Bob Ralston Retirement Planned Jan. 19

MoDOT Bids Farewell to Kim Roberts after 30 Years

A career that spanned 30 years and three departments came to an end on Friday, Dec. 29 with a small luncheon, scoops of ice cream and a tearful farewell. 

Kim Roberts, customer service representative, began her work along the Bruce R. Watkins Parkway, or as it was known then, the mid-town highway, as part of the maintenance crew. 

"I did everything maintenance does now. I plowed a lot of snow." she recalls. 

From there she moved into Motorist Assist -- now Emergency Response -- where she helped many a stranded motorist on the side of the road. 

She finished her tenure as one of the helpful voices on the other end of the 888-ASK-MODOT, answering questions, reporting irregular stop lights, helping customers find their way home in snowy weather or routing a dry path through flood highways. 

She has served as part of a team that answers thousands of calls a month, a team that will be missing Kim this winter season. 

Safety Shout: 2017 Safety Year in Review

2017 is in the books, and it’s time to look forward to a great 2018. That said, those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it, so let’s look back on the less-than-chipper topic of employee injuries with an eye toward not repeating them.

First and foremost, no KCD employees were killed in the line of duty. Everyone went home. Outstanding!

We had 58 recordable injuries in 2017. That’s compared to 46 in 2016, 68 in 2015, 48 in 2014, 39 in 2013 and 46 in 2012. That means our 2017 injuries were 26% higher than in 2016, and 49% higher than our best recent year (2013). The KCD average since the B5YD is about 51 (50.66) injuries per year, so 2017 was 14% higher than that average. Not the worst year ever, but certainly not our best.

Of our 58 recordable injuries, 16 came during vegetation management, 15 using or repairing equipment, 10 while driving, 8 from material handling, 6 from getting in or out of equipment or simply walking, and 3 were just too bizarre to categorize. Also, a high percentage of injuries were claimed by brand new employees.

So, what to do? First, ensure you do all you can to properly train and equip your employees, seasoned and new. Put an emphasis on everyday training and don’t just wait around on formal courses. Both are important.

Lead by example! Rededicate yourself to working safely. When you mean it and it shows, coworkers will find it much easier to follow your lead, regardless of your level in the department. Go heavy on the mustard, and skip the malaise. Sincerity is contagious.

Make your safety meetings and morning musters robust and effective. If you haven’t been shining in this area, the new year is an ideal “excuse” to shift gears and lean forward. Use available tools such as Risk Based Analysis forms. Give employees a say in the discussions, and allow them to build public speaking skills and confidence by leading a group meeting once in a while.

Hold yourself accountable, and insist on accountability when it comes to others. This may not be easy at MoDOT, but keep plugging and ask for help if you need to. Fix employee safety behavior issues before a surgeon has to. Tough conversations and meetings are way better than funerals.

Don’t make excuses. Excuses are just like certain body parts…everybody has one and most of them stink.

Every day, make it a habit to correct or improve “One Thing” to make work safer. The first “One Thing” might just be your own attitude.

Do not tolerate abuse of the worker’s compensation or modified duty programs, since that literally takes money off the roads. If you suspect fraud, call the Audits & Investigations Fraud, Waste & Abuse hotline at 866-851-5577, or the MO Dept. of Labor’s fraud investigation line at 800-592-6003. You may remain anonymous.

Let’s lean on each other to make 2018 a better year! If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, contact district Risk Management staff.

Safety Shout: What Didn't Happen

It’s hard to quantify what didn’t happen as a result of all your good work this year. You might get a “Thank You!” from time to time for what you helped make happen, but what about what you helped to make not happen? These aren’t real quotes, but they certainly could be in a perfect world.

• “Just wanted to thank you for dragging the shoulder on Route ABC. I dropped a tire off and over-corrected trying to get back on the road. Should have killed me, but thanks to you I got off with just a scare. I’ve forgotten all about it now, but my family and I sure appreciated you when I made it home that day.”
• “Sure was nice not to break every bone in my face when I flew by you in the snow this morning. Minutes earlier and I would have been fodder for the jaws of life. You knocked enough snow off the road for me to recover from my slide and look like I planned it that way all along. I don’t have the sense to thank you properly, so I’ll just say “Sorry” for the gesture I made.”
• “I can’t thank you enough for the extra years you gave me with my grandchildren. All that newfangled technology you folks use let me get to the hospital in the nick of time. Not many years ago, I would have died in the ambulance. I don’t know much about intelligent transportation systems, but I’d say you’re the best thing since sliced bread and heart surgery.”
• “My kids wanted me to thank you for their new game system they can’t seem to put down. Because of your road improvements, business has been good this year so I could afford to buy it for them. It’s tough when you run a small business. Every customer counts. Of course, I claim all the credit for being a business master-mind. Fact is, though, I would have gone under this year if you hadn’t fixed my road. Keep up the good work.”
• “I’m too busy texting and social networking to give credit where credit is due, but my flying thumbs and I owe you big time for putting in that rumble stripe. Like…I was just seconds away from missing Survivor for good. My dad would have killed me if he had to put out a little roadside cross for me right after his lecture about safe driving. Plus, I would have lost my smart phone and been grounded forever. LOL! Thanks!”
• “Thank you so much for mowing the sight distance. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, but I’ll never admit it, even to myself. That couple of extra feet you gave me prevented a fatal T-Bone by about that same distance. The truck driver also asked me to thank you for not having to live with killing me for the rest of his life."
• “As I sat there cussing you and your stupid guardcables for the sheet metal damage to my new truck, it dawned on me that what I really meant to say was, “Thanks!” for not letting me cross over the median and kill that young mother and her baby. I’ll be more than happy to pay you back for the cable repairs.”

