Unit 18 Reading Activities Plus Questions

Anchor: Welcome back everyone. Our next story tonight is a special report about office safety. Every year, countless workplace accidents occur, causing injury, damage, and financial losses. In an incident yesterday afternoon, an office building had to be evacuated due to an emergency, but during the process, one of the workers mysteriously collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder that workplace safety is not to be taken lightly. And with that said, let's take a closer look at what happened. Our reporter Colin is on the scene. Colin, what can you tell us?

Reporter: Hi Rachel. I'm here at the front entrance of this office building in Buffalo, New York. What happened here yesterday? Imagine that you work in a large office building like the one behind me, with many floors, hundreds of workers, and several departments. It's a busy day, and everyone is working hard to meet their deadlines. Suddenly, an alarm goes off, and everyone is startled. It's not a drill; there's a real emergency.

Anchor: Colin, can you tell us what the emergency was that triggered the alarm?

Reporter: Sure, Rachel. The emergency was a small fire in the building's electrical room, which caused the smoke detectors to activate and the alarm to sound. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the building's fire suppression system. However, the smoke had already spread throughout the building, which led to the evacuation. Workers began to evacuate the building, but one employee, Jane, suddenly collapsed in the hallway. Luckily, another worker noticed and quickly called for an ambulance. Jane was taken to the hospital, and received a thorough checkup, as doctors suspected that she might have been exposed to a contagious virus. Oftentimes, office equipment isn’t sanitized as frequently as it should be, which poses the threat of spreading diseases among the staff. Thankfully, Jane did not sustain serious injuries or illness. It seems that her symptoms were simply due to a combination of stress and hunger, as Jane had skipped both breakfast and lunch. This incident reminds us of the importance of regulations and standards for equipment sanitation and prevention measures to stop the spread of illnesses in the workplace. This could have been a lot worse, if indeed a contagious virus was spreading in the office. Like you said, Rachel, every year, millions of people suffer workplace injuries and illnesses. These accidents can be costly, both in terms of financial and human losses. That's why it’s important to educate everyone on how to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. Now let's go to Jane, who is here with me now. Hello, Jane. How are you feeling?

Jane: Hi, I'm feeling much better, thank you.

Reporter: Can you tell us a little bit about what happened on the day of the emergency?

Jane: Sure. It was a busy day at work, and suddenly, the alarm went off. I was feeling a little off, but I didn't think much of it. As I was evacuating the building, I suddenly felt dizzy and tripped over some equipment that was left in the middle of the walkway. I fell and hit my head on a desk. I was lucky that someone noticed and called for an ambulance.

Reporter: That sounds painful.

Jane: Yes, but fortunately, it wasn't a serious injury. But it was a wake-up call for me and my colleagues to be more mindful of office safety. We hadn’t really thought about it before. And then the doctors said they needed to do tests in case I had a contagious disease. So that was scary. I’m glad everything is okay though.

Reporter: Glad you’re okay. Accidents can happen at any time, and it's crucial to take preventative measures. Have you noticed any safety issues in your workplace, now that you’re more mindful of it?

Jane: Yes, when the fire alarm went off yesterday, we realized that some of the emergency equipment was not up to scratch. We also had some equipment lying around in the walkways, which, needless to say as it happened to me, can be a tripping hazard.

Reporter: You are absolutely right! It's great that you and your colleagues have taken notice of these issues. Have you received any compensation or support from your employer?

Jane: Yes, my employer has provided me with some insurance coverage to help with my medical bills. They've also implemented new regulations and standards to prevent this from happening again.

Reporter: That’s very important. Do you agree with these new regulations? How do you think workplace safety can be improved and do you have any advice for our viewers on how to protect themselves from accidents or illnesses in the workplace?

Jane: I think regular safety drills and training sessions can help remind employees of potential risks and how to prevent accidents. I think the office should be regularly checked for any potential hazards, so they’re gonna do that now on a monthly basis. I think they are also introducing a protocol to properly sanitize equipment every day to prevent the spread of illnesses in case something is contaminated. Personally, I would advise everyone to just be mindful of their surroundings, and to follow the emergency procedures in place. If you're feeling off, don't ignore it like I did, and seek first aid if necessary.

Reporter: "That's excellent advice, Jane. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Back to you, Rachel."

Anchor: "Thank you, Colin, and Jane, for that insightful interview. It's clear that accidents can happen at any time, and it's crucial to take preventative measures to ensure that the workplace is safe for everyone. As we have seen today, accidents can be avoided if we all take responsibility for our actions and are mindful of our surroundings. Dear viewers, remember, if you're ever in an emergency situation at work, evacuate the building immediately and call for an ambulance if necessary. And don't forget to seek first aid if you're injured or feeling unwell. We hope that you have learned something new and that you will take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe workplace for yourself and your colleagues. Thank you for watching, and we'll see you next time.”