A Helmet Saved My Life: Ike Pritchett’s Story

What's the one thing about PPE that could mean the difference between going home and never coming back?In this powerful episode recorded live at STUC, host Kirk Westwood sits down with Ike Pritchett, a Kansas City ironworker with Local 10 who survived a catastrophic jobsite accident. Ike shares his journey from starting in construction at 14, through losing his brother Mack in a bridge accident in 2000, to his own near-fatal incident on February 21st when a come-along struck him in the face, crushing his skull. Thanks to his properly worn helmet, Ike survived and made a remarkable recovery. He now travels the country advocating for safety culture and proper PPE use. As Ike says, "PPE only works if you wear it correctly." His story reminds us that safety decisions aren't abstract—they're the difference between going home or not. Ike Pritchett is a Kansas City-based ironworker and construction safety advocate with Local 10 Ironworkers. Since joining the union in 1999 (book #1263430), Ike has built bridges and infrastructure across the region, working for companies like Clarkson Construction. After surviving a catastrophic jobsite accident in which a come-along struck him in the face, crushing his skull, Ike has become a powerful voice for proper PPE use and safety culture. He travels the country sharing his firsthand account of how modern protective equipment—worn correctly—saved his life, inspiring construction professionals to prioritize safety on every job.Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! Talk the TAUC podcast is brought to you by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). Your host, Kirk Westwood, is Director of Marketing for TAUC. In each episode, we’ll explore the latest labor trends, industry insights, and important issues in the world of construction. Our guests are industry leaders, subject matter experts, and innovative visionaries discussing how we are building the ‘world of tomorrow.’ TAUC is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. TAUC’s mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between all parties to achieve the successful completion of construction projects.  Discussion points: (00:00) Ike Pritchett – ironworker at 14, joined Local 10 in 1999 (06:25) The devastating loss of Ike's brother Mack in a bridge accident and why he stayed in the trade (13:05) How safety culture in construction has evolved since the 2000s (29:30) The day everything changed: Ike describes his last memory before the accident (32:19) What his crew witnessed and how they responded when disaster struck (41:17) The mechanical failure that led to a 120-pound come-along striking Ike in the face (45:05) The extent of Ike's injuries: crushed skull, displaced vertebra, and the long road to recovery (50:29) Ike's powerful message: PPE only works if you wear it correctly Share with someone who would be interested, like, and subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode! Resources:TAUC Calendar of EventsTAUC WebsiteKirk Westwood TAUCThe Construction User Magazine back issuesThe Construction User podcast archive