OSHA Honors Local Women for Life Saving Efforts

July 8, 2003
When billboard poster worker Isaac Lesman of LaSalle, Ill., responded to a dispatch requiring him to change a billboard in Peru, Ill., he didn't know he was walking into a life-threatening situation. Nor did he know that three strangers would save his life on July 15, 2002.

The Aurora, Ill. area office of OSHA recognized the efforts of Nancy Weberski, Rhonda Adamson and Jean Pfalsgraf, who found the 19-year old worker and helped save his life after his aluminum ladder was electrified by an overhead wire. OSHA recently presented the three with plaques honoring their efforts.

On the day of the incident, Lesman was carrying an aluminum ladder to the jobsite. He may never know whether the ladder actually touched an overhead power line &endash; or merely came close enough for it to send a power surge through his body due to electrical arcing. Fortunately for him, passing motorist Weberski saw Lesman fall on the side of the road in the parking lot of a local church.

She stopped immediately to help and was soon joined by Adamson, who searched unsuccessfully for a pulse for Lesman, who was not breathing. She initiated CPR and Pfalsgraf, also a passing motorist, stopped to help and noted that Lesman was turning gray each time there was a pause in breathing. Pfalsgraf immediately started rescue breathing while Adamson and Weberski teamed to give compressions, telling the young man to fight for his life.

When paramedics arrived, the three had managed to keep Lesman alive, although his breathing had stopped at least twice. Paramedics defibrillated Lesman twice before transporting him to the hospital, where rescue workers were too busy keeping him alive to immediately notice the two small marks on either wrist, which were entrance wounds from electricity, nor the three-inch long gash on the left side of his right foot, the exit wound.

Lesman is recovering from his injuries, which include physical and neurological damage.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!