Tragedy at the Workplace

            A job in the oil and gas industry is accompanied by a myriad of hazards. This is an account of the ways in which a tragedy at work emphasizes the importance of following safety procedure, and the ripple effect it has on employees.
             When working in the field of construction, safety is frequently the topic of discussion. When I arrive on site every morning, the first thing that must be done is a Job Hazard Analysis. This is absolutely essential due to the fact I work in tandem with excavators, bulldozers, and haul trucks. Unfortunately, few construction sites remain incident free; that was the case on this day. .
             The sun was beginning its descent at approximately 5pm and visibility was limited. My job was spotting for the operator of a bulldozer. Five spotters, myself included, were to help the operators when reversing and notify them of potential obstacles. After spotting for multiple hours it's easy to become complacent and that's precisely what happened to a fellow employee of mine. He began to take his eyes off the operator and would blindly wave him backwards. This took a tragic turn when he placed himself in between the bulldozer and a concrete barrier. The effect of not following procedure ultimately resulted in a crushed pelvis for this employee.
             Few people will experience a tragic incident such as this while at their job. The effect it has is quite profound. Prior to the incident I had a fairly casual approach at work, meaning I didn't consciously force an attitude of safety into my thoughts. After doing anything for a couple years people tend to gain a sense of confidence; in my case it was over confidence. The recipient of a broken pelvis and myself exhibited the same complacent attitudes. After the incident every present employee was called into a briefing to recount the events that had occurred. Tediously reviewing the minutia until concluding exactly what went wrong and why it did.