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about leading by example, how your crew idolizes you. How they look up to you, the admiration and respect they have for you. How they will follow your lead, right or wrong. What it means to truly be a leader.
But that wont matter; or make a difference,
I could talk about the close calls, scars and stories that you’ve gotten here. What went wrong, what we could have done differently to change the outcome. That’s only the limited ones I know about, not the ones that aren’t spoken of. The ones you are imagining right now..
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about the risk going up for misuse of equipment, not wearing PPE. It can only help you when used or worn. How when equipment is not used as intended, it increases the risk of not only failure but injury or death. How this stacks the deck against you.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about the ghosts that stay with you, the weight that places on your shoulders every day. Knowing someone was injured or killed. Someone you knew, knowing you could have led by example, or reminded them to be safe, wear the stuff, do the thing the right way. What’s a life worth, is it worth that few minutes you saved taking a shortcut?
But that won’t matter or make difference,
What matters is you, what makes a difference is you.
Not only deciding but making a commitment that everyone goes home today, no one gets hurt today. One second, One minute, One hour, One day, one task at a time.
Safety Manager & Medic
6/24/2020 10:00am
I have to say,
I am disheartened and disappointed. I am unsure what to do or say to motivate and encourage those to make good choices.
I could talk about, the company having a legal right to deny any workers comp claim, or death payout when an employee is injured or dies on the job when not following known, safety policies and failing to wear PPE. About them, the place you have dumped your heart and soul in being able to come after you personally, for costs they incurred due to employee negligence. That safety is a condition of employment.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about how Alaska is the 7th ranked state in the US for work related fatalities. A death rate of 63.1, compared to that of the lower 48 which is 49.4. About how the commercial fishing industry is ranked as one of the highest for death rate 99.8 per 100,000 workers. In 2017 33 work related fatalities. 14 being from the fishing industry. In 2018 there were 32, 13 from the fishing industry. And 2019 was a worse year yet..
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about what its like to do a death notification, for a loved one back home. I could talk about the ones I have done in my life so far. The way people react to news like that, some with instant anger and hatred. Others will deny it, scold me for playing a sick joke. I have them shut the door in my face, or simply hang up. Some with sobs, tears and begging for an explanation. An answer I am not able to give, I can’t explain why their son, daughter, father, mother, husband, wife choose to not work safely that day.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about leading by example, how your crew idolizes you. How they look up to you, the admiration and respect they have for you. How they will follow your lead, right or wrong. What it means to truly be a leader.
But that wont matter; or make a difference,
I could talk about the close calls, scars and stories that you’ve gotten here. What went wrong, what we could have done differently to change the outcome. That’s only the limited ones I know about, not the ones that aren’t spoken of. The ones you are imagining right now..
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about the risk going up for misuse of equipment, not wearing PPE. It can only help you when used or worn. How when equipment is not used as intended, it increases the risk of not only failure but injury or death. How this stacks the deck against you.
But that won’t matter or make a difference,
I could talk about the ghosts that stay with you, the weight that places on your shoulders every day. Knowing someone was injured or killed. Someone you knew, knowing you could have led by example, or reminded them to be safe, wear the stuff, do the thing the right way. What’s a life worth, is it worth that few minutes you saved taking a shortcut?
But that won’t matter or make difference,
What matters is you, what makes a difference is you.
Not only deciding but making a commitment that everyone goes home today, no one gets hurt today. One second, One minute, One hour, One day, one task at a time.
- Jordan Pawley
Safety Manager & Medic