Wes “Dahmer” Sharp describes a near-fatal crash involving two Marine fighter jets.
Wes “Dahmer” Sharp talks about near misses
LODGE LEADERS AT the Boilermakers Construction Sector Operations conference in Marco Island March 3-7 heard about safety issues from a Marine pilot who experienced a near-fatal accident while piloting an F/A-18 fighter jet during a training exercise. Wes “Dahmer” Sharp explained how his plane and another jet smacked together, belly to belly, in the heat of a very competitive aerial maneuver — and lived to tell about it.
Now a motivational speaker, an officer in the Marine Reserves, and a commercial airline pilot, Sharp noted, “It’s on-the-job, snap decisions that cost us.” He said getting away with little safety infractions breeds complacency, and complacency “is the silent killer.”
Sharp compared flying jets with the dangers of working on construction sites and dealing with the pressures of getting things done quickly. He said leaders must be careful of the messages they communicate, because they have a big impact on those who follow. “You are a bigger deal than you think you are,” he noted, stressing that people follow by example. “Set the example, pursue perfection. Have the courage to listen and the courage to speak up” if you see someone else violating a safety rule.
Sharp’s presentation was sponsored by the National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employers (NACBE).
