THE RIPPLES OF AN ACCIDENT…

The ripples of an accident Spread further out day by day, The impact never forgotten The grief never far away.

Losses are measured in numbers But don’t forget each had a name, They were people with a full life Each one unique and not the same. The ripples of the accident Started with the tragedy, It touched so many forever The impact creating agony. The operators hurt and killed Never thought that shift was their last, There was just no time to escape It all unfolded way too fast.

The witnesses just froze in shock Seeing tragedy so close by, Nobody expects to come to work To see colleagues get hurt or die.

Emergency sirens sounded Rescuers raced out to the scene, Rescue protocols were reviewed For an accident never seen. Emergency response arrived They tried hard to save each one, The scene was just so horrific Nightmares plagued them once they were done. Senior Management then got the call They shakily asked “Are you sure?”, They knew it would not be the same Things would never be the same as before. Management activated the plan, The plans told them what they should do, In the event they had a death Or a major accident too.

The local Police were called and came They recorded the loss of lives, They shook their heads – they knew these men Then went to notify the wives. The town had heard the siren blare Everyone woke in disbelief, Praying the Police wouldn’t visit With official notices of grief. Lives of wives and kids were broken As they answered the door that night, Seeing the Police standing so solemn Expressing sorrow for their plight.

Word of mouth spread the news quickly Colleagues and workmates heard the news, The impact of loss haunted them Whole towns would fill churches and pews.

Families and friends were heart-broken They visited the accident site, The work makes tried to console them Many tears were shed that night.

The victims were finally recovered They laid the stretchers side by side, Media took photos and reported Telling the story of those who died.

Support services were arranged For the families and site crews, Newspaper and TV reporters Captured the grief for prime-time news.

Forensic clean-up crews arrived They tried to sanitise the site, Recovering biohazards They scrubbed and washed throughout the night. Legal counsel had been engaged They flew in the very next day, They briefed the site on what to do And what they should and shouldn’t say.

The event was so significant Regulators were notified, The sent a team of Inspectors Due to the number who had died. The Union sent Reps for their members To provide advice and support, They knew that this eventually Would be a case that would go to court. The site started their Investigation But the company board said “No”, We need independent experts We need people who really know. The Police were there for the Coroner Recording evidence for days, While operations and production Were subject to lock-outs and stays.

The scene was then handed over To the Regulators in wait, While the crews milled around and watched Thinking when would all this abate.

Autopsies on victims were held Families waited for their release, Funerals and wakes were planned for days Knowing the pain would never cease.

Flags throughout the town were lowered Every one of them flew at half mast, The towns folk shocked at the horror Wondering how long this would last.

The whole town stood still in honour Funeral processions went on for days, So many people affected Existing in a shocked, sad daze. Investigators toiled for weeks Examining the evidence, Conducting interviews for days Dealing with wary reticence.

The data was finally gathered And the analysis complete, Recommendations were included To hopefully avoid a repeat.

An Inquiry was established All evidence was scrutinised, Accusations were raised by some That evidence was sanitised.

Witnesses tried to remember Barristers and lawyers argued, Deflection of guilt abounded Nobody wanted to be sued.

The legal defence was considered A ruling was finally made, The penalty was a pittance A cost the site readily paid. Families asked for recognition A memorial was then built, Some said to respect and honour Some said to alleviate guilt. Two years later it was announced A Coroner’s Inquest would begin, The pain would be dredged up again For all families and next-of-kin.

Findings were finally published Recommendations were stated, Five years after the tragedy The families and friends had waited. Changes were made to Industry Six years after the accident, Some regulations enacted Some token change and sentiment. For outsiders and the public Memories ebbed and slowly wane, While families still cry and just hope That their loss was never in vain.