After a Gannett Blogger reported the Montgomery Advertiser press operator was seriously injured Friday night while racing to meet a deadline, I asked a reliable source for an update. Here's what they told me in an e-mail early this morning:
"Pressman pinched palm of his hand between steel plate cylinder and a rubber roller. Press was 'walking,' and he put his hand where we all know not to -- but sometimes do, to hurry up. All of us know that we have a deadline. Hospital grafted torn palm back on; recovery expected."
[Updated.] Another reader, writing about 9 p.m. ET, added the following (warning to the squeamish; this is graphic): The accident "peeled the flesh off of his hand -- but luckily didn't damage any bone. They've grafted more skin onto his hand and if it doesn't take, they'll have to do it again. Don't know if he'll ever be able to use that hand again or not at this point."
"Pressman pinched palm of his hand between steel plate cylinder and a rubber roller. Press was 'walking,' and he put his hand where we all know not to -- but sometimes do, to hurry up. All of us know that we have a deadline. Hospital grafted torn palm back on; recovery expected."
[Updated.] Another reader, writing about 9 p.m. ET, added the following (warning to the squeamish; this is graphic): The accident "peeled the flesh off of his hand -- but luckily didn't damage any bone. They've grafted more skin onto his hand and if it doesn't take, they'll have to do it again. Don't know if he'll ever be able to use that hand again or not at this point."
Hang in Bro, you will be fine. Slow it down, don't kill your self for GPS any more
ReplyDeleteHappy Pressman
Does anyone know his name?
ReplyDeleteTough situation Gannett fosters. Hurry, hurry, hurry! Make your off times... However, get hurt and it's your fault. You were working unsafely. No way will I lose a finger or hand for Gannett because they want to squeese out one more penny of profit. And no one else should either. Pressmen: Leave with all your digits intact. Don't be "loyal" to an unloyal corporation.
ReplyDeleteCome on be fair. Press Iperators have been the backbone of the industry for years, and all through those years there have been injuries. Most before and during a press run.
ReplyDeleteI know the name and he's one of the safest workers I know. There hasn't been a lost time accident in the pressroom there since at least the early 2000s. Montgomery prints 3 papers: theirs, Columbus and Macon, GA. Sometimes it gets a bit hectic. I wasn't there so I don't know exactly how it happened, but I wish him the best.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing but respect for press operators. Two-story monoliths of moving parts are not exactly a desktop! At my site the environment would be brutal in the stress department. Not saying this is the case here, but it's amazing what a change in supervisors can do. We had one guy who was just a paranoid, kiss-ass, office-dweller. I could feel feel the tension, the lack of eye contact, every time I walked back to the press room for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteWell, that dude eventually was canned - back when there were standards - and his replacement was by luck of the draw a decent mensch, as they say — that is, a lot happier press crew still worked to the hilt but treated with respect.
Before, there was not so much the injury factor but high turnover. And inexperience begs for an accident just as much as any other factor.
Once he was gone and a really decent guy took his place, we had a stable press crew, turnover stopped and efficiency grew.
Ironic, ain't it. Given what was by now on the presses: pablum.
I've mangled a lot of rags between rollers and cylinders in the haste, but nary a digit.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather get yelled at in the pressroom than go to the ER.
Hope he heals quickly.
Sorry to read about this. Godspeed to the pressman and his family.
ReplyDeleteBe fair? Please! Gannett just didn't start yesterday. They've been around a while and putting the hammer down in paper after paper. Push-Push-Push... do it faster and with less people. It does equal injuries. Been there, seen it, experienced it, left it... and now, Gannett's back again.
ReplyDelete10:47 Maybe they can can our Bob Campbell
ReplyDeleteBob is much too vital to the operation at your particular facility. He has been working very hard for countless hours. And is currently in charge of one of the finest run facilities in the Gannett chain
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ReplyDeletethese greedy plp we work 4 are going to keep on under staffing this facility until someone gets killed
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ReplyDeleteTo 10:10 Iknow who you are, set behind a keyboard for a few hrs and think you have it tuff, bring your butt out on the press,Move this Old Metros around with a bar 4 are 5 times anite for different runs, you would be to tired to count to ten!
ReplyDeleteMy bad that commit was for 10:43 just kinda pissed I was there!
ReplyDelete11:02 you must not work there. we see it in a very differant way!
ReplyDeleteAnd to praise Bob Campbell, well thats a crock! Keep it up. it is what it is! Hah!
I went and saw the patient today, he seems to be doing well. It's his left hand, so he may have trouble with the motorcycle clutch. He was moving his fingers, so that's good. His hand is all bandaged up, but it doesn't seem to be hurting him to bad. As long as he does what the doctor says and stays out of the pool, I think it should heal up fine.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a doctor, but I like playing doctor with my girlfriends.
we bust our ass in the pressroom gannett doesnt realize they have the best of the best in there"montgomery" i hope this comment gets approved by the administrator cause our damn raise never does!!!!!!
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