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Workplace
Violence (Part 2)
by
Tammy Miser
Erin
Elizabeth Sperrey
Erin
had a big heart and simple aspirations she volunteered at a preschool,
wanted to marry, have children and return to college.
Sunday
Erin went to work at the coffee
shop as usual probably thinking the same thing all of us do who work on
weekends “Another day, another dollar”.
Some
time during Erin’s normal work routine a co-worker, Christopher Shumway,
had a heated argument with her. Christopher pushed Erin down and took her car keys.
Erin tried simply walking away but Christopher proceeded with his
brutal attack, his attempt at strangling Erin failed so he began viciously
kicking her head, chest and mouth. Hearing
customers Christopher left the restroom to serve them.
Erin endured her last moments alone on a cold floor probably
wondering why no one was coming to her aid and praying the pain would go
away. When Christopher
returned Erin was no longer breathing, he dragged her lifeless body to the
car and placed her in the back seat. After returning to the coffee shop
for the cash box Christopher sped off for his escape.
During Christopher’s getaway he ran
off the road where a family picked him up and dropped him off at a Motel
6. Erin’s body was found
hours later in her car.
Work
Safe Work Smart
200,
000 children under the age of 18 are injured and 70 die every year in
unsafe working conditions. Most
of our youth are hard pressed to find any employment apart from high-risk
jobs. Factor in these young
adults are unaware of their rights and have not been trained in workplace
safety the possibility for injury and/or death are greatly increased.
The
ideal way to get the word out is for schools to train our future laborers
and management as to what are morally acceptable safe practices.
There is a great program for young adults called “Work Safe Work
Smart”. Work Safe work
Smart is available because of the grants provided by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the research and
development of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The curriculum been used since 2000 and a downloadable at WSWS
or you may request a CD or Printed curriculum at workerhealth@health.state.mn.us.
We
have put a flyer with this article information and the Work Safe Work
Smart curriculum information for easy presentation. Erin's
Story/ Work Safe Work Smart Flyer. Read through the Work Safe
Work Smart the introduction and the curriculum and you will be prepared to
answer any questions they may have.
Stories
like Erin’s are horrific no matter what age but with young persons
demise we loose a lifetime of achievements.
The obligation of presenting schools with the knowledge is up to
concerned adults. You have
the opportunity to educate students with the help of Work Safe Work Smart
and your schools. Give our
young adults a chance, an education that will last a throughout their
life.
*Erin's
Fund & Tribute
*If
your school is using
the WSWS curriculum please contact us and let us know we would love to
hear from
you and present you with a certificate from USMWF!
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