Workplace Injuries Hurt Families - A Safety Professionals Worst Nightmare

As a safety professional who takes great pride in what she does and has gained respect in a variety of industry sectors throughout the years, sharing my experiences and knowledge with many who would listen was always important. But I never believed I would be sharing a very personal one that hits home. I have already shared my story with a select few colleagues in the industry, and some friends and family and I've been waiting to compile my thoughts to be able to write this article for others to read. Experiences shared are lessons learned... real life stories that heighten all the reasons safety on the job is important. Remember all those good reasons why you work safe every day. Everyone deserves a safe place to work and to come home to their families. Look out for you and others if no one else will.

On July 19th, my husband was rushed to hospital by ambulance " a broken man". He could not walk and had zero feeling below his waist and was in excruciating pain. After a thorough examination and MRI, he was admitted immediately for emergency back surgery. He had reported injuring his back at work a few days earlier but it never got better and actually got worse really fast. This was not normal back pain and its a good thing he got checked out when he did.

His MRI results showed a lot of trauma, severely compressed spine on nerves, bulges and lots of fluid which they needed to try to repair. He went into surgery on July 20th, our daughters 14th birthday at 7:20 am and after 7 1/2 hours he was back in his room. The Neurosurgeon explained that it was a good thing he came in when he did as if he waited any longer he would not have been able to do anything to help him. It was a long surgery that normally takes 2 1/2 hrs to complete but "it was a mess" inside once he opened him up. The fluid that showed on his MRI was a result of sharred, sharp pieces of broken bone that had broken off and punctured his spine causing it to leak. The broken pieces were simply collecting inside as they broke off along with the spinal compression - hence the paralysis. A new buldge had begun forming above this already damaged area that they also needed to correct. A large portion of his spine had to be "carved out" to release the pressure on his nerves and basically had to "duct tape" and glue the spine to stop the leaks. Traumatizing and painful to say the least. He was required to remain on his back without movement for 3 days and is still in hospital in recovery and extensive rehab. He has gained some feeling back in one leg (glitches out) but the other one not so much yet. Rehab is focusing on making him stronger to be able to do the basic everyday life skills while using a wheelchair and walker until he has full mobility and trust in his lower limbs. He has a long road to recovery and I am thankful for the ongoing support and help we have received from the hospital staff thus far. As much as this is a physical injury to ones body, the effects on a person mentally and emotionally is overwhelming at times which can directly impact ones success in recovery and health healing.

To my colleagues and friends in the industry, we all know the outcomes, process and everything required when a worker is injured at work, from an employer stand point. Do you know what the injured worker goes through at their end? It is a very frustrating and stressful process that discourages and depresses those directly effected. The focus is to get the injured worker back to work as soon as possible but in some cases quickly isn't going to happen. WSIB is not always the best to deal with and it is a true fact that they do not cover all expenses or costs associated with ones injury and recovery. The misconception that they cover all costs is a real "eye opener" to many. They have been known to delay and deny more claims then help and I have others friends and colleagues who are going through the same turmoils that we are right now. If your strong enough to fight you may be successful but many aren't causing them to give up or take a measly settlement offer - only the strong will survive. 85% of net wages is peanuts to what most work extremely hard to bring home to their families - and yes it is taxable! I had someone try to tell me it wasn't taxable which lead to a polite educational discussion. It is truly the entire family that suffers the loss of an injured worker. Not only financially but mentally and emotionally as they become caregivers of their loved ones and have to give up so much all while maintaining a positive attitude and keeping a smile on their face.

Our story although unique in some ways, isn't much different from many out there going through the same things... I now can personally relate as we are going through our own hell together.

We have had to start a GoFundMe Campaign to help out for obvious reasons and are very thankful for the support that we have received thus far from many. I've been spending most of my days and nights at the hospital and running around taking care of the many things that need to be done. I am also still looking for a long term or permanent safety gig as we cannot afford for me not to be working right now. We are still a long way off from our goals but are hopeful that things will all work out.

Please consider reading "our campaign story" here, you can follow, share or support in any way if you choose. If anything, my story will make a great MSD injury & prevention safety talk that I will continue to personally share. Our bodies take a beating each and every day, some more than others will be greatly effected and disabled because of it.

Written by a wife, mother, daughter, aunt, godmother, niece, cousin, friend, and colleague all rolled into one...

Karen #scorpiostrong