It Happened with an UGLY Cry!

Never assume that you know everything. I certainly DO NOT! My memory isn’t failing, but it’s not perfect. I can walk through my house in the dark for a midnight snack without bumping into something, except that one time when the door to our staircase was partially closed. Why? I don’t know. We never close doors in our house. That door is no longer on its hinges.

Some of my clients are grain elevators. I am rarely escorted (except one location) to the basement, tunnels, or boot pits of these facilities. On days when they aren’t in operation, lights are turned off. I know where most of the switches are, and I can find them quickly before turning to the left or to the right on my trek into the tunnels. I am not afraid of the dark. I am afraid of what I might see when the lights are turned on after standing in the dark. But this one day….(not at band camp).

I turned the lights on for the elevator work floor and climbed down the 20ft metal straight ladder to the conveyor tunnel. I reached to the left for the light switch that I knew was there. But it wasn’t there. Well, at least not as close as I thought. When I took a step and reached again, I felt a pain like Mike Tyson had punched me the arm. I let out a scream that cicadas would be jealous of. A crocodile tear was streaming past my nose. I finally found the light switch.

Pulling up my shirt sleeve, I could see the immediate bruising. Damn, that hurt. Of course, I had to touch my shoulder. No blood. No scratches. No broken bones. (even though it felt like it) I wiped my runny nose and looked around for witnesses. Happy that no one was watching me ugly cry, I grabbed a multi catch trap to clean.

As a solo owner/operator in the State of Kansas, I am exempt from worker’s compensation insurance. After several months of consideration, I called my insurance company to have them issue a policy. Luckily, I didn’t need to use it the day I fought a light switch and lost. The policy is in place, registered with the Kansas Department of Labor, and I am in compliance when I hire employees.

Business owners and their employees should understand how on the job injuries can affect the owner, the employee, the employee’s family, and the company’s reputation. Worker’s compensation insurance protects all of these in case of injury. Hopefully, your coworkers will care for your safety, not laugh while you cry ugly.