Hard Hat Saves Employee-owner’s Life

As things will have it, accidents can occur, which highlights the need to focus on safety. A member of the US 82 team has his personal protective equipment (PPE) to thank for saving his life. David McCollum and Jonathan Sykes, along with other crew members, were loosening the chain and plates, which were used to stabilize a steel girder for transportation, when the side opposite McCollum was loosened too early causing the chain to “come around like a slingshot.” A 120-pound plate struck McCollum directly on the hard hat. The impact knocked him unconscious. Sykes suffered cuts and bruises as he fell 15 feet to the ground. An ambulance was called to the scene to take both McCollum and Sykes to the hospital. They were both released that evening.“I just remember the plate falling, and I woke up looking at my foreman,” said McCollum. When the plate fell on McCollum’s hard hat, it broke six of the eight carbon fiber suspension liners used to absorb the shock, but the hard hat was not cracked or broken. The impact did cause a laceration that required six staples. Ultimately, the hard hat saved his life. McCollum was back to work the next day to cover the “root cause” with the safety department and management. “David was just ready to get back to work,” said Walter Lawler, project superintendent. McCollum said he was sore because of the impact to his spine and the shock to his muscles. He worked about four weeks doing light labor that limited him to lifting no more than 20 pounds until his muscles relaxed from the jolt. He is back to regular work and doing great. McCollum is to be recognized at an upcoming Tool Box safety meeting as a Turtle Club Member. This organization is dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries by promoting the acceptance and use of hard hats. He was nominated by project manager, Tim Bruce. McCollum will be awarded a gold hard hat and a plaque in recognition of his following PPE requirements, which saved his life and allowed him to return to Austin Bridge & Road as a valued employee- owner. “It sure made me realize what the hard hat is there for,” said McCollum. “I stay on the guys more about keeping their hard hat on at all times.” McCollum is 26 years old and has worked at Austin Bridge & Road for a year and a half as a carpenter, pile driver and iron worker on the US 82 project for MDOT (Mississippi Department ofTransportation).