Lessons learned from the recent snow fight

Well we didn’t get our wish of no snow this year. In fact, our first big snow/ice event hit before the official start of winter and by the time you read this we will probably be well through our second event.

I experienced the first storm up close and personal. I was in the SE District the day before, honoring some of our long-term employees at the service award lunch. When I got to the hotel in Cape it was just me and the Ameren crews. I talked with them about what they were up to and how bad they thought it was going to be. They were prepared for a half-inch of ice and downed power lines. Sometimes it is good to know we are not the only ones out there.

By the next morning everything was white and it was coming down fast. I headed up to the Jackson Building to see how things were going and listened in to the morning snow call. It is really great to see how well our teams are organized and how well you all adapt to changing conditions. A couple of districts asked for help and without hesitation folks stepped in and made it happen.

After the call I hung out at the building for awhile and talked with some of the team as they came in to reload. It is always good to hear first hand how things are going. It was pretty clear this one was going to be a challenge. I headed north on 55 and quickly noticed not much traffic, just me and a bunch of trucks. About every 20 or 30 miles I came upon a couple of yellow trucks, usually a tow plow teamed with another truck. They were definitely making a dent in it, but it didn’t take long for the snow to cover it back up.

By the time I got to Jefferson County things were letting up a little and I met a couple of waves of plows headed south, my first reaction was why don’t they have their plows down and then I quickly realized that they were the crews headed south to help.

Sometimes we take for granted what it takes to make all this happen and just how good we are at snow operations. That does not happen without really talented, dedicated folks doing great work. We learned some things from this storm, we get better and the beat goes on.

Thanks to everyone who makes it happen.

Making a plan to go home safe

The Morning Muster is a good time to stretch your arms and legs and prepare for the job of the day.  It’s also a good time to talk about priorities and review safety concerns.

I don’t mean talking about safety in general terms. This is a good time to target discussion toward specific safety risks for specific jobs.

To do this, one of our most important safety tools is the “Risk Based Assessment” forms. The RBAs are more than check lists of risk prevention.  They are a way to make safety a priority. They are a strategy for prevention. They are a plan to stay safe.

Reviewing and discussing these forms lets you zero-in on the specific risks involved with the job at hand.  They look at common hazards associated with the task. They look at the materials and equipment involved and, most importantly, they look at ways to keep risk to a minimum.

Before starting your day, review the RBA for the task you’re about to do. Review the common risks.  Remember the recommended actions.

Do these things and the RBAs become more than checklists. They give you a plan to go home safe. 

Sometimes it's the things you don't notice....

I wanted to talk to you about the things you don't notice.  Have you driven Highway 54 from Kingdom City to Jefferson City lately?  What do you notice about the drive? Or is it what you don't notice?  The concrete replacement work that Central District crews have done is so smooth you don't notice it. If it was a little rough or it had a "thump, thump" at the ends, our customers would notice every day, day after day.  This is one of those things you may not think of as customer service, but it is critical. I always say if you can't walk away from your work for the day and say it looks good and rides good, then you're not done. In our most recent customer survey our customers have reaffirmed that pavement smoothness is their number-one priority. We want to make it so smooth they don't even think about it. Sometimes it's the things you don't notice that are important.

Innovations Challenge expands to everyone

Innovation is one of MoDOT’s greatest strengths.  Finding better ways to do our jobs has saved Missouri taxpayers money, improved safety and made us a national leader among other DOTs.

Last year, MoDOT hosted two challenges, the PrOMo and the Tool and Equipment challenges. This year, the two programs have been combined to form one challenge with broader categories to cover every area of the department. 

Whether you innovate by crafting a new tool, streamlining a process or delivering a superior project, the Innovations Challenge is your competition to win! 

First round competition ends in December, so enter today by going to:

http://wwwi/intranet/cr/SolutionsAtWork/Innovations.htm

State Visits Reaffirm Commitment

I wanted to share with everyone what I have been up to over the last few weeks. I have traveled around the state meeting with Team MoDOT in KC, SW, NW,Central and NE Districts. I have met with Management Teams, Maintenance Buildings and gone out to construction projects and maintenance operations. I also attended a couple of the training sessions for the on boarding for our new maintenance employees.

Here are few observations. I am very glad to see how seriously the teams are taking the on boarding plan. This will make a huge difference in making sure new employees feel welcome and are safe and productive. I sat in on in on a couple of Morning Musters/ Safety talk/ Risk Based Assessments. I was impressed with how crews are using these tools to make things safer. For example Tyler a Crew Leader did a great job of leading the safety discussion and made sure it was very appropriate for the work for the day. When I have been out on projects and maintenance operations I can see the pride you take in the jobs you do.

My travels have reaffirmed what I have always known. We have committed,enthusiastic folks that do great things.

Remembering Our Fallen Workers

Since 1946, 131 MoDOT employees have died while working on the roadside, in shops and sheds or as a result of a crash while on department business.  This number only accounts for a part of the total since accurate records are not available before that time.

On Sept. 19, we will honor our fallen colleagues on the first Day of Remembrance at 1:31 p.m.  Central Office will hold a ceremony at the Fallen Workers Memorial and districts will honor these individuals in various ways across the state.

This tribute is an opportunity for us to remember the sacrifice made by these employees. It is also a time to reaffirm our own personal commitment to safety so that we all make it home safely.

Please join me in honoring these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for Missouri’s transportation system.

Winter is Around the Corner

It’s time to start getting ready for winter. Like last year, our non-maintenance, safety-sensitive employees will help with winter operations.

They’ll be getting new training and refresher courses to make sure they’re ready for the challenge. We’re going to be bringing in seasonal employees as much as we can, but we still need to be prepared for anything Mother Nature sends our way.

Part of being prepared is planning your time off. We’re asking the safety-sensitive employees who might be called up in a snow fight to submit their annual leave requests as soon as possible. Each district will have a set number of annual leave spots set aside this season so they can take time off whether there’s a winter event or not.

 We recognize the personal sacrifices you make to keep Missouri roads clear, and I would like to thank all of you for your dedication and hard work.