Safety Shorts: Seatbelt Safety With Johnny Farley

NSSGA Podcast

In this episode, Libby talks to Johnny Farley, Area Health & Safety Manager at Rogers Group, about winning NSSGA’s seatbelt campaign slogan contest with: Why risk it? Just click it. Johnny explains how he came up with his slogan, and how his experience as a State Trooper underscored just how important seatbelt safety truly is. He shares the tragic story of responding to a fatal motor vehicle crash involving three teenagers, and how many of these fatal accidents on the highway and in the construction and mining industry could be prevented by simply wearing a seatbelt. Today’s conversation is an important reminder that seatbelts save lives, so, Why risk it? Just click it.

Episode Highlights

• Johnny came up with the slogan only an hour after receiving word about the contest
• Why seatbelt safety is important to Johnny
• His story of responding to a fatal motor vehicle crash as a State Trooper
• Many motor vehicle crashes and accidents in the construction and mining industry could be prevented by simply wearing a seatbelt

Toolbox Talk Discussion Questions

• What are our company policies and procedures around wearing seatbelts?
• How are we doing as a company at wearing seatbelts? If there could be improvement, how can we improve and further encourage seatbelt use?
• Walk through a day in your mind that you operate a vehicle - a pickup truck, loader, etc. What accidents could occur and how would wearing a seatbelt help in the circumstances you’re imagining?
• Why do you wear a seatbelt? Who do you wear a seatbelt for?
• Does anyone have a story about seatbelt safety they’d like to share?

Quotes:

“I actually thought of the slogan about an hour after I received the email.”

“I explained to all three families that their children were killed because of being ejected, or partially ejected, from the vehicle. And unfortunately...a seatbelt would have most likely saved their lives.”

“This same story is echoed all too often in highway motor vehicle crashes and in the construction and mining industry.”

“The vast majority of these fatal incidents could have been prevented by simply wearing a seatbelt.”

Links:

National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association website