Happy Halloween! (Photo Gallery)

Be Innovative, Take the Challenge

The Innovations Challenge is a yearly event that showcases the BEST ideas our distract has to offer. Many were created and tested throughout the year to help you do your job more safely, quickly and efficiently. The Challenge will honor that ingenuity and provide the recognition and reward for a job well done. 

As with each year, the Innovations Challenge starts at the district level. On Dec. 6, we

will host all challengers at the Lee's Summit facility. Every employee is invited to stop by and visit with the challengers and check out the innovations. If you want to ENTER the challenge, click on the link on the KC Sharepoint, complete the form and send it to Chris Redline by Nov. 30!

There are three categories:

• Tools and Equipment - Fabricated items getting work done better, faster and safer
• Projects - Efforts resulting in exceptional results for the transportation users or internal operations
• Productivity - Office and field processes, materials and products

Employee submissions are evaluated by district evaluation team and the best ones are sent to the statewide showcase where you have a chance to win CASH for your creativity. And there awards have changed this year to offer more prizes:

• First-round cash awards doubled for work zone safety innovations!
• Director’s Safety Award will focus on work zone safety with a cash award added to any other showcase winnings!
• First-round winners earn $75 per person up to a maximum of $450 per team (Double for Work Zone Innovations). 
• Showcase category winners earn up to $425 per person up to a maximum of $1,550 per team.

As many as 18 first-round winners in each district and the Central Office! Click here for all the details. See you at the Showcase! 

MoDOT’s Maintenance Leadership Academy

Are you interested in a leadership role within the maintenance division? Then MoDOT’s Maintenance Leadership Academy (MLA) might be the place for you!

What is the MLA?

The MLA is a program designed to provide potential leaders within maintenance with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to be successful in a leadership role. Learn about the different leadership roles in the maintenance division, while receiving self‐driven training that will help you gain experience and knowledge about the different job tasks associated with those leadership positions. The program offers three different levels from the crew leader level and progressing to supervisor and superintendent levels.

This program was designed by maintenance personnel from across the state, and gives a comprehensive look into the life of a leader in maintenance. It also provides a good understanding of what their roles and responsibilities entail.   

Each level takes approximately one year to complete.

How to apply?

Fill out an application and submit it to Human Resources. Applications can be found on sharepoint here or submit a printed application available from your superintendent or KC Assistant District Maintenance Engineer Jimmy Shannon.  Here are the minimum admission requirements:

• No disciplinary action (written warning or above) within the past year. Disciplinary actions may be considered for up to three years for selection purposes, based on severity of the situation.
•  Must have received a range of successful or above for all competencies on your current MAPS review.
• Must have completed the MLA application and submitted it prior to the deadline of November 30, including having it signed by your supervisor and superintendent.

 Each district will select employees for the academy from a pool of employees who express interest.  There are only a certain number of openings for the academy in each district.  All applications must be received by the end of day on November 30, 2016. 

Questions? Contact Jimmy Shannon at 816-607-2132
 

SAFETY SHOUT - Deer Hunting Safety

Firearm season in Missouri for whitetail deer is Nov. 12-22, and the youth early season is Oct. 29-30. Here are some safety tips to ensure you only kill “deer ones” and not “dear ones.”

• No shots with your shots! Alcohol and firearms don’t mix, period. Hunt sober or don’t hunt at all.
• Be sure of your target before you fire. A patch of hair could, tragically, be attached to someone’s head. If you can’t see the entire deer, don’t point your firearm or shoot. Wait for the game to move, so you can be sure it’s not a person or some animal other than a deer. 
• Account for where your bullet could possibly travel and land if you miss or if it penetrates and exits the animal. Popular deer rounds (.30-06, .308, .270, .223 and similar) can send a bullet over three miles from the muzzle and still carry enough energy to injure or kill someone. For example, a 170-grain bullet from a 30-06 carries about as much ballistic energy at 1000 yards as a .357 magnum has at the muzzle. Know your backdrop!
• When walking to and from a deer stand, carry your firearm with the chamber empty. Chamber a round only when you begin hunting, then always keep the safety engaged until ready to fire.
• Sight your firearm in prior to hunting with it. Bore-sighting is usually not good enough. Take some time to zero in at a distance you might expect to actually see in the field. Depending on the round you’re using, approximately 100 yards is generally a good range. If you’re hitting the bulls-eye at that distance, you’re probably sighted in pretty well for any distance from the muzzle out to around 250-300 yards with most modern calibers. 
• Be especially careful when walking outdoors in the dark, such as during the wee hours of the morning. It’s easy to trip or step in a hole, and an injury out in the middle of nowhere can be a serious matter. Don’t forget about your deer stand—many hunters are seriously injured while climbing into or falling out of stands. Always use a safety harness when hunting from an elevated stand. Check and repair your stand and related equipment in the daylight before you use it. 
• If you plan to hunt with young folks, consider having them attend a youth gun and hunting safety class prior to taking them into the field. At the very least, teach them the proper respect and techniques needed to help them understand the dangers involved in firearms use and hunting. 
• Account for “buck fever.” Calm yourself before you aim and fire. We’ve all heard tales about both new and seasoned hunters doing crazy things when the big one comes along. I personally know someone who got so excited he bolted every round out of his magazine without firing a single shot, then swore he fired all his ammunition at a huge buck that sneered at him and walked leisurely away.

