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Monday, March 02, 2009

The Fight Project

This is from the Florence, Alabama Times Daily.

In 1993 Patrick Hayes died in a grain silo accident while working in an area for which he was not trained. The Times Daily article reports describes what happened.

"Sixty tons of corn had collapsed on him," Ronald Hayes [his father] said. "When they called and told us about the accident, we thought there had been a mistake in identifying who it was. He didn't work in the silo. He was a warehouseman. As it turns out, someone had quit the previous day, and Patrick was ordered to walk the corn."

Ronald Hayes' response was to do something good.

The article reports:

"Hayes formed the Fight Project in 1996. The effort helps families receive reports ranging from autopsies to OSHA investigations. The project also gives families the option to speak with other families who have had loved ones killed or injured at work."

"Since 1996, the agency has helped more than 500 families."

"Not one person in any family has ever called me and said, 'I'm going to sue the company,' " Hayes said. "Those who end up suing do so because they can't get the company to cooperate, but all they want is for this never to happen again to anyone else."

Labels: safety, Safety Training