So you get to work early after a full nights sleep. Check your pump out before you leave the yard and do the DOT pre trip and arrive on the job 15 min early. It is going to be a good day.  The job is wide open spaces and the ground is solid. You may have over done the dunnage for the soil conditions but hey, what the hell, you had time. Check your safety strap to make sure that it is secure and you are ready to rock and roll. 250 yard slab and then 12 columns, all right.

And then something happens and the hose man is lying on the ground, out like a light; what do you do now?

1. Call dispatch and report the injury
2. If you have a phone with a camera, or any other way to take pictures DO IT.
3. DEMAND that someone from your company or insurance company get to the job right now.
4. Make a note of the time of the accident on the job ticket.
5.  DO NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT WITH ANYONE.
6. Ask others what they saw
7. Get names of REAL witnesses
8. Do NOT move your pump
9. Make NO STATEMENTS TO ANYONE
10. Do NOT “guess” out loud about what may have happened
11. THINK – THINK about exactly what was going on and what it was that had just gone on before the fellow hit the ground.
12. Develop a time-line for that day up to and including the time of the accident; this includes EVERY DETAIL you can remember
13. Do NOT talk to anyone on the job about the accident. It is ok to ask, Do NOT give any opinions
14. Give a complete, accurate, detailed report to your supervisor when he arrives
15. Hope he has enough sense to NOT GUESS OUT LOUD about what happened, and make NO statements
16. If a policeman or any safety official asks you what happened respectfully inform them that they need to talk to your boss or say that you would rather think about it before saying anything. They may not like it but they will understand
17. Hope your boss has enough sense to NOT make any statements
18. As bad as you feel about what happened, don’t apologize. Don’t say anything.

There are several types of accidents. Ones that were going to happen because the operator was out of compliance, accidents that happen because of the careless actions of others around the pump. Accidents do not have to happen, ever, they are always avoidable.

If you have done all that you can in terms of the above listed items, you have just done your company and your insurance company a valuable service. When you have returned to the yard find a quite space and sit down and write as detailed report as you can about the events of that day, starting with what time you got up and what you had for breakfast. Details, details, details.

An injured person has an entire year to file a legal action against you and your company. He is, during that time, getting advice from everyone he ever knew. He may have been a nice guy until he began thinking about retirement on the beach with your money, your insurance company’s money and your company’s money. He may still be a nice guy and deserves to be compensated.

He may also be a victim of someone else’s stupidity and in that case he SHOULD BE entitled to damages. Not everyone that ends up in court is a gold digger, many of these people deserve to be compensated for their pain and suffering, it is only fair that it happens. The trick is making sure that he receives the money from the guilty party. That is why your attention and actions after the accident are so important. If you can show a jury that you were not at fault you will go home free and clear.

You have a lot of responsibility as an operator. Much of the time it seems as if you have more responsibility than control. That is probably the case. You must always do your best with what you have.

I can not overemphasize the importance of doing it right. Doing it right is what you are paid to do. When you are not playing by the rules you are putting yourself and your company at risk. That risk does not end when someone is injured, it intensifies. When someone is injured when interacting with your pump SOMEONE was NOT doing it right. If that someone was not you then every thing you say and do after the fact becomes even more important. If you were 100% in compliance and someone is injured that means that someone else was making the mistakes. Do not let your emotions over an injured co-worker jeopardize the well being of your company.

Be professional, be helpful, be courteous, be quiet.

Bob Sanderson  ;~)

I personally think this is the best article ever written for the concrete pumping industry. I hope every owner and operator reads this. Good job Bob.

I am proud that Bob is ConcretePumping.com safety adviser. See Bobs web site at http://www.concretepumpingsafety.com/

bob, what made you submit this out of the wildblue sky? did something happpen? terry/telebelt owner/op

While I work on the computer if I have a thought that might turn into something I save it. After I get a few related thoughts together I write one of these posts. NO nothing that has happened lately has any thing to do with this post. I just thought it might help some one that had never considered what to do "When". ;~)

I have known Bob for quite a few years, the one thing I know about Bob is that he cares for the companies and operators of pumping companies more than just about anything. I think Bob dreams concrete pumping safety.  Right now I think Bob is the most under appreciated guy in this industry. Nobody thinks about safety more than Bob. Safety Bob should become his new name. I think he has just as much knowledge as anyone in this industry. Do you know he was one of the original authors of the concrete pumping safety book made about 100 years ago, its true.  Every time I have a questions he always has the answer and it’s a sound answer with everything considered. Bob is one of a kind and this industry should realize what a resource this guy is.

Three cheers for Bob and I want to thank you for all your help over the years. I think you should become the president of the Concrete Pumping Safety Association. (if only there was one)

Anyway Thanks again Safety Bob

Really Speedy, No chit.

the sound of one hand clapping

Agree with all responses, Bob can pin the tale better than most as he has been there and has thought out most situations. Brovo and the best adviser of safety would be an actual operator.

I had a response but have to think it over alot because Bob made such good sense, I probably will just take his advice as I am waiting for one of our operators to make this mistake, bad yes but ones pre trip can make such a diff. I will make this our future goal not to skip the small stuff.

I know Bob that sounds not so good but it is hard to break complasencey in the meaning of the word. maybe you could help us explain this comfort zone. No pun at all Just wonder how we can get this through to some people.

I agree with Todd! Thank you for the fantastic article Bob, we have needed this for sometime and it will be quite helpful in the future. Tim

Ol' whats his name is also a good source if you need help on acquiring parts for older pumps.  He saved our company over $2500.00 this year alone.....thanks BOB.

But.... if it was you that screwed the pooch.... do the opposite

confusion is your last and only friend