ODOT crews recognized for workplace safety: Northwest district awarded for best safety record
PR#25-019
The employees of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation work in all conditions and risk their lives daily to help construct and maintain our state’s highways, interstates and bridges. Safety in these work zones is a collective commitment and critical to ensure everyone, including workers and the traveling public, makes it home at the end of the day. With safety being ODOT’s top priority, the agency conducts onsite reviews, accident follow-ups and ongoing education initiatives as part of its worker safety program.
At the Oklahoma Transportation Commission’s June meeting, ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz and ODOT Assistant Director of Operations Taylor Henderson awarded crews who demonstrated a continued commitment to safety in 2024.
The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented annually to the ODOT field district with the best overall safety record in the past year. The 2024 award went to District Six in the northwest and Panhandle, headquartered in Buffalo and led by District Engineer Jon Logan and Safety Manager Jarrid Drew. The district includes Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties. District Six worked over 240,000 hours, experiencing three injuries, none of which caused lost days. Total accidents, accident severity and lost work days are all taken into consideration in determining the winner of the award.
The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. The award for 2024 was presented to District Five, which is headquartered in Clinton led by District Engineer Brent Almquisand Safety Manager Kenneth Carlisle. The district in Southwestern Oklahoma earned this award by reducing its overall accidents and reducing lost work days in 2024. District Five includes Roger Mills, Beckham, Harmon, Greer, Jackson, Dewey, Custer, Washita, Kiowa, Tillman and Blaine counties.
The Director’s Safety Awards are presented to the unit in each of ODOT’s eight field districts and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety efforts for 2024. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
The winners for 2024 are:
• District One — Cherokee County Maintenance Crew
• District Two — McCurtain County Maintenance Crew
• District Three — Johnston County Maintenance Crew
• District Four — Oklahoma City Residency
• District Five — Sayre Yard Maintenance Crew
• District Six — Division Wide Maintenance Crew
• District Seven — Murray County Maintenance Crew
• District Eight — Special Maintenance D Crew
• Oklahoma City Headquarters — Central Office Bridge Division
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2024 Governor’s Safety Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District Six. The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented annually to the ODOT field district with the best overall safety record in the past year. Pictured from left are District Six Engineer Jon Logan, Maintenance Superintendent Terry Drew,District Six Safety Manager Jerrid Drew, Executive Director Tim Gatz, Chief Engineer TJ Dill, Chief Engineer Brian Taylor, Commissioner Michael Junk and Commissioner Bobby Alexander. District Six is headquartered in Buffalo and includes Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties.
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2024 Progressive Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District Five. The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. Pictured from left are District Engineer Brent Almquist, Safety Manager Kenneth Carlisle, Executive Director Tim Gatz, Chief Engineer TJ Dill and Chief Engineer Brian Taylor. District Five includes Roger Mills, Beckham, Harmon, Greer, Jackson, Dewey, Custer, Washita, Kiowa, Tillman and Blaine counties.
The Director’s Safety Awards are presented to the unit in each of ODOT’s eight field districts and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety efforts for 2024. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance. Pictured from left is Assistant Director of Operations Taylor Henderson, District 8 Safety Manager Tim Mason, District 8 Heavy Equipment Operator Scotty Bowzer, District 8 Heavy Equipment Operator Joshua Roblyer, District 8 Heavy Equipment Operator Steven Wilson, District 1 Cherokee County Maintenance Superintendent Beau Ballard, District 8 Heavy Equipment Operator Timothy Peterson, District 6 Safety Manager Jarrid Drew, District 6 Maintenance Manager Terry Drew, District 1 Safety Manager Greg Kincade, District 5 Heavy Equipment Operator JD Shedd, District 5 Maintenance Supervisor Casey McMurtry, District 5 Safety Manager Kenny Carlisle, District 4 Transportation Manager Brandon Sechrist, District 4 Oklahoma City Resident Engineer Jonathan Brooks, District 7 Murray County Maintenance Superintendent Gary Nowlin and District 7 Safety Manager Lisa Niebauer.
