About Jason
Jason Anker was paralysed from the waist down due to an avoidable incident on a construction site in 1993 when he fell off a ladder. He was 24 years old.
His story of his life before the incident, the day of the incident, the time spent in hospital and rehab, his initial release from hospital and his struggle with life over the last 31 years is an honest and sometimes graphic account of the devastation the incident has had on Jason and his family & friends.
For 31 years he was unable to talk openly about his experience of a work related major incident. This is reflected in a story that is very raw; the emotion in which he delivers his talk is as strong as if it was the day of the incident.
His unique story has a powerful impact and grabs the attention of those listening, from Directors, Managers, Supervisors and Operatives alike. He is willing to talk openly about all of his experiences, the physical and physiological effects of a major incident
- His Personnel Life
- The Effect on his Family and Friends
- The Cost of an Incident, Financial & Emotional
- His Abuse of Alcohol and Drugs
- His Struggle to get Compensation
- His Commitment to make a Difference
Behavioural Workshop
Jason is the reason why Health and Safety in the work place is important. All workers receive the standard compulsory briefing where they are told what to do, what not to do, what to wear, what not to where, where to go and where not to go. What this briefing often doesn't achieve is getting through the reason why to heed these rules.
Keynote Speaker
Jason's story is really about being at rock bottom, having the determination to pick yourself up, change direction in life and then trying to make a difference to others. Jason is a regular speaker at functions and after dinner events where he talks about his story, from the evening before the accident, the accident itself, the subsequent rehabilitation and his attempts to put his shattered life back together
In 2009, 2 years after finally receiving my compensation after a 14 year struggle, I was a little bewildered as to my future, I had spent a good chunk of my compensation just trying to enjoy myself spending as much time as possible in Tenerife, A drunken conversation literally changed my life.
At the beginning of 2009 I met Dan Terry, a behavioural safety professional he was sat opposite the table trying to make me aware that my story, which he had just listened to, needed to be told to as many people in industry as possible. If I�m honest I was unconvinced but he did persuade me to witness one of his presentations, which was held in the middle of nowhere near Hull, being sat in a room of 20 roughnecks did little for my confidence and next time Dan spoke to me I was back in Tenerife. However after returning to the UK after 2 months, Dan again approached me, this time I spoke for the very first time about my accident, the first time to an audience and probably the first time to myself. The reaction from the audience was the first time I realised what Dan had meant, your story can help in changing peoples attitudes towards safety. The journey had begun
Dan remains a close friend; www.leadingandbehavingsafely.co.uk
I was soon introduced by Dan to Matt Terry, no relation, but they had been working together on a new approach to behavioural safety and due to Dans other work commitments I started to work more often alongside Matt. As Dan, the approach was a real life accident victim at the beginning of the sessions instead of the tried and trusted method of showing a DVD. We saw an immediate response from attendees; it is hard for guys to look the other way when the victim is 5 feet in front of them. Matt is currently living and working in Doha and we have recently been back in touch.
In February 2010 while speaking at an event for IOSH in London at their Tailored Course Approval Service Launch, I was approached by Outtakes Film Communications. They had been impressed with my speech but they thought this needed to be seen by as many people as possible and although I believe strongly that a live presentation has the greatest impact I cannot be everywhere. So the DVD, Jason Anker-A Fall from Height was made, which has gone on to be a very successful safety film. We were keen for the film not to be focused on the accident itself but on the impact it has, not only on the accident victim but their family and friends. The success of the film proved this was achieved. I have kept a close working relationship with Outtakes ever since.
In 2013 to coincide with the launch of my initiative Proud 2b Safe, a second film was made, Jason Anker- P2BS, however this film focuses on the effect it had on my children and close friends. This film changed my whole direction, hearing my children Abbi & Sam, now adults, talking about things I had not realised affected them.
A huge thank you to everybody who has helped in anyway with this project. There are honestly too many to mention but without the help and support you have given me this would me.
