Motion - CNB Safe

Wheels in
Motion
Edition 88 - April 2016
The Joys of Travelling in a Wheelchair
I’ve had a busy month so far, I have been lucky enough to work with
some local companies, I normally spend most of my time on planes
& in hotels visiting interstate workplaces. It has been good to sleep in
my own bed for a few weeks. But just to give you an idea of some of
the obstacles that I face when I travel I’d like to ask you to think about
how I do the following from a wheelchair.
Ok so I drive to the airport, I can drive a car using Hand Controls to
accelerate & brake. But the Long Term car park is a fair way from the
terminal & you have to catch a bus….. so the easiest thing is for me to
park in the more expensive short term car park close to the terminal.
So I park the car, now I have to get my bag(s) to check in. I normally
put my backpack on the back of the chair & my luggage bag on my
lap. But occasionally one or both of these falls off!
Next is check in, I’m only 4ft tall sitting down so if I’m in a crowd all
I see is bums & backs….. not fun, & wait to check in. I then normally
have to explain to the check in staff my requirements. I have to
explain the following:
•
I can’t walk onto the plane
•
I will need an aisle chair (Narrow chair) to get to my seat
•
My wheelchair weight
•
Can I sit in a window seat as they board me first & if I’m in an
aisle other passengers have to climb over me to get to their
seat
•
I will need assistance to get off at the other end
I’m ok with this, I’ve been doing it for years & it’s just how it has to
be done, but occasionally things go wrong & that really annoys me.
Here are a few examples of things that have happened to me over the
years…. How would you have coped?
•
The people that help me on the plane don’t turn up at all….. or
they turn up late & I have to get on the plane last (In front of all
the other passengers)
•
They lose my wheelchair (Happened twice in all the time I’ve
been flying)
•
They break my wheelchair (Happened last month)
•
The staff that help me off the plane are unloading another
passenger off a plane & I have to wait (45 minutes is my record)
•
They sit me in an aisle seat & other larger or elderly
passengers are expected to climb over me
•
I was going to say lose my bags….. but that can happen to
anyone
These are just a few of the joys that I have to deal with as part of what
I now do. I’m not complaining mind you, I do get to meet some great
people & hopefully change some attitudes towards safety. But some
days it is harder than others.
Ph: (03) 5965 2000 / Email: [email protected] / Web: www.cnbsafe.com.au
Wheels in
Motion
Edition 88 - April 2016
A really positive month
I have really enjoyed my month for a couple of reasons.
Most of the workplaces I have visited this month are actively encouraging safety & not reacting to something going wrong! They have all said that they
are going quite well with safety but they want to ensure that people do not become complacent. So to all the people at Toyota Australia in Melbourne,
CPB Contractors in Miles/Roma QLD, Lend Lease in Port Hedland, Gwydir Council in Bingara NSW, Westrac in Newcastle lets keep up the good
work & keep working safely.
But the other reason is I have had some excellent feedback on what we do as a company. I have had several of the business’s we work with tell me
that what we do is really important to them, they say that our speakers give their employees the “Reasons” to use the training they have, to comply
with procedures & systems & also to go home to the people that care for us…… So I’m giving all of the C&B Safe team a pat on the back.
And if you want to give your people a reason to stay safe then invite a Safety Speaker out or if you have already had one invite another out!
Alan visits Amcor in April
After visiting multiple Amcor sites throughout April for CNBSafe
Safety Speakers, the common feedback from groups I have
presented to was Shock Horror on how quick (just 1.2secs) your
life can change from a workplace accident. We never thought of
flow on affects to others or what it could do to ourselves.
This trip/tour we can call it has been well worth it in my book
when people come up to you and thank you for your story saying
you are brave to share what happened. (I do not think I’m brave
in anyway at all.) But the statement Thank You for waking me up
about my safety and how complacent I have become in my job
and I will speak up about any issue from now on.
Most people said they have seen a continuous improvement in
recent times.
I had one person from a Melbourne presentation question what
Amcor management was doing as he said they never listen….
they are listening now.
What’s happening where
you are?
Anyone got anything
they want to share?
Are you doing anything
that seems to be
working with safety?
Got any tips that you
want to tell other
workplaces about?
Send me an email with
what you are up to,
especially if you have
a great safety message
or story to share with
me & others.
Email me at woody@
cnbsafe.com.au
Testimonial
Alan Newey
Alan addressed our team over 3 shifts, day, afternoon and night. His
message was clear and relevant to our site. When speaking the room
was silent and people listened - couldn’t ask for a lot more.
Peter Riley - Amcor Nunawading
Ph: (03) 5965 2000 / Email: [email protected] / Web: www.cnbsafe.com.au