Deer season is an annual event eagerly awaited by many MoDOT employees, and a rite of passage for many young people. With planning and the right safety attitude, it can be a lifetime memory. If you would like additional information on this or any safety topic, contact district risk management.

We Want YOUR Ideas on Employee Engagement

Recently central office released the results of the 2016 Employee Engagement Survey

Our next step is to take those results and implement strategies to move all of us in a positive direction. Each district will develop its own action plan to address the four LOWEST indicators. 

In order to address our lowest scores, we are looking to our district team to provide some feedback on what you see are the issues, and what are YOUR suggestions to address them. 

Please be honest, cite examples if possible. This survey IS anonymous. Click here to take this survey now. 

You can review the full results of the survey online here: http://sharepoint/Pages/2016EmployeeSurvey.aspx

More Prizes!

Here are some additional prizes available during the fall meetings. Don't forget to do your health screenings for additional chances to win.
 

Bulova Desk Clock

Cusinart Grill and Panini Press 

Wireless Rain Gauge from Oregon Scientific

Magellan Road Mate GPS

GPX 9 in Portable DVD 

Men’s Large Nike Golf Jacket

Men’s Large Carhartt Coat

7 in Digital Picture Frame

Are You a Veteran of the Armed Forces?

Don't Miss These Amazing Prizes!

The Fall Employee Meetings are almost here, and so are some amazing prizes. Don't miss your chance to win. 

Every employee who signs in will receive a raffle ticket. For every health screening you participate in will provide another chance to win. 

Here are some of the prizes up for grabs:

Sony CD/Kitchen Clock Radio

Samsung Digital Camera

Chicago Cutlery Set

Tasco Telescope

Crosley Stereo Turntable 

sound system

Coast – Micro Multi-tool W/LED light

Large Black Laptop Case

 

Elite Gourmet Food Dehydrator 

and Jerky Maker

Garmin eTrex20 GPS 

But there are more!!! Tune in for additional prizes available. 

Health Screenings Coming Soon!

Each year, the KC District offers some valuable health screenings during the Fall Employee Meetings, but this year it is a little different. 

Don't forget to bring your MoDOT insurance card, required for the wellness screenings. 

We will continue offering the flu shots. Did you know that the flu shot is more than 60 percent effective in fighting the virus? And you can get yours for free at the employee meeting!

We will provide a Wellness Clinic for a variety of health screenings. These include: 

• Cholesterol - you must fast for 12 hours prior to the time of check.
• Blood pressure
• BMI - body mass index

 You will need to supply your Member ID number from your insurance card under the financial information portion of the form.  We are unable to look up this information at the meetings. 

And NEW this year, is the Tdap shot. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are very serious diseases. Tdap vaccine can protect us from these diseases. 

• TETANUS (Lockjaw) is rare in the United States today. It causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness, usually all over the body. It can lead to tightening of muscles in the head and neck so you can’t open your mouth, swallow, or sometimes even breathe. Tetanus kills about 1 out of 10 people who are infected even after receiving the best medical care.
• DIPHTHERIA is also rare in the United States today. It can cause a thick coating to form in the back of the throat.  It can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and death.
• PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) causes severe coughing spells, which can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, and disturbed sleep.

In addition to the amazing health benefits, every employee who goes through the screening will receive additional raffle tickets to win great prizes. For every stop you make, you get another raffle ticket, increasing your chances to win. You must be present to win! 

So don't hesitate when it comes to your health! Take advantage of this great service during the Fall Employee Meetings. 

Standing Up for Safety 2016

For the second consecutive year, a day in October was set aside to focus on a very important issue at MoDOT. That is safety.

The Annual Stand Up for Safety Day is a statewide effort to shine a spotlight on safety and how to improve on it.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, The District Office, the GS Building and several maintenance facilities across the district took the time out to discuss and address a variety of safety topics.

The day began with a video message by MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. He reiterated that safety is one of MoDOT’s core values and that it’s the most important aspect of any job or project.

McKenna said, “We’re not just going through the motions, what we do here today can truly make a difference down the line.”

Afterwards, presenters were given an opportunity to go over things that maintenance workers may have forgotten or needed a refresher course.

Those topics included; fall protection, securement of a trailer and its load, reporting incidents, wearing the proper PPE and how to properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Time was also set aside to discuss several new policies regarding smoking and cell phone usage.

Other activities at the district office included a presentation by a registered dietician and presentations by GS mechanics on basic car repairs and maintenance.