April 13, 2023

Next week is Work Zone Awareness Week

At the April 5 Commission meeting, State Highway Safety & Traffic Engineer Nicole Hood presented this year's upcoming Work Zone Awareness Week activities. This year's theme is "Work with Us: You Play a Role in Work Zone Safety," highlighting the important role workers and motorists play in work zone safety. During the presentation, Hood shared why slowing down and paying attention in work zones matters by sharing the stories of four Central District employees.

Left to right: State Highway Safety & Traffic Engineer Nicole Hood, Maintenance Crew Leader Amanda Southerland-Hargis, Commission Vice Chair Dustin Boatwright, Maintenance Supervisor Melanie Blacklock, Commissioner Warren Erdman, Commission Chair Terry Ecker, Commissioner Gregg Smith, Maintenance Supervisor Pedro Chaidez and his twin daughters, Commissioner Bob Brinkmann, Director Patrick McKenna, Deputy Director/Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger, Senior Executive Assistant to the Director Dana Kaiser and her husband, Maintenance Supervisor Eric Kaiser.

Also highlighted at the meeting were the ongoing spring meetings, which are focused on safety training. Director McKenna noted that this year's training includes instruction on typical applications for working in the lanes of traffic, on the shoulders and on the roadsides; the use of protective vehicles including truck-mounted attenuators; lock out - tag out procedures; emergency preparedness; employee conduct and basic behavior on the job; and drug and alcohol abuse.

Read the full Commission meeting summary, which topics include: Director's Report, Consideration of Bids, Real-Time Network Presentation, Multimodal Operations Division Update and Work Zone Awareness Week Preview.

MoDOT aims to reduce backing incidents

In 2022, MoDOT recorded 80 backing incidents - a 5% increase from 2021. Backing incidents can cause property damage, injuries and death. These incidents place employees and the public at risk, and they require a change of habit to eliminate. 

Improvement strategies include parking to avoid backing, good planning, always using a spotter and doing a thorough circle check. Drivers must attempt to park so the first movement is forward, such as by finding pull-through parking or backing on arrival.

If you must back up as your first movement when parked:

• Walk to the rear to look for people and objects and confirm clearances. If the vehicle has a significant blind spot or is in a confined/tight area and another employee is on site, or a passenger is in the vehicle, they shall become the spotter.
• Discuss with the spotter what will take place during the backing process. What hand signals will be used? If eye contact is lost with the spotter, the vehicle must be brought to a stop immediately. Drivers shall always obey the spotter. Never back up in congested areas without a spotter. 
• Conduct a circle check. Ask the spotter to assist, as they may see something you don’t. 
• Adjust mirrors. Know where the blind spots are and that they will change based on the vehicle.
• Roll down all windows and turn off two-way radios (unless it’s being used to communicate with the spotter). No employee should text, view or talk on a cellphone while operating any MoDOT vehicle.

If you are without a spotter, you must do the following before backing up:

• Conduct a circle check for all hazards. Don’t forget to check for low clearances or high-voltage lines. 
• Adjust mirrors. Know where the blind spots are.
• Back slowly while checking the mirrors and backup camera if available. If at any time you are unsure or feel you are getting close to an object, stop immediately, get out and complete another circle check. 

Remember G.O.A.L. – when in doubt, GET OUT AND LOOK no matter how many times you must.

Spring has arrived, and schedules are becoming busier and busier. Due to the better weather, many people may need help to complete all the goals on their task lists.

This month, the Human Resources Employee Development team is promoting these courses focused on time management and achieving goals when schedules become overwhelming:

• Leading with Stability During Times of Change and Disruption.
• Mastering Organizational Chaos.
• Proven Tips for Managing Your Time.
• How to Set Goals When Everything Feels Like a Priority.

Nearly one in every 10 people, or 792 million people worldwide, has a diagnosable mental health condition. Often our friends, coworkers, neighbors and family members are suffering emotionally and don’t recognize the symptoms or won’t ask for help. And sometimes we’re the ones who are suffering and won’t admit it.

By talking openly about mental health, we can start to break down the stigma surrounding illness and help those who need help to get it. If you fear someone you know is suffering, the following signs may help you decide whether you need to have a talk with them:

• Their personality changes. You may notice sudden or gradual changes in behavior.
• They seem uncharacteristically angry, anxious, agitated or moody. You may notice more frequent problems controlling their temper or that they seem irritable or unable to calm down.
• They withdraw or isolate themselves from other people. Someone who used to be socially engaged may pull away from family and friends.
• They stop taking care of themselves and may engage in risky behavior. You may notice a change in the level of personal care or an act of poor judgment on their part.
• They seem overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by their circumstances. That person may be suffering from extreme or prolonged grief, or feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

On March 15, three employees from the Charleston Maintenance Facility intervened to help a father and his 5-year-old son when a stray dog became aggressive.

Senior Maintenance Worker Les Hall, Senior Maintenance Worker Robert Bolin and Maintenance Crew Leader Terry Humphrey arrived at a parking lot to begin setting up a litter clean-up work zone when they noticed two dogs running on the lot. Not wanting to engage either dog, they moved to the opposite side of the lot. As they exited the vehicle, they heard screaming and saw one of the dogs lunging at the father and son.

