September Canned Food Drive

MoDOT is hosting a non-perishable food drive  to support Missouri food banks and help feed hungry families.

We are helping Harvesters-The Community Food Network in an effort to replenish some much needed food items in the Kansas City region.

We are asking MoDOT employees to donate non-perishable food and items for Harvesters. This year, there will be a competition among the departments at the District Office. The department, maintenance facility, or Resident Engineer office with the most in total donations per employee will win a pizza party! Total number of donations per department will be divided by total number of employees in each department. Each group must turn in the attached form and a photo of their donations by Sept. 27 to communications.

The official start date to collect is Tuesday, Sept. 4 and the deadline is Thursday, Sept. 27. More information to follow.

So how can you help? Donate a non-perishable item today. This could include:

Cereal

Canned goods

Personal Hygiene Items

Baby care items

Water

Crackers

And more

Safety Shout: Concrete Replacement

Concrete replacement is an important part of programmed and emergency maintenance. Set your mind to doing it right, and cement solid work practices. In the aggregate, consistency is vital. Slump and you’ll get your fly ash hurt. Bull doesn’t float with concrete work. Safety first is the best cure to curb injuries.

Make informed decisions about whether the work is necessary. Full depth repairs are often made on
concrete pavement where joints failed. The tendency has been to make too many repairs, particularly on projects with overlays in excess of 3 in. When a joint is cut out and patched there are then two new joints where previously there was only one. In the long term this can create more problems than it solves.

A normal crew size is 8 or 12. Good organization is required to decrease the time this hazardous operation is in effect on any roadway section. Extensive patching operations shall be under the supervision of a Maintenance Supervisor who assigns workers to various crew components as needed.

Work must be conducted with as little inconvenience to traffic as possible. Inconvenience equates to unsafe because it alters driver behavior. At least one lane must be available for traffic use at all times and free of obstructions, including ramps at interchanges. All lanes should be open to traffic by 5 p.m. Friday. For major holidays and extended weekends all lanes should be open to traffic by 12:00 noon of the day preceding the period or holiday.

Crews should be protected by working them between or behind equipment. Flaggers are to be used as
needed. All patches should be barricaded and work zones and other traffic control must be set up in
accordance with the TCFO guidance.

The largest slab normally removed without doing damage to subgrade and to ensure the slab remains in place is six feet. There may be special equipment available to remove larger slabs. Use the right equipment for the job at hand.

Normally, no patches or open holes should be left overnight. If it’s necessary to do so, set up measures as indicated in the TCFO. A crew member must be designated to patrol the area when barricades are in place and workers are not present to assure the safety devices are working. If this is necessary at night the worker must also check all the traffic control devices.

Wet concrete and cement contain strong alkalis that can cause serious burns. Keep it off your skin, and wear waterproof boots. Concrete can soak through regular boots and clothing, and cause burns as long as several days later. To understand how awful wet concrete is on your body, consider that the pH level of human skin is about 4.5. The pH level of the strongest acids (like battery acid) is about 1. The pH level of wet concrete is about 13 on the alkali side. Like your momma said, “If you gotta play with it, at least don’t get it on ya.”

Concrete replacement is some of the most difficult and dangerous work MoDOT does. Good planning and not cutting corners can ensure a concrete blow-up won’t blow up in your face. If you would like more information on concrete replacement, contact district Risk Management staff.
Concrete Replacement Safety

MoDOT District Office worker at the right place at the right time

Many of us know Brian Strong as a Facility Operations Worker here at the Kansas City District Office. 

But for the past 13 years or so, he's also been a volunteer firefighter/first responder in his home town of Windsor, MO.

One day recently, his instincts and first response training came in handy. 

As he was headed home from work on Wednesday, Aug. 15, he noticed a dump truck driving erratically on westbound 50 Highway, near 175^th Road. 

Strong says the truck hauling a trailer with a track hoe on it started to fish-tail on the highway.

He saw all of this unfolding in his rearview mirror and knew that something had gone wrong as he was driving away.

Strong says he turned around and headed back to see what happened. 

When he arrived on the scene, he says the track hoe had somehow ended up in the median of the highway and the trailer on the opposite side on the shoulder.

Strong checked on the driver who was shaken up, but was okay.

 

While all of this was unfolding, Strong says cars were coming around a curve and down a hill right into the crash scene and weren’t slowing down.

That’s when he began to direct and slowdown traffic in hopes that a secondary crash wouldn’t happen.

He alerted the Missouri State Highway Patrol and also had the presence of mind to call Maintenance Supervisor Travis Teter who works out of the Warrensburg maintenance facility.

