I want to share a poem that I wrote in 2014. This poem started as an assignment for my English class in high school. My mom was amazed by the poem and sent it to the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta. As such, this poem was first published in WCB-Alberta's WorkSIGHT magazine Summer 2014 edition.
After my dad died in a workplace safety incident in 2008, I became dedicated to promoting safety. This poem is based on my personal experiences and views following my dad's death.
Work Safety
When you go to work in the morning
Don't just think of yourself
Whether you have a family or not
Other people do
Safety meetings go on and on don't they
At the time they don't see important
But they are
Don't disregard them
Listen
One day the information may be important
It may even save a life and a family's despair
You may feel you know your job well
You don't want to waste your time
You go for a shortcut
The shortest isn't always the safest
What if a life is lost?
Could you live with yourself?
Knowing it was your decision
Maybe you don't even think about the consequences
You don't think about everyone affected
By one mistake
Or maybe it's even many mistakes
Safety isn't a joke
But there will always be that one guy
The guy that tries to say the safety meetings are pointless
You can't go back in time
You can't undo mistakes
You can't take away an injury
And you definitely can't give back a life
-Alyssa Grocutt ©
I welcome anyone who is moved by this poem to use it in their own workplaces. All that I ask is that you acknowledge, or give credit to, myself, Alyssa Grocutt.
If you are interested in reading more of mine and my mom's story, WCB-Alberta published a story on us in their WorkSIGHT magazine Spring 2010 edition.