18/04/2025
"If Only Kunle Had Listened" — A True-to-Life Lesson in Safety
Kunle was one of the hardest workers on site. Always early, always dependable. Everyone liked him — especially Musa, his close friend and colleague of four years.
They had joined the project together. Same age, same background, same dreams of someday being their own bosses. But there was one big difference between them: Musa believed in preparing for what might go wrong. Kunle? He believed nothing ever would.
A few weeks before the incident, their supervisor handed out safety boots to all workers — a one-time supply. “Use them well,” he said. “We won’t replace lost or damaged ones.” Kunle’s pair got stolen from the site’s changing room. He was devastated… for a moment.
The next day, he showed up in his old sneakers.
“Bro, you can’t keep coming like this,” Musa told him, worried.
“You know how risky this place is. You climb steel, carry metal. One slip, and…”
Kunle waved him off. “Abeg, Musa. I go dey alright. Na only two weeks remain for this job. Make I save small.”
But Musa didn’t let it rest. In fact, he offered to top up the money Kunle needed to get a new pair of GS Kamel Stallion HDR Safety Shoes, the ones he had just bought himself.
“Let me complete it. Just get it, please.”
“No need,” Kunle smiled. “God dey. Nothing go happen.”
He was saving for something — a surprise for his daughter’s 4th birthday coming up that weekend. He planned to close early on Friday, head to the market, and buy the pink bike she had been dreaming of. His wife had already baked the cake. Life was looking up.
Until that Friday morning.
They were installing a large vertical pipe, Musa on one side, Kunle on the other. From above, a heavy steel wrench — almost 5kg — slipped from a careless apprentice’s hand. It fell fast, too fast for anyone to scream.
It hit Kunle’s right foot. His scream tore through the noise of machines and drills.
Musa ran to him. Blood was already seeping through the torn sneaker fabric.
Kunle passed out from the pain.
Crushed toes. Internal bleeding. One toe amputated. Three others barely saved.
The doctors said if he had worn steel-toe safety shoes, the wrench would’ve bounced right off.
No injury. No scream. No months in a hospital bed.
No 4-year-old daughter wondering why daddy missed her birthday.
And the biggest blow?
The company refused to cover his medical bills.
They had done their part — safety shoes were issued. Kunle lost his. They weren’t liable anymore. He had signed the policy himself.
His family struggled to pay the bills. His wife had to borrow.
His small savings? Gone. His plans? Ruined.
But Musa… Musa Was Fine.
That same wrench could have fallen on Musa.
It almost did.
But he was wearing his GS Kamel Stallion safety shoes. The same ones he tried to get Kunle to buy. Funny twist i must say.
The thing Kunle thought he was saving money by avoiding… now had cost him everything.
i wouldn't talk much on the need for you to hurry now we are on promo sales to grab your own pair to safe guard your foot at work.