Teter was able to call in a crew and they were able to arrive a short time later to assist highway patrol.

Strong says the violent crash of the heavy equipment caused several large gouges in the highway.

Hours after the crash happened, Strong was still there helping the MoDOT crew fix the pavement.

Interestingly, Strong became a volunteer firefighter because his home town didn’t have an ambulance service for at least two years.

MoDOT KC Wraps Up another Successful Job Fair

Things are finally getting back to normal in the HR Department at the KC District Office following a whirlwind of prep work, which lead to a big job fair. 

Many of you may have noticed the constant stream of people moving through the halls of the District Office on Friday, Aug. 17.

It was a culmination of work by the HR Department who started preparing for the job fair back in the latter part of June.

Human Resources Manager Deborah Hogan and her team put together a plan in hopes of hiring 40 new full-time Maintenance Workers.

Hogan says overall, things went very well. She says they didn’t get the same size crowd they did when the department held a similar job fair in 2015, but adds the job market was very different back then.

Hogan says her department prepared for a larger number of job applicants because it’s tough to tell who might be interested in starting a career with MoDOT. 

“You always have to because its walk-ins, and with it being on the radio, being on the TV, and all of the emails and everything that we did to advertise, you just never know what to expect, so you always have to be optimistic and believe that you’re going to get way more than you ever thought,” said Hogan.

A little over 60 applicants took part in the job fair, of which 35 were offered jobs with MoDOT KC.

With the success of the job fair, Hogan can’t say enough about her team and the work they put in for the event. 

“My staff is the best HR team ever. I mean they were on top of it. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’ve been in HR a very long time and I have to say this is the best team ever”.

HR Manager Deborah Hogan speaking 
with KMBZ radio about the job fair 

The HR Department did get a little help from their friends as well. All five of MoDOT KC’s Maintenance Superintendents played a part in the job fair, not to mention a handful of the Maintenance Supervisors.

When asked about the next job fair, Hogan said that it all depends on the job market and the staffing situation within MoDOT. But she added, “We’re always looking for the most talented people out there.”

Safety Shout: Chainsaw Safety

I don’t mean to bark, but chainsaws are dangerous. Stihl yourself for some safety information. A root cause of injuries is improper use, so read the operator’s manual. To avoid a brush with death, don’t be knotty and branch out on your own. Don’t cut without help, as it’s just not safe to go buck yourself. Follow the safety rules, so you don’t get stumped and have to leave out in an ambulance. Okay, Bud?

• ALWAYS WEAR CHAPS. MoDOT policy requires chaps for ANY chainsaw or pole saw operation, no matter how brief. Chainsaw chaps contain layers of cut-resistant material, usually aramid (Kevlar) or Avertic. They can usually be washed, but may require special procedures. Never use high-pressure water, since this separates the fibers and can render chaps useless. Follow the manufacturer’s advice.
• Before fueling a saw, let it cool down first, and set it on level ground. After fueling, move at least ten feet from the gas can before starting the say, to prevent ground-level vapors from igniting. It’s a blast. Also, use the right fuel. Most chainsaws have two-stroke motors, and require pre-mix oil/gas. Using straight gas or diesel is a safety violation and will ruin expensive equipment.
• There are only two safe ways to start a chainsaw (see pictures). Never drop-start a chainsaw. Even doing it the right way, the saw is between your legs...what better reason do you need to wear chaps and to be careful?
  
  
  
  
  
• Use a spotter to control movement around your work area, and keep employees who are not needed for the immediate cutting work at hand a safe distance away from the saw and falling or flying wood.
• 
  
• When walking with a chainsaw, it must be off. The chain bar should be in its scabbard, and the muffler side of the saw should be facing away from your leg.
• Always stop the engine before putting a chainsaw down on anything, including the ground.
• Use the right kind of bar/chain oil. Lack of oil will cause the chain and bar to overheat and it can seize up or even catch fire. Check and fill the oil as needed, so you don’t become a chain smoker.
• Kickback is an ever-present danger, so only operate the saw using firm control and both hands. Never use the nose of the bar to cut or limb. To stay out of the hospital and out of jail, don’t take kickbacks.
• If you encounter wires or lines, STOP. Do not rely on the chainsaw to insulate you from electricity and don’t assume lines are not electric or not charged. Contact your supervisor and/or the utility.

Cutting brush is a vital and unavoidable part of MoDOT life. Take a few minutes to ensure you’re doing it right, and you too can have a nice long MoDOT life. If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, contact district Risk Management staff.

