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"A Cat Has Nine Lives, But You Don't"
Nine Tips That Can Keep You Alive, Healthy And Productive
 Working
as a firefighter/paramedic for the past seventeen years has taught me a lot. For
example, most of the injuries and medical emergencies my co-workers and I have responded
to have not been to work sites for work related injuries, but to people's homes,
or areas where they have been participating in recreational activities.
After training thousands of people in work related safety programs and seeing the
stringent rules and regulations that most employees follow on the Job, it's no surprise
that for many organizations, work related injuries have been reduced. But, I have
also noticed that the person who might refuse to use a ladder at the workplace because
of its poor condition would be the same person who would go home, drink four beers,
fire up the chain-saw, stand on a three-legged stool and attempt to cut down branches
from his backyard tree. It seems that no matter how safe workers are on the job,
it doesn't mean they will work safely once they leave the work place. But, the employer
still has to pay for these injuries-no matter where they happen.
It is because of the experiences I have encountered as a paramedic/firefighter that
I wrote this booklet. Horrible injuries have happened to people that could have been
prevented. Often the results of these injuries will affect the injured person and
their families for as long as they live.
Your employer may have given you this booklet. Please don't think that the only reason
they gave it to you is help reduce their benefit costs. Some of you may already have
experienced the pain and suffering that follows a serious injury. Fortunately, most
of you have not. It is not only good for business for your employer to help promote
off the job safety, but it is also the right thing to do.
The Ripple Effect of Injuries
As you are aware, company benefits are an expensive privilege. If you have them you
are fortunate and should protect them in every way possible. Injuries, or delays
in treating medical emergencies not only affect families and employers in obvious
ways, there are also many hidden costs that many people fail to realize. The following
are examples of the problems that can follow a serious injury.
How Injuries Can Affect the Worker
We were called by the police to a house where a man had committed suicide. We were
familiar with this man because we had attended him many times. One and a half years
ago he had fallen from the roof of his house while doing some repair work. His injuries
were very serious: a broken pelvis, two broken legs and a broken back with some spinal
cord damage. The constant pain caused him to become addicted to painkillers. He became
angry at the world because of his injury. This put a lot of stress on his wife and
two small children. The financial situation for the family was affected and his wife
returned to work. Not contributing to the family caused him to go into a deep depression
that he tried to cure by drinking. Finally his wife left him, taking the children
with her. This was too much for him and he chose to take his own life.
This may be extreme, but situations like this do happen.
- Injuries cause pain and suffering to the injured person
- Injuries add stress to the people close to the injured worker
- Financial difficulties may result
- Substance abuse may result
- Lowered self esteem and a sense of worthlessness may result
If you can prevent injuries, or recognize medical emergencies early and have them
treated, you can help avoid the ripple effects.
How Off the Job Injuries Affect Your Employer
When a worker is injured, either on or off the job, a tremendous ripple effect can
occur. There are just a few of the potential added costs.
- The worker has to be replaced, sometimes at overtime wages.
- Replacement workers may have to be trained, causing lost productivity.
- Managers have to devote more time to the training of the replacement worker.
- Added administration costs.
- When an employee is off work for an extended period, it is often more difficult
for him or her to return to work.
- Disability insurance rates will rise.
- Morale problems. When someone is seriously injured or killed, everyone who was
close to that person is affected.
- Holidays may have to be turned down for other employees in order to maintain
staffing levels.
As you can see, there are many hidden costs. This added cost can make it more
difficult for your employer to compete in the marketplace. As a result, everyone's
job security could be affected. We should all try to reduce injuries and the severity
of medical emergencies whether we are at home, work or play. If we can do this, it's
a win-win situation for everyone involved. Your employer reduces pay out for needless
injuries, and you live a longer, happier and safer life.
ISBN: 0-9698989-2-4
Price $6.95 Canadian Funds (includes GST and Shipping and Handling)
Send Cheque or money order to:
Inter Provincial Safety Resources Ltd.
Unit 432
15403 Deer Run Drive S.E.
Calgary, Alberta
T2J 6B8, Canada
Fax orders to (403) 225-3215
For more information call 1-888-278-8964 or (403) 225-2011
Ask about our volume discount
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