Information
-- SHATTERED --
THE JEFF WALTER'S STORY
A powerful reenactment and training video emphasizing behavior, lockout/tag out, fall protection
and the effects a workplace injury has on the family as well as the employee. This video is an
effective tool for developing an injury free workplace.
To inquire about viewing or ordering a video,
CLICK HERE.
References (details)
- Jim Kenny
- Chad Stansbury
- Chris Herring
- Ted Krenkel
- John Martin
Motivational Safety Speaker/Presenter
To inquire about a personal appearance from Jeff Walters CLICK HERE
Toastmasters Advanced Communicator and Competent Leader
More than 30 years of experience working as an industrial maintenance electrician
– DAK Americas
– ORICA
– MWV
– KapStone
– Mid-South BBS Association
– American Society of Safety
– GSK GlaxoSmithKline
– Evergreen Packaging
– Trident Technical College
Engineers
- SKF Aeroengine
Jeff Walters grew up in a small town in South Carolina (Harleyville). He enjoyed playing sports but was too small to compete at the level he desired. Jeff is convinced there only two reasons that he is not a professional athlete and they are talent and ability. He graduated from Trident Technical College in 1987 with an Associate in Engineering Technology Degree and has worked as an industrial electrician for over 30 years. For the past 25 years he has served on many safety committees to improve safe conditions and safe work practices. He served for two full years in the safety department of a paper mill as a liaison for hourly employees, supervisors and managers.
He has worked on the development and implementation of Hazard Recognition and Risk Analysis systems and Behavior Based Safety Processes in the KapStone Charleston Paper Mill. Jeff's passion for safety was inspired by an injury he received on December 8th, 1988 as a result of falling 19 feet from a conveyor to the concrete floor. He voluntarily climbed on to a conveyor belt to secure a limit switch that was needed in order for the machine to operate. Jeff was in a hurry because he was ready to go home for the day and he wanted to show that he could get the job done. Therefore, he violated the lock out procedure and has paid an enormous price for his decision. The belt started to run over 100 feet per minute and Jeff was slammed against a wall, knocking him up in the air then falling to the floor.
The doctor entered the hospital room the morning after the incident to explain the injuries. He told Jeff, and Sheri his wife of fifteen months and his parents that he had sustained fractured vertebrae in the lower back and a broken coccyx (tail bone). The he said, We are most concerned about his left arm it is shattered into a million pieces. Jeff asked if they could pin it back together and the doctor said, There is nothing to pin it too, it looks like grains of sand.
Jeff knows from experience, many of the effects a workplace injury will have on the family, friends and coworkers. He is dedicated to preventing lives of workers from being physically, emotionally, and psychology shattered into a million pieces
- Jeff Walters
jwwalters66@gmail.com
(Email)
(843)327-4062 (Phone)
Jeff was married at the time of the incident. His wife had grown up in the same small town as Jeff; they were high school sweethearts. They dated for four years until he graduated college, then proceeded with plans for marriage. They were married in August of 1987 six months after Jeff started working at a fiber board plant near their home. She worked at a bank approximately five miles from the plant. They were typical newlyweds.
Life took a dramatic turn shortly after 5:00pm on December 8, 1988 when she received the phone call that every spouse dreads. “There has been an accident and your husband was injured.” A wave of emotions immediately took over and she could only imagine the extent of the injuries. She arrived at the plant, where Jeff worked, just in time to ride in the front of the ambulance to the hospital. She heard the correspondence of the emergency medical technicians and the hospitals as they prepared for her husband’s arrival. They talked about back injuries, possible neck injuries and multiple fractures to his left arm.
Once arriving at the hospital the trauma continued for Jeff’s wife and his parents as they waited for results from the doctors. The nurse’s were having difficulty administering an I.V. and Jeff was beginning to perspire heavily as he was about to pass out. Jeff’s wife ran to the nurses’ station and demanded for the supervising nurse to respond and administer the I.V. before he went into shock. The next day a doctor came into Jeff’s hospital room to explain the extent of his injuries. He described the broken coccyx (tail bone), several fractured vertebrae in his lower back, two sprained ankles, sprained right wrist and the treatment for allowing Jeff’s back to heal properly. Then the doctor delivered the really bad news when he stated that Jeff’s left arm was “shattered into a million pieces”. Jeff asked if they could put a pin in it and the doctor responded with, “there's nothing to pin it to because it looks like grains of sand.” They had to wait for it to heal and then determine what could be done next.
After leaving the hospital Jeff and his wife returned to their home in Harleyville, SC. The doctor had instructed that Jeff only stand for 15 minutes at a time while wearing a brace that was to be worn on the front of his body. The brace extended from his pelvic area to his collar bone. After 15 minutes he would have to lie down for at least 2 hours. Sheri had to deal with mood changes and insecurities, including nightmares and skepticism about Jeff’s ability to work.
Twenty years later the fear of what can happen was still present. In November of 2008 Jeff was working night shift at a paper mill when they needed electricians to come into work after normal working hours. A representative from the paper mill did not realize that Jeff was already at work and called their home after midnight. When Jeff’s wife answered, the person said, “This is paper mill security…” She immediately felt a rush of emotions as she imagined what had happened to Jeff.
Jeff serves as an EMT-B on a rescue squad. His life was dramatically affected when he responded to the scene of an explosion and fire. He was providing care for a severely injured worker who had second and third degree burns over the majority of his body. In this case it was not because of the injured person's behaviors and actions. However, the lives of many were shattered again.
Jeff has an effective way of connecting with employees at all levels of organizations. He shares from his heart what he has experienced and learned while working on the front lines of industry for over 30 years. He will also challenge everyone who is listing to have the courage to try to prevent workplace injuries.