How a workplace injury transformed a life

September 9th, 2004 by Julie Ferguson

This past Monday, Sean George marched in Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day parade. While such an event may seem pedestrian, the circumstances that led to it are anything but. A steamfitter and a survivor, George shares the story of his horrific workplace injury with workers and insurers in the hopes that his experience might change the lives of others for the better and help prevent other workers from suffering work injuries. The story of the gas explosion that killed his cousin and put him on a path of pain, depression, addiction, and ultimately, recovery, is a compelling one. It’s terrific that he shares the details of his personal experience — it’s a reminder to all of us that work safety is not an academic exercise; it’s flesh and blood.
Some time ago, we posted another survivor story, that of Candace Carnahan who lost her leg — and who nearly lost her life — when she became caught in a conveyor belt. She was 21 at the time of the injury. While work injuries and deaths can happen to anyone at any age, young and inexperienced workers are particularly vulnerable. Like George, she now devotes her energy to spreading the message of work safety.
We pass on George’s story in the same spirit that he shared it — with the hope that it might influence at least one person — a worker, a supervisor, an employer, or an insurer — to help prevent a work injury today.
Thanks to Jordan Barab at Confined Space for pointing us to this story.

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