I Chose to Look the Other Way

In the blink of an eye our lives, and those close to us, can be changed permanently by a wrong turn, bad choice, or simply being in a hurry to get something done. For many of us, we think "it can't happen to me" or "it was freak accident!" More of often than not, the daily choices we make can put us, or those around us, in the spot of a serious accident or worse yet, a fatality. 

McKinstry's safety culture speaks volumes on how seriously we take this with the story and poem below:

One of our Seattle senior iron workers recited a heartfelt poem at one of our GC's job-site safety meetings. A few months after the meeting, a young iron worker approached our employee and told him that his presentation of this poem changed his view on the job-site. He shared that he regularly thinks about what the poem says, how it impacted his approach to everyday work, and the importance of not walking away from someone putting themselves or others in danger. 

This is the poem he was referring to…

I Chose to Look the Other Way

I could have saved a life that day,

But I chose to look the other way.

It wasn’t that I didn’t care;

I had the time, and I was there.

But I didn’t want to seem a fool,

Or argue over a safety rule.

I knew he’d done the job before;

If I spoke up he might get sore.

The chances didn’t seem that bad;

I’d done the same, he knew I had.

So I shook my head and walked by;

He knew the risks as well as I.

He took the chance, I closed an eye;

And with that act, I let him die.

I could have saved a life that day,

But I chose to look the other way.

Now every time I see his wife,

I know I should have saved his life.

That guilt is something I must bear;

But isn’t’ something you need to share.

If you see a risk that others take

That puts their health or life at stake,

The question asked or thing you say;

Could help them live another day.

If you see a risk and walk away,

Then hope you never have to say,

“I could have saved a life that day,

But I chose to look the other way.”

- Anonymous