Teamwork Paves the Way for MoDOT Maintenance Crews

A lot can be said about teamwork. After all, it's what helped the Kansas City Royals bring home the World Series Trophy in 2015.

As many of you may recall, the boys in blue turned to just about everyone on the bench to help snag the trophy that year.

Teamwork is also what's fueling a large pavement project for MoDOT KC, which stretches from Pettis, Saline and Lafayette Counties.

While it may not be on the level of a World Series Trophy, this group of people have been working together since the beginning of July and it appears they've been knocking it out the park.

Maintenance Supervisors Tim Koch, Justin Anderson, Jesse Dunkle and Jeff Mays helped assemble the crew from Sedalia, Mashall, Concordia and Odessa maintenance facilities. 

This crew has been working on chip seals and overlays to the tune of more than 80 miles through the heat of the summer.

Just to give you an idea of how much has been put into their efforts, take a look:
Overlay:                                                              Chip Seal:
Routes EE, K in Saline                                          Routes H, U, FF, E
Routes AA, BB, U, KK and TT in Lafayette
And Outer roads

Anderson says the crew has been averaging nearly four and-a-half miles of road work every day.

He says the toughest part of the project is juggling all of the different schedules, but commends the workers for doing a great job. 

"They're doing really good and handling it and taking it in stride," he adds.

The combined crew hopes to be finished with the project August 20 or 21. 

Thanks from Harrisonville Public Library for Supporting Summer Reading Program

Teamwork Makes the Drains Work

A little over a month ago Stephen Butler (Jackson County Maintenance Superintendent) established a Special Projects team comprised of members from the Lee's Summit East, Stadium North, and Mulberry maintenance sheds with the goal of clearing out the clogged drains along a variety of Jackson county roadways. 


The clogged drains pose a potential safety hazard to drivers. When it rains heavily, the impacted drains are unable to function properly allowing water to rise on the roadway. When this happens, other debris such as dust remains on the road as well rather than washing away.

The team rented a large drain cleaning machine that has a vacuum, large hose, and a flushing mechanism that can clean out drains in a flash. The machine and the team are so efficient that they have averaged about 50 to 60 drains per week. In just four weeks, the team has cleared 183 drains and 69 cross pipes along I-70, I-670, I-470/Route 291, and I-435. The final roadway to complete is I-35.

While all of this is impressive, what also stands out is the team's commitment to saving time and money for the state.

"We wanted to make sure that we were spending tax dollars in the most efficient way. We saved tremendously by doing this work ourselves. The amount of work we are able to get done weekly is more than what a contractor would be able to do for us," explains Butler.

The efforts displayed by this team will mean that these drains won't need to be cleared again for another three to five years. Crews have developed a regular street sweeping schedule to make sure that the road remain cleared to help prevent future drain clogs.

To watch a video associated to this story, click on the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yii4fb0eatw&t=1s

12th Annual Innovations Challenge

The submission deadline for the 2019 Innovations Challenge is Friday, Nov. 9. The innovations showcase will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Please turn in submissions to Joey Hinton by Nov. 9. Good luck!

Safety Shout: Back to School Safety Quiz

Okay, here’s a quiz for everybody! It doesn’t matter if you’re in a field job, office job, full-time, part-time or you’re part-time-supposed-to-be-full-time, this topic is important! How many can you get right without peeking? Young folks depend on you. Correct answers are below.

1. What’s the most dangerous time for kids as far as school buses go? A. The morning ride B. The afternoon ride C. Boarding and exiting D. The outer limits of the bus driver’s last nerve

2. More kids are hit by cars ___________ than in any other location or activity. A. Near schools B. At shared bus stops C. Walking home D. While riding bikes

3. Kids should use sidewalks, but if there isn’t a sidewalk they should walk…A. In the ditch to ruin their expensive new shoes B. On the side of the road facing traffic C. On the side of the road in the direction of traffic D. On the wild side

4. The safest advice for young children crossing streets is to look…A. Right/left/right B. Left/Right/Left C. Both ways in no particular order D. At their cell phones to emulate their parents’ bad examples

5. When riding bikes to school, kids should ride…A. In the same direction as vehicle traffic B. Facing vehicle traffic C. Through your elderly neighbor’s flowers D. In youthful hooligan gangs

6. The largest age group distracted by phones/texting leading to fatal vehicle crashes is A. Young adults B. School age teenagers C. Working parents D. All ages are roughly equally distracted these days

7. The following kids should always ride in the back seat, no exceptions: A. Kids who found water but not soap B. Kids under age five C. Kids under age 13 D. Tattletales, so they can’t see the speedometer

