The case in summary • Lorry driver Håvard Larsen was involved in a fatal accident outside Bodø in the summer of 2023, which affected him greatly.• The accident led to Håvard needing someone to talk to, but as a lorry driver he works alone and had no colleagues to talk to .• Håvard received help from Collegahjelpen, a support scheme set up by the Norwegian Lorry Association, which offers talks and follow-up to drivers who have been involved in accidents.• Psychologist specialist Heidi Wittrup Djup believes that such colleague support schemes can reduce the risk of reporting sick or developing major ailments after stressful events. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. “On Monday afternoon, a truck and two cars collided on national highway 80 between Fauske and Bodø.” This is how the article for news started from June this summer. Once again, a traffic accident had claimed a human life. Ingrid Margrethe Nordhei was only 54 years old. And the audience can read that a truck was involved. That was it. In the truck sat Håvard Larsen. – You see a car start to appear in the middle of the lane and you sit and hope that the person wakes up. Then it comes to a point where you see that this is not going to work. It will never go well. The damage to Håvard Larsen’s truck after the collision outside Bodø this summer. Two cars were involved in the accident. Photo: Lars-Petter Kalkenberg / news Håvard grips the steering wheel and brakes as hard as he can, but it’s no use. – You can never properly prepare yourself for how difficult it is to be in such a situation. – You can think, you can plan, you can do everything. But when you’re standing there in a situation, the only thing I knew was that I shouldn’t look behind and look at the deceased. It was the only thing I knew in my head. Behind where she lay. I just saw that the car was on its head with its nose towards the bid. I had nothing to do there. Simply. I had to distance myself. A Finnish couple was first at the scene of the accident and alerted the police and rescue teams. The incident from this summer affected Håvard deeply and he needed to talk to someone. Ingrid Margrete Nordhei died in the collision with Håvard Larsen. Photo: Private Help from a colleague – It’s very lonely. It is clear that you have acquaintances that you can meet at regular places and you may talk on the phone hands-free and so on with driver colleagues and the like. But it’s lonely, it is, says Håvard. And precisely because you sit alone at work every day, it can be difficult to talk about tough things. That is why the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association established the Collegahjelpen in 1995. – The Colleague Help is based on voluntary work done by our own members, says adviser Frank Jensen of the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association. – Many of our members sit alone in the car and buzz with their own thoughts. If we are to keep them as future drivers, and at the same time look after people, they must be allowed to talk about it. Photo: Malin Nygård Solberg / news Jensen feels that there are many drivers who want to put a lid on the feeling and try to move on. Colleague support therefore has close follow-up with the drivers also afterwards. And if there is someone who needs more help, they can get access to professional psychologists. – The majority of our drivers are men and we may not be very good at talking about feelings. – We try to be tough and don’t let it affect us on the outside in any case, but then thoughts and feelings can come up later and it’s not something you talk to just anyone about. Last year, Colleague Help was involved after more than 40 accidents. Fortunately, the number of accidents has decreased sharply over the course of 28 years, but unfortunately there are still too many traffic accidents in Norway, Jensen points out. – Was taken care of Håvard Larsen knew this would happen one day. It was only a matter of time. After the accident, Håvard was sent to the emergency room for supervision. – Fortunately, I was taken care of. It’s a wonderful system we have. And then Frank from Colleague Help came and fixed everything. And the help he received from Colleague Help, both at the emergency room and afterwards, has been good. – Frank has called “forty-eight” times. And I have a good relationship with my mother, with whom I have talked a lot about this. – I may have distanced myself from it because I knew it would happen. I wouldn’t say I’m cynical, but unfortunately it has become part of everyday life. It can happen. Never underestimate colleagues Psychological specialist at the Clinic for Crisis Psychology, Heidi Wittrup Djup, has good experience with organisations, which have established their own colleague support schemes at the workplace. – We see that an employee who experiences stressful events or crises will often need support, consideration and follow-up at the workplace. Djup believes that this type of measure can reduce the risk of reporting sick or developing major ailments. – Sometimes venting is the most important thing, other times it is good to gain an understanding of one’s own situation and reactions, and perhaps some advice on what can help. Photo: Natasha Busel / Fana photo studio – Very few of us need a psychologist. But everyone needs consideration, community and security that there is an opportunity to be a whole person also at work, and that there is room to react to bad experiences and get support when needed. At the same time, Djup points out that it is important that the management does not shift responsibility for staff care onto colleague support. – Colleague support should and must have a limited role, and sometimes being referred to professional help is absolutely necessary. Djup believes that the most important thing when such incidents occur is the experience of having one’s reactions and needs recognised, and that one does not have to be alone with what is difficult. – We must never underestimate how important our colleagues and the people we surround ourselves with in everyday life are, and how much they can mean to creating mastery and good everyday life together at work. Sunday 12 November marks the official colleague help day among professional drivers. The family of Ingrid Margrethe Nordhei, who died in the aforementioned accident, has been informed that this case is being made.
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Colleague help for professional drivers after serious traffic accidents – news Nordland