Never underestimate the impact you have. It is appreciated, even if you don’t always hear it. If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, contact District Risk Management.

One Team, One Blog Transitioning to the Bridge, Kansas City’s Employee Advisory Council

Ops Blog or One Team, One Blog was started in 2009 as a way to communicate with employees so they could submit questions and comments but still allow

them to be anonymous.

This pre-dates the stronger, more effective district advisory council we have now and the anonymous online reporting form the EAEC also uses.  

Even though the blog still receives occasional entries, it’s no longer fulfilling its purpose to reach the broader audience.

More importantly, as it has evolved and grown stronger, the Bridge has become a direct line of communication as volunteer ambassadors. Therefore we are merging the two blogs to form ONE online comment blog for all employees.

Merging the blogs will help further develop the relationship between our management team, our advisory council members and ultimately, our employees.

All questions will remain anonymous. You can find the link to submit comments/questions on our district sharepoint home page.  You can also find all previous comments and responses on the Bridge homepage.

Off the Clock with Jerome Burgett

MoDOT Kansas City has released another installment to its podcast series Off the Clock.

This month we're chatting with Jerome Burgett, a former MoDOT Maintenance Worker from Belton. Burgett enjoys cooking and baking for his loved ones. Take a listen to the latest podcast here.

Add Your Voice! Join the Statewide EAEC

The EAC is taking applications for the next term of members.  Below are the qualifications for membership.

The EAC will be comprised of three salaried MoDOT employees from each district and Central Office, including up to three members chosen by the Department Director.  

These employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, must meet their performance expectations and must not have any serious disciplinary action (e.g., written warning or greater) within the past year or while serving on the EAC.

If you would like to apply please inform your supervisor and use the following link EAC Membership Application or by selecting the Get Involved Button on the EAC SharePoint Site.  if you applied in the past and are still interested please fill out a new application.

The EAC looks forward to working with all employees to continue to make MoDOT a great place to work.

If you have any questions, please email Keith Harangozo the EAC Chair for Nominating & Membership Committee.

Keith.Harangozo@modot.mo.gov

I-49 & 155th Street Interchange Ribbon Cutting

To see the full photo gallery, click here.

The cities of Grandview and Belton, as well as MoDOT, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 15, to celebrate the completion of the I-49 and 155th Street Interchange.

A group of about forty people attended the event. The ceremony was led by MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Chris Redline, Mayor Davis of Belton, and Mayor Jones of Grandview.

Refreshments were served after the ribbon cutting and attendees got to take a look at the brand diverge-about.  

The purpose of this project was to reconstruct the I-49 and I55th Street interchange with an innovative solution that will handle an expected larger volume of traffic, enhance the area for anticipated new development, while accommodating existing traffic in both Belton and Grandview.

In addition to providing smoother, more efficient traffic flow to this growing area, MoDOT also constructed a dedicated shared use path for all non-motorized vehicles and pedestrian traffic. This creates a more walkable community in the area.

Safety Shout: Ladder Safety

Did you know that about 300 people die and 164,000 require ER treatment from falls off ladders every year in the US, and the majority of those falls are from less than six feet? There’s an old superstition about walking under a ladder, but the real bad luck comes from climbing on one the wrong way. To avoid falling off the rails, follow these steps…

• There are five general ladder types; IAA, IA, I, II, and III. Each has its own weight rating. Use the right ladder for the job, and ensure the rating is adequate for your big self and your equipment. Read the placard, and don’t play mind games estimating your weight. Your safety is more important than what you put down on your driver’s license!
• Avoid carrying anything up or down a ladder to the extent possible. You need both hands.
• Don’t reach so far you lose your balance. Get down and move the ladder instead. It’s a little bit of a hassle to move the ladder, but it’s a great big hassle to fall and break your face.
• Speaking of faces, always face the ladder when climbing up or down. When climbing a ladder, count to three, then act like the top three rungs aren’t there and don’t stand on them.
• Ensure both side latches are locked on extension ladders. Spread open and fully lock stepladders. Never use a stepladder as if it were an extension ladder. It’s bad for your career ladder.
• Use only fiberglass ladders in the vicinity of electrical hazards. It may shock you to find aluminum ladders are conductive. By policy, wooden ladders are not to be used for MoDOT business, so don’t get ‘board.’
• Don’t place a ladder in a doorway unless the door is locked and marked, or guarded. Never allow anyone to stand or walk under a ladder when you’re on it. Well, duh.
• A simple rule for setting up an extension ladder at the proper angle is to set the base back a distance equal to one fourth the length of the ladder (4 to 1 angle).
• For MoDOT use, step ladders may not exceed 20 feet and extension ladders 30 feet. They should also fit only two feet at a time.
• It’s a very good idea to have someone else nearby when you use a ladder. Even a fall from just a few feet can render you badly injured or unconscious. Think about the distance your head is from the ground, not your feet. Having someone around to call 911 is a step you don’t want to miss if you miss a step.

Whether you’ve known your real ladder all your life or you were raised by a stepladder, it’s time to step up. Following some basic safety rules will help prevent getting your bell rung. If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, contact district Risk Management staff.

2017 Holiday Potluck Luncheon

To see the full photo gallery, click here.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, employees of the Kansas City District Office had a potluck luncheon to celebrate the holiday season. Each employee was encouraged to bring in a dish to share with the department while the Management Team provided the meat for the occasion. 

The event kicked off with a progressive style lunch which encouraged employees to visit all of the departments around the District Office. 

Following lunch, an ugly sweater contest was held in the lobby. All of the sweaters were fun but the winner was Dave McDaniel. He took home a certificate and a $20 prize!

To top of the fun, there were several prizes raffled off as well. Multiple Quick Trip, Subway, and Culver's gift cards were awarded to lucky employees!

A special thank you goes out to the committee who put this party together: Mikyong Kim, Judy Magruder, Carla Fiscus, Melissa Neff, Tamara Pitts, Lairyn McGregor and Melissa Black.

Over all, the party was a great time. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Northland MoDOT Workers Honored

Last week MoDOT workers in the Northland held their annual Chili Cook-off Contest. It was also a chance during the event to recognize some of the hard working folks as well. 

Assistant District Engineer Susan Barry presented several awards, including for Gear Up to Deloris Goetz, Dave Winship, Matt Kavanaugh and Bob Gaiser.

Barry also presented the Nashau Project Office an award for winning the 1^st Annual Book Collection Contest.

Maintenance Supervisor Doug Patton at Nashua presented Bob Rogers his nine Year Service Award.

Maintenance Supervisor David Johnson at Platte City presented Rick Moore his 20 Year Service Award.

Congrats to each and everyone in the Northland! 

The Annual Northland Chili Cook-off Heats Up Again (Photo Gallery)

With cooler temperatures settling in for the fall and winter months, nothing warms us up better than a hot bowl of chili. And this year's annual Northland Chili Cook-off contest didn't disappoint.  

The annual event took place Thursday, Nov. 30, at the Skiles Maintenance Building. 

Maintenance workers and managers alike jammed into the facility with a bowl and spoon in hand to chow down on some of the best chili recipes.

Everyone feasted on chili, not to mention plenty of fixings and hot dogs. Donuts were also served. 

Listed below are the winners.  

Individual Prizes:

·     3^rd  Place – Jack Matney, MT Worker at Kearney         

·     2^nd Place – Rick Dreher, SR. MT Worker at Kearney   

·     1^st Place –Quincy Livingston, MT Worker at Richmond        

Team Prizes:

·     3^rd Place – Skiles Maintenance Building              

·     2^nd Place - Kearney Maintenance Building          

·     Grand Prize - 1^st Place - Nashua Project Office 
  

Recognize the Cooks - 12 Crocks - 11 Individuals & 6 Teams

The Judges: 

·        Lynelle Luther – District Maintenance Engineer

·        Jimmy Shannon – Assistant District Maintenance Engineer

·        Heather Barrows – District Utility Engineer

·        Robert Rhodes – District Utility Engineer

$125 Donated to the Employee Fund

Holiday Decorations at the District Office

The KC EAC is responsible for assembling the District Office Holiday Tree. This year, the team began decorating on Wednesday, Dec. 6. 

But the lobby isn't the only area of the District Office that is getting into the holiday spirit. Departments all over the building have transformed their cubicles and offices into winter wonderlands. Take a look at some of the photos below! For a full photo album, click here.