Category seven – Injured worker achievement award
Amanda loved her job as team leader for a mowing crew and was doing a pre-start walkthrough of a new site to identify any potential hazards when she fell into an exposed drain that was covered by long grass. Her entire body weight came down onto her left ankle and she suffered severe left ankle ligament damage, avulsion fracture and serious bruising to the bone.
Her injuries required near daily treatment for almost two years and she wore a moon boot for months. Amanda's inability to return to normal duties took an immediate toll on her mental health. At home she was unable to complete simple tasks and the usually independent mother had to rely heavily on help from family. This only compounded her psychological struggles.
Amanda had always been passionate about her role at Skyline Landscapes and was driven to get back to work. In consultation with her doctors and her workplace, she asked to be able to start with administrative duties from home. When Amanda was ready and capable, she was in the field assisting supervisors with toolbox talks, team audits, reporting and training.
Skyline Landscapes invested in an automatic vehicle which gave Amanda the freedom to attend sites and modified a ride on mower for her to use. Amanda has since been promoted to a supervisor role and is using her experience to change perceptions about the importance of hazard inspections and encouraging teammates to speak up if they are going through tough times.