Hall turned the truck’s sirens and lights on to divert the dog’s attention while Humphrey called 911 for assistance. The dog then lunged toward Hall. Hall pushed it away, but it became more aggressive. Hall reached into the back of his truck and found a pipe to put between himself and the dog. When it lunged again, Hall pushed it away and it ran off. 

“The whole event lasted just a few minutes, but it was like slow motion,” said Hall. “There was no time to run, so I used what I could to avoid getting bit.”

Senior Maintenance Worker Les Hall.

Law enforcement arrived, located the dog and tried using pepper spray to no avail. Unfortunately, the dog had to be euthanized. Once the scene was safe, law enforcement informed the crew that this was their third call about the dog that morning and that it had bitten two people, including the father in this attack.

None of the crew members were bit or injured. 

“I don’t feel like I did anything heroic,” said Hall. “I just did what any dad would do to keep their kid safe.”

Thanks to the quick action by the crew and law enforcement, additional attacks were avoided. The father thanked the crew for their actions helping to keep his child safe.

Last month, four presentations were held in northeast Missouri for Clark, Knox, Monroe and Schuyler counties in recognition of zero fatalities on their respective roadways in 2022. 

Amy Crawford, area engineer and facilitator for the Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety, and Cpl. Justin Dunn with the Missouri State Highway Patrol presented the commissioners and sheriff a poster, along with Coke Zero and Lifesavers, as a small token of the work done by everyone to help save lives and get the message out about roadway safety.

“We are proud of what these counties have accomplished and hope to be back again next year in these counties and others,” Crawford said. “Some of these counties have attained this accomplishment for multiple years in a row, and we are hopeful this trend continues.”

Amy Crawford, Northeast District area engineer and facilitator for the Northeast Coalition for Roadway Safety (second row, right) with Cpl. Dunn of the Missouri Highway State Patrol and commissioners and employees from the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department.

Olmedo Herrera

Central Office Senior Communications Specialist

April service anniversaries

35 Years

George Downing NW

30 Years

Marcus Slaughter KC

Francis Reichart CO

Michael Castro SL

Rodney Wiles SE

25 Years

Anthony Martin KC

Sonya Johnston KC

Russel Fisher CD

Paul Henke SL

Andrew Ellsworth SW

James Neal SE

20 Years

Clyde Dunker III NE

James Blankenship CD

Kevin Heavin CD

Travis Wilfong CO

Garry Goss, Jr. SL

Kelly Loomis SW

20 Years Cont.

Beth Schaller SW

David Massey SE

David Ledgerwood SE

15 Years

Clayton Lollar NW

Joseph Mason NE

Kenneth Nerini NE

Justin Rottman NE

Matthew Kiefer CO

Jimmy Smith SL

Patrick Woods SW

Wade Wood SW

10 Years

Britni O'Connor CO

Kathy Bock CO

Donald Dixon SL

Stanley Gross, Jr. SL

Bethanie Kennicott SW

Arlene Dorris SE

Benjamin Tucker SE

Chaseton Rogers SE

Matthew Brandel SE

5 Years

Chase Wimer NW

Jeffery Laslie NW

Vernon Ewing NW

Phillip Seaboldt, Jr. KC

Justin Penning KC

Mary Piercy KC

Scot Quinones KC

Andrew Luecke CD

John Lucas CD

Scott Quint CD

Sara Skelton CO

Martin Schwartz CO

Geoffrey Luebbering CO

Lori Hogue CO

Brady Bogeart CO

Jaime Dorrough CO

Darian Cunningham SL

Fidel Weldesenbet SL

Phillip Doster SL

Regan Mitchell SW

Teresa Mitchell SW

In memoriam

The following active employees passed away:

Bryce D. Gamblin

CO – April 2

Lynelle S. Luther

KC – March 25

Dale J. Hoellering

CD – March 4

Scott G. Lyons

CD – March 21

Roy A. Shoemaker

SL – March 16

The following retirees passed away:

Lenard A. Dedrick

CO – Feb. 26

Arnold L. Edgar

CO – April 3

Mickey H. Jones

CO – Feb. 27

Gerald D. Manchester

CO – March 29

Jack R. Wilson

CO – April 5

Roy F. Kirby

NE – March 20

Herschel R. Meyer

NE – March 21

Donald W. Radcliff

NE – March 15

Phillip G. Thompson

NE – March 16

Gary W. Baxter

KC – March 12

Frankie W. Crawford

KC – Feb. 21

Richard M. Johns

KC – March 16

Randall D. Newkirk

KC – March 2

Robert W. Odom

KC – March 27

Michael G. Belton

SL – March 12

Harold J. Briley

SL – Feb. 26

The mission of Connections is to be a source of MoDOT news

and feature articles that connect employees statewide.

Comments

What would you like to see in Connections?

We want to hear from you!

Send comments and suggestions to:

bethany.belt@modot.mo.gov

MoDOT Communications

P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, Mo 65102

573-751-2840 | www.modot.org

Editor: Sr. Communications Specialist Bethany Belt

STAY CONNECTED: