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“Because a spinal cord injury can paralyse your whole family”

The concept of safe workplaces is very familiar to me. I’ve worked in and around the Resource industry for more than 20 years and of course, SR Group create Workplace Health & Safety Manuals and other safety documents required by individual companies.

Yesterday, I had an inspiring conversation with Darron Shields, the Injury Prevention Programme Administrator from the Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF).  Unbeknown to him spinal injuries are something very close to my heart.  My nephew broke his neck just before his 18th birthday and the ripple effect through the family was enormous.  It’s been 20 years now since it happened and I’m thrilled to say my nephew is now happily married and has a small son.  But it’s been a long hard road for him, his family and his friends.

Darron was telling me about the amazing work PBF do with programs covering:

• PBFPrevention Workplace
• PBFPrevention Youth
• PBFPrevention Road
• PBFPrevention Aqua

Of particular interest is PBFPREVENTION – Workplace a thought-provoking one hour presentation that inspires workers to take ownership in their everyday safety behaviour. This award winning program provides a personal testimony from an individual who has sustained a permanent spinal cord injury, and demonstrates the potentially devastating consequences of unsafe behaviour through a first-hand account of a serious injury. Employees are made aware of the impact that a serious injury has on the individual, their family, friends and work colleagues. The power of a personal testimony cannot be understated. The presentation inspires individuals and leaves them motivated to embrace safety in all areas of their lives.

With someone suffering a spinal cord injury almost every day in Australia, I urge you to consider having one of their team visit your workplace.

For more information about PBF go to http://www.pbf.asn.au/Home or contact Darron Shields directly at dshields@pbf.asn.au