Pete and Wilson were sheet metal workers who worked for a roofing company. They often worked together and were friends even outside of work. One Friday afternoon last July they were installing metal trim on a single-story office building. When finished, the job would be completely done and they could go home.
Pete was finishing-up the final task and asked Wilson to start cleaning-up the jobsite so that they could leave. Wilson was more than happy to oblige. In fact he was already thinking about everything he had planned for the weekend. He rushed around, cleaning up tools, supplies, and pieces of scrap. However, in the process Wilson picked up a piece of scrap metal that had been set-aside earlier, and the sharp edge from that scrap metal gave him quite a cut.
Pete stopped what he was doing and they both climbed off of the roof. Pete grabbed the first-aid kit out of the truck and rifled through it trying to find a bandage. However, there were no gloves, no bandages and very little of anything else in the first aid kit. Pete recalled his first-aid training and used a sandwich bag as a glove. He also found a clean hand towel and used that as a bandage for Wilson. When they were unable to get the bleeding stopped, they hopped in the company truck and Pete drove Wilson to the local emergency room where he received 12 stitches.
Three hours later Wilson was released from the hospital and the two returned to the jobsite.
Not only did both Pete and Wilson have a delayed start to their weekend, Wilson had to cancel his big weekend plans.
DISCUSSION NOTES:
Wilson’s injury could likely have been prevented had he been wearing cut-resistant gloves. Under what circumstances should we wear gloves on the jobsite on which we are working now?
Do you sometimes fail to wear gloves when you should be wearing them? If so, why?
Are you confident that our first-aid kits are adequately stocked? When was the last time anyone inventoried the first-aid kit to ensure that everything we may need is in there?
Pete apparently had first-aid training. Do you know who has had first-aid training on the jobsite on which we are working now?
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