VBF-AGM – Apr 27, 2023

Thank you to the over 35 members who participated in today’s special Virtual Breakfast Forum. Tomorrow is the day before the official Day of Mourning, a day in recognition of people injured in workplace accidents. At this time of year, we typically host our AGM, as well as invite a special guest to speak to us from Threads of Life, a Canadian charity, dedicated to supporting families after a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease.  Today’s guest speaker comes from a very touching perspective, and has lived experience with a life altering injury.  Russell Claus shared his moving account of the injury he sustained 13 years ago.

Russell shared his tragic accident, on the very last day of his Tree Planting contract, in Northern BC. Russell and his colleagues were pushing through, trying to beat their record of the number of trees planted on their final day. They pushed so hard that Russell, an experienced First Aid attendant, disregarded advice he would give to others and suffered from heat exhaustion and severe nausea. As a result, on the drive back to camp after completing his last day, he asked the driver to pull the truck over. While he was kneeling down to be sick outside the truck a series of events occurred which resulted in Russell being run over by the truck, and sustaining several injuries, including a pelvic fracture, a sacrum fracture, and a severed urethra.

Russell’s subsequent operations were successful, and he was able to walk again. But he shared the concept of how things can never go back to the way things were, before the accident. What you don’t see is the nerve damage that resulted, the loss of range of motion and GI issues. The uncertainty of the future became oppressive and stressful. Russell suffered from PTSD, some mental challenges, including feeling defeated, helpless, and scared during his recovery. The people closest to those sustaining the injury are also forever changed, and sometimes so are the relationships between them.

The key is prevention – sometimes there is no cure for the injury, or the ability to repair the damage that has been done. In Russell’s case, there was no case of a specific regulation that was contravened. Thankfully Russell is able to share his experience with us and others, to enlighten us all on the importance of always being vigilant and staying alert to keep everyone safe.