By Keynote Motivational Safety Speaker Lee Shelby - In 1991, I worked as a power lineman for a utility company in Tennessee. My job involved installing, repairing, and removing overhead power lines—a dream come true for me. I thrived on the thrill of standing on two inches of steel, fifty feet above the ground. The rush of holding 13,000 volts of electricity in my hands was electrifying!
Was it a dangerous job? Absolutely. But I didn’t think twice about it. Growing up, I watched my friend’s dad do line work and knew that was what I wanted to do. I went to work each day with full confidence that I would be safe. I was a little cocky, convinced that accidents happened to someone else.
One Monday morning, I went in like any other day. My first task seemed routine—something I’d done a thousand times before. I needed to cut down a three-wire service line going to a house.
To safely handle high-voltage electricity, I was supposed to wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which included rubber gloves that protected me from energized conductors. Instead, I wore a pair of ordinary leather gloves. When I accidentally touched the back of my hand to a live, 13,000-volt wire, my life changed forever. If I’d followed the safety procedures, I would still have both hands today.
By the grace of God, I survived, and that experience has shaped my mission. For nearly thirty years, I’ve traveled the world sharing my story to motivate others to live a No Excuses life and to emphasize the importance of workplace safety. When I speak to companies about safety, the significance of PPE is personal to me. I lost my hands because I wasn’t wearing it. That reality hits home for employees when they see what can happen in an instant.
"There is no job worth your life or your limbs. There’s nothing more important than your life." — Lee Shelby
The Role of PPE in Workplace Safety
Workplace safety should always be a top priority. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a critical role in safeguarding employees. Different jobs require different types of PPE, including:
- Body Protection
- Eye Protection
- Fall Protection
- Hand Protection
- Head Protection
- Hearing Protection
- Respiratory Protection
While PPE can’t guarantee 100% safety, it significantly reduces the risk of injury. OSHA provides guidelines for setting up a PPE program, stating that employers are responsible for protecting workers from hazards that could cause injury. You can review the checklist here.
Holding Employees Accountable
Providing PPE is just one step—ensuring that employees use it correctly is where the real challenge lies. Regular safety training and reminders are essential.
My accident could have been avoided if I hadn’t let my overconfidence cloud my judgment. I didn’t follow the safety guidelines, and I know many workers today fall into the same trap. Without ongoing training and reminders, employees can become complacent and cut corners, focusing on deadlines instead of safety.
Employers need to reinforce the importance of PPE and enforce its use with consequences. Here are some questions to consider:
- Is workplace safety training provided to ensure employees know how to work safely?
- Are safety signs clearly displayed in areas requiring specific PPE?
- Are supervisors trained to enforce PPE protocols?
- Is safety integrated into the company culture?
Commitment to safety is a continuous effort. It’s about integrating safe practices into every workday, preventing dangerous situations before they occur.
Safety is Personal
It took a life-altering accident for me to truly understand the importance of safety. Now, I’m passionate about educating employees on the critical role of safe work practices. Safety should always be everyone’s top priority.
If you’re ready to make an internal shift, pick up a copy of Lee Shelby’s new book on Amazon: No Hands, No Excuses.
Lee Shelby is an internationally recognized Motivational and Workplace Safety Speaker. Through his interactive and heartfelt presentations, Lee empowers people worldwide by sharing his story of resilience and the challenges he faced after his workplace injury.
To book Lee for speaking engagements, please visit https://leeshelby.com/pages/contact or reach out using the details below:
- Bookings & Sales: 1-844-731-2396
- SMS/WhatsApp: +1 786-846-5358
- Email: info@speakbureau.com
