Matt Triggs (L) & April 2006 "Safety Employee of the Month", Dean Dobbs (R)

           The Ames Safety Committee had their monthly meeting on May 5th, 2006.  Several goals were established by the committee for the 2006 construction year.  Looking back on the 2005 season, Ames division had 51 incidents costing approximately $32,000.  The committee set their goals to reduce incidents by 30% and "dollars paid out" by 50%.  This would put our annual incidents at 31 and the "dollars paid out" at $16,000.  To do this we will constantly track our monthly incidents and dollar amounts so at anytime we know exactly where we are as far as our set goals.  If we see a spike then the supervisors will be

 addressed and as a team we will try to slow the frequency of the incidents.  Obviously the dollars and cents are the one everyone pays the closest attention to but the number of incidents are equally important as we never know when the "big one" may be coming.  Setting goals is important as you can never hit the bullseye without first having a target. 

Pictured is our April 2006 "Safety Employee of the Month", Dean Dobbs (on right).  Dean runs one of our PC paving crew under Matt Triggs (on left).  Several times his crew has been visited and the crew all had their hardhat, vests and glasses on when required.  All the proper road signage was in place and it was just a controlled-safe working environment with the on-going construction activity.  We felt the supervisor on site deserved the award for his efforts to provide a safe site for his employees.  Even in the picture you notice the crew with their hardhats on when around the uni bucket. 

Good job, Dean & thanks.