8. While it’s common to see children carrying backpacks that weigh as much as they do, the ACA recommends backpacks weigh no more than…A. 10% the child’s weight B. 25% the child’s weight C. Half the child’s weight D. 20 pounds, including no more than 15% cheese-scented gym clothes by volume

9. The three most common errors teen drivers involved in serious crashes make are: A. Outdriving headlights, braking too hard, failing to scan ahead B. Too fast for conditions, distracted driving, running stop signs C. Failing to scan ahead, too fast for conditions, distracted driving D. Drag racing, failure to remember tacos are poor driving food, drive-through line rage incidents

10. If a child must cross in front of a school bus, they should…A. Walk ten feet ahead so they can see other drivers B. Stay as close to the front of the bus as possible C. Introduce the bus driver to the universal “You’re Number One!” hand signal D. Run away since surely they did something bad.

Well, how did you do? Correct responses are below. If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, contact district Risk Management staff.

Correct Responses
1. What’s the most dangerous time for kids as far as school buses go? C. Boarding and exiting.

2. More kids are hit by cars ___________ than in any other location or activity. A. Near schools

3. Kids should use sidewalks, but if there isn’t a sidewalk they should walk…B. On the side of the road facing traffic

4. The safest advice for young children crossing streets is to look… B. Left/Right/Left 

5. When riding bikes to school, kids should ride…A. In the same direction as vehicle traffic

6. The largest age group distracted by phones/texting leading to fatal vehicle crashes is B. School age teenagers

7. The following kids should always ride in the back seat, no exceptions: C. Kids under age 13. Surprised?

8. While it’s common to see children carrying backpacks that weigh as much as they do, the ACA recommends backpacks that weigh no more than…A. 10% the child’s weight. Good luck with that one.

9. The three most common errors teen drivers involved in serious crashes make are: C. Failing to scan ahead, too fast for conditions, distracted driving

10. If a child must cross in front of a school bus, they should…A. Walk ten feet ahead so they can see other drivers

All 10 right without looking: Valedictorian
8-9 right without looking: Salutatorian
6-7 right without looking: You get a “Don’t be sad, we’re all winners and you’re a winner too!” Participation Trophy
Less than 5 right without looking: You are the proud recipient of the Politically
Incorrect Dunce Cap

Emergency Response Operator Rescues Trapped Motorist

If you ever get a chance to speak with ER Operator Chuck Burns, you'll immediately notice that he is a very humble man. 

He's not flashy, he's not a loud speaker, or a person who goes out of his way to grab your attention. He's just himself. 

It seems those traits make Burns the very definition of a highway hero. 

On the night of Monday, Aug. 6 just after 11 p.m., he rescued a driver trapped inside their overturned vehicle.

The ER Operator who's only been on the job since February says he was driving along his usual route near the I-70 and I-435 Interchange when in the corner of his eye he saw something to the left that just didn't seem right.



Burns doubled-back and came upon the overturned vehicle in a ditch with the driver yelling and desparately trying to get out.

When he finally got to the driver, Burns says he wedged himself between the jammed door and the vehicle and pried it open. 

Burns was able to get the driver out and away from the damaged vehicle and stayed with him until paramedics and firefighters arrived.

The driver had a pretty substantial cut on his head and was bleeding pretty steadily, but wasn't severely injured. 

Burns says it makes him proud that he's able to have the opportunity to help people.

"It's part of the job, it's what we do, I wouldn't call myself a hero or anything, I was doing my job," said the highway hero. 

To view a video associated with this story, click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yii4fb0eatw&t=1s

MoDOT KC's Buck O'Neil Bridge Rehab Project Takes Center Stage

The Buck O'Neil Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the Kansas City area and for a couple of days recently, it was the focus of some very important people.  

The triple arch bridge is part of the downtown KC skyline, not to mention it's named after one of Kansas City's favorite sons, former Negro Leaguer, Buck O'Neil.

The old bridge has been undergoing a rehabilitation project the past several months.

On Tuesday, July 31 members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission were given a tour of the bridge.

The group got a first-hand look at what's being done to the structure built in 1956. 

MoDOT Senior Construction Inspector John Casey, who conducted the tour tried to convey to commissioners how its age and constant beating from thousands of vehicle every day is wearing it down.


Some of the commissioners were astounded at what they saw. Reactions such as "wow" and "holy cow" could be heard as they strolled from one end to the other.

Commission members have expressed their interest in seeing additional funding help improve transportation across the state. 

One potential way of helping improve things is an increase in the gas tax. In November, Missouri voters will decide on whether to increase the gas tax by ten cents. The current state tax is at 17 cents a gallon.  

