I have been living diligently as a warehouse manager for an American company in Orange County.

I was familiar with operating forklifts, and having worked in the warehouse for several years, I was so accustomed to the job that I could do it with my eyes closed.

That day was just another ordinary day.

However, I never imagined that a moment of carelessness would change my life for several months.

I was loading machine parts onto a pallet with a small forklift, but one side was a bit heavy.

I knew the center of gravity was a bit off, but I thought, 'This should be fine' and moved the load.

In the end, while placing the ramp onto the delivery truck, the forklift lost its balance and tipped over.

I momentarily unbuckled my seatbelt, but my right leg got caught in the guard, and the hospital I was taken to diagnosed me with a complex fracture of the femur.

Although it was called a complex fracture, simply put, it meant that the bone was broken in more than two places.

From that moment on, my daily life consisted of a hospital bed for two months.

I underwent surgery, had pins inserted, and went through rehabilitation, which exhausted both my body and mind.

Thanks to the Workers' Compensation that the company subscribed to, all my medical expenses were covered, and I received a certain percentage of my salary.

But that was as far as it went.

Unlike a car accident, there is no "compensation for pain" or "damages for disability."

Unless it is someone's clear fault, a 'workplace accident' simply ends as 'treatment covered by company insurance.'

While lying in the hospital bed, I had these thoughts.

'What if I can't move like before due to insufficient rehabilitation later?'

'It feels like everyone is inconvenienced because of my injury...'

No matter how much the company covers the insurance, the fact that I got hurt is mine alone, and I realized that I am the one who experiences the pain and discomfort.

After the accident, my body has recovered and I started going back to work, but it is different from before the accident.

I unconsciously become more cautious with my body and avoid forklift operations.

Thoughts like 'I can't let that happen again...' cross my mind several times a day.

And the conclusion I always reach at the end of those thoughts is one.

"Not getting hurt is the best."

No insurance, no compensation can replace 'my body that was able to work healthily.'

Since the accident, I double-check the balance of the forklift and never move if the weight is even slightly ambiguous.

I learned through my body that 'if I endure the inconvenience, the next thing waiting for me is a hospital bed.'

If anyone reading this works in a logistics warehouse, factory, or construction site,

I want to tell you this.

"You can work again, but you can't recreate your body."

Mistakes are momentary, recovery takes months, and regret lasts a lifetime.

Do not trust the mindset that says it's okay because there is insurance.

What is truly okay is 'that the incident does not happen.'

At this moment, am I safe?

This is a question I must always check and live by.

I hope you also go home safely today without getting hurt.

That is the most valuable achievement of all.