First Aid Case Study: West Fraser’s Commitment to Safety Saves a Life

For employees at West Fraser, a local mill in Joanna, SC, safety isn’t just a corporate mandate; it’s a way of life. This dedication to safety was put to the test one workday when Marty Scott suddenly collapsed due to a cardiac event. Thanks to the swift, skilled response of three trained coworkers and an on-site Automated External Defibrillator (AED), what could have been a heartbreaking tragedy became a life-saving success story.

“It was just a normal day,” Marty recalls. “I grabbed my hard hat and started work. The next thing I knew, I heard someone calling my name, and then... nothing. When I woke up, the paramedic was asking if I could stand up and get on the stretcher.”

In those fleeting moments, his coworkers were by his side, already taking action. One of his teammates, Rob Bearden, remembers the exact moment they realized something was terribly wrong. “I heard Marty make a strange noise, and when I looked over, he was down,” he said. "I knew something wasn’t right, so I called 911 and started CPR right away.”

It was this kind of high-quality, trained response that makes a critical difference in outcomes during cardiac events. Another teammate, Ricky, ran for the AED. “When the AED delivered the first shock, it actually lifted him off the ground,” Ricky Oxner recalled. “It was a sight I’ll never forget, but that’s when I knew we had a fighting chance to bring him back.”

Barbara Greene, HSE Compliance & Training Director at GPS, was the team’s NSC First Aid, CPR & AED Instructor who had prepared them well for this moment. “First aid and CPR training is so important to everyone,” Greene noted. “Cardiac events happen every day, often without warning, and in those critical moments, every second matters. The more people around you who are trained, the better your chances of survival.”

Greene’s emphasis on preparation allowed Marty’s coworkers to act quickly and effectively, without hesitation or confusion. “It was almost like muscle memory,” said one of the rescuers. “I didn’t have to think. My first aid training just kicked in, and everything fell into place.”

For over 20 minutes, Marty's coworkers took turns performing CPR, tirelessly keeping his heart pumping as they awaited the arrival of paramedics. The AED delivered shocks when needed, helping to sustain his heartbeat and prevent further damage. "When you’re in a situation like that, there’s no time for second-guessing. I just remembered what I was taught: stay calm, do the compressions right, and trust the AED to guide us," his coworker said.

Finally, as paramedics arrived, Marty slowly began to regain consciousness. “Ricky came up to me and grabbed my hand and said, ‘Man, it’s good to be talking to you,’” Marty remembers with emotion. Confused and weak, he asked, “What happened?” His teammate replied, “We’ve been doing CPR on you for over 20 minutes.”

The look of relief and gratitude on Marty’s face was unforgettable. His life had been saved not by chance but by a powerful combination of preparedness and teamwork. West Fraser’s commitment to safety extends beyond mandatory training, like NSC First Aid. The company’s leadership invests in creating an environment where every employee feels equipped to handle emergencies. AEDs and first aid kits are strategically placed throughout the facility, and regular training sessions ensure that every team member is prepared to step in when needed.

“We don’t just train our employees for compliance. We train them because we believe in the value of every single life,” explained Joshua Harris, EHS Manager. “By investing in CPR and first aid training, we’re not just creating a safer workplace - we’re empowering our employees to be heroes in moments that truly count.”

Today, Marty’s story serves as a testament to the strength of West Fraser’s safety culture. The lives of his coworkers are also forever changed, having experienced the impact of their actions firsthand. "It’s one thing to go through training," one of them said. "But when you’re in the moment, and you see it work, you realize just how powerful those skills are. I’ll never forget it."

For Marty and his team, this was a moment they’ll carry with them forever. And for West Fraser, it’s a reminder of why safety remains a top priority - a commitment that saved one life and changed many others in the process.