A few days after the commissioner's tour, Governor Mike Parson, Mayor Sly James and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson also got a chance to get up close and personal with the bridge.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, the governor and the mayors
checked on the progress of the rehab.

And again, Casey found himself leading another large contingent of dignitaries across the bridge.
According to a Kansas City Star article, the three office holders came together to establish a stronger working relationship with one another, with transportation being one of the chief concerns. 

The trio made several other stops in the KC area, including the Urban Youth Academy, Operation Breakthrough and St. Michael's Veteran Center Apartments.

They also had a chance to take in some KC bar-b-que and ride the streetcar.

For a look at the photo gallery associated with the recent visits, click on Commissioners Visit

Governor/Mayor Visit


  

MoDOT's Robot (Jeff) in Action

Not too long ago, MoDOT Kansas City invited the public to help name a curious little robot called the P350 Flexitrax. The device is used to conduct surveys and pipe inspections without forcing workers into dangerous situations. 
For reasons still unknown, the public named the robot Jeff. Jeff has been used several times in the field at MoDOT. Take a look at some of the photos submitted by Senior Office Assistant, Mikyong Kim. Mikyong recently had the opportunity to shadow Senior Maintenance Technicians Dave McDaniel and Lea Ann Otis, as well as  Northmoor Maintenance Supervisor Dave Winship while they put Jeff into action. 

"This time we had tried three different manholes to get clear pictures. These pictures help clearly understand situations to find the right ways to efficiently and economically plan future projects," explains Mikyong. 

Mikyong also explained that many MoDOT employees have different names for Jeff. Many employees refer to it as MoBOT, or MoDOT Robot; Mikyong however, likes to call it the Yellow Poppy.

Whatever you choose to call the robot, we're just pleased that MoDOT has such effecient technology that makes jobs safer for MoDOT employees.

Safety Shout: NO Shortcuts!

The spirit and intent of MoDOT policy is that you not take shortcuts, never sacrifice safety for production or speed, and that you take the time needed to do the job safely. Over time, you might fudge just a little on the rules or best practices. Next thing you know, you’ve deviated significantly and done it for so long it seems like it’s not even wrong. It seems normal. This is called Normalization of Deviance, and it kills. 

Take the Challenger space shuttle disaster, for example. NASA initially considered the issues that caused the disaster to be very serious at first. But, over time, and without any serious mishaps, they gradually grew to accept the risks as “the cost of doing business.” Then, on one rare cold day in Florida…well, the rest is history. If it can happen to a bunch of rocket scientists, don’t you think it can happen to you? NOW is the time review your work procedures and habits against the no-kidding right way to do it, as inconvenient as that may be. 

Here are some examples to get you started, and you probably have some others if you do some soul searching…

• Do you perform good circle checks, every time? Do you pre-trip trucks and equipment properly?
• Do you take defective equipment out of service, or do you use it anyway? Do you inform the mechanic?
• When you set a taper, do you run it the full length called for in the EPG?
• When you set signs, do you always use the specific correct signs for the application, and the right number?
• Flagging is one of your most dangerous jobs. Do you use ALL the required equipment and signs EVERY TIME you flag? Do you ALWAYS face traffic and stay out of the shade so your outline is clearly visible?
• Do you use the most effective and appropriate arrow board signal, and change it every time you should, or do you just leave it on “Caution” because that’s a little easier?
• Do you drive heavy equipment way too far because loading it is such a pain? Do you fully secure all loose cargo and tarp it when needed, whether it’s rock, sand, signs or salt?
• Do you properly pre-trip trailers like they’re part of your vehicle? (They are.) Do you ALWAYS hitch them properly, using all the provided safety features?
• Do you always set outriggers and other stabilizers like you’re supposed to?
• Do you use tools and equipment only for their intended purpose, or do you sometimes hammer with a wrench?
• Do you wear all PPE required for the particular duty you’re doing? Not just a vest, hardhat and safety glasses, but also chaps, gloves and hearing protection? Do you dump the bump cap when it’s time for a hard hat?
• Do you take the longer way around to avoid steep slopes when mowing?

So, how about it? Whether you’re a new employee or a seasoned supervisor, it’s easy to slip into complacency. Take a few minutes, before every task, to check your six, and your coworker’s as well. We’ve seen too many times that the alternative is far, far too costly. If you would like more information on this or any safety topic, please contact district risk management.
JUST DO IT RIGHT!

Summer Interns 2018

Lee's Summit, MO - Here's a look at the summer interns on their tour of the Coreslab Structure Plant. They visited Monday, July 31.