Safety and teamwork in a work zone is critical to seeing that everyone makes it home at the end of the day. The men and women of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation work in all conditions and put their lives on the line to construct, maintain and repair our state’s highways, interstates and bridges. Safety is ODOT's top priority and the agency conducts onsite reviews, accident follow-up and ongoing safety education as part of its worker safety program. The total number of employee injury accidents has declined more than 55 percent in the past decade.
At their Monday, May 1 meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson recognized the crews who demonstrated a continued commitment to safety in the past year.
The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented each year to the ODOT field division with the best overall safety record in the past year. The 2016 award went to Division Four, which increased its safety performance record by 66 percent compared with the previous year. Total accidents, accident severity and lost work days are all taken into consideration in determining the Governor’s Safety Award winner. Division Four is headquartered in Perry and is led by Division Engineer Brian Taylor. The division includes Grant, Kay, Garfield, Noble, Payne, Kingfisher, Canadian, Logan and Oklahoma counties.
The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field division with the most improved safety rating. The award for 2016 was presented to Division Six, which is headquartered in Buffalo under the leadership of Division Engineer Ron McDaniel. The division improved its safety performance 84 percent since last year. Division Six includes Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties.
The Director’s Safety Awards are presented to the unit in each of ODOT’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
The winners for 2016 are:
- Division One, Cherokee County Maintenance
- Division Two, Antlers Residency
- Division Three, Johnston County Maintenance
- Division Four, Perry Shop
- Division Five, Clinton Shop
- Division Six, Division Wide Crew
- Division Seven, Anadarko Residency
- Division Eight, Washington County Maintenance
- Division Nine/OKC Headquarters, Survey Division
Oklahoma Department of Transportation field divisions and crews were recognized for improved safety records at the Monday, May 1 meeting of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. From left to right (Those pictured are Director's Safety Excellence Award winners unless otherwise indicated): Division 5 Clinton Shop Superintendent Russell Holt, Division 1 Cherokee County Maintenance Risk/Safety Manager Greg Kincade, Governor's Safety Excellence Award winner Division 4 Safety Manager Billy Trent, Division 4 Perry Shop Superintendent Ted Bolay, Division 4 Engineer and Governor's Safety Excellence Award winner Brian Taylor, Division 2 Antlers Residency Resident Engineer Ryan Moy, Division 9/OKC HQ Chief of Survey Division LeRoy Tacket, Division 3 Johnston County Maintenance Superintendent Kevin Harner, Division 8 Washington County Maintenance Superintendent Ben Grace, Division 7 Anadarko Residency Resident Engineer Reese Knight, Division 7 Engineer Jay Earp, Division 6 County Wide Crew Superintendent Kerry Mitchell, Progressive Excellence Award Winner and Division 6 Safety Manager Lloyd Coble.
The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award recognizes the Oklahoma Department of Transportation field division with the best overall safety record in the past year, was presented to Division 4. Pictured from left are Oklahoma Transportation Commission Chairman David Burrage, District 4 Commissioner Greg Love, Safety Manager Billy Trent, Division 4 Engineer Brian Taylor and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. They wore orange pins in honor of the 85 people who died in work zone crashes in the past five years. Civision 4 is based in Perry and includes Oklahoma, Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne, Garfield, Noble, Grant and Kay counties.
The Progressive Excellence Award, recognizing the Oklahoma Department of Transportation field division with most-improved safety record in the past year was presented to Division 6. Pictured from left are Oklahoma Transportation Commission Chairman David Burrage, District 6 Commissioner Bobby Alexander, Division 6 Engineer Ron McDaniel, Safety Manager Lloyd Coble and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. They wore orange pins in honor of the 85 people who died in work zone crashes in the past five years. Division 6 is based in Buffalo and includes Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Major, Woodward and Ellis counties.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 1 was the Cherokee County Maintenance crew.Pictured from left are District 1 Commissioner John Fidler, Division 1 Engineer Chris Wallace, Risk/Safety Manager Greg Kincade and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 1 include Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah and Wagoner.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 2 was the Antlers Residency.Pictured from left are Division 2 Engineer Anthony Echelle, Commission Chairman David Burrage, Resident Engineer Ryan Moy and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 2 include Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Marshall, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 3 was the Johnston County Maintenance Crew.Pictured from left are Division 3 Engineer Kevin Bloss, District 3 Commissioner Dan Overland, Superintendent Kevin Harner and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 3 include Coal, Cleveland, Garvin, Hughes, Johnston, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie and Seminole.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 4 was the Perry Shop.Pictured from left are District 4 Commissioner Greg Love, Division 4 Engineer Brian Taylor, Shop Superintendent Ted Bolay and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 4 include Oklahoma, Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne, Garfield, Noble, Grant and Kay.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 5 was the Clinton Shop.Pictured from left are Commission Secretary Todd Huckabay, Division 5 Engineer Brent Almquist, Shop Superintendent Russell Holt and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 5 include Beckham, Blaine, Custer, Dewey, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Roger Mills, Tillman and Washita.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 6 was the Division Wide Crew.Pictured from left are District 6 Commissioner Bobby Alexander, Division 6 Engineer Ron McDaniel, Superintendent Kerry Mitchell and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 6 include Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Major, Woodward and Ellis.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 7 was the Anadarko Residency.Pictured from left are Commission Vice-Chairman Bradley Burgess, Division 7 Engineer Jay Earp, Resident Engineer Reese Knight and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 7 include Caddo, Carter, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, Love, Murray and Stephens.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 8 was the Washington County Maintenance crew.Pictured from left are Division 8 Engineer Randle White, Superintendent Ben Grace and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson. Counties in Division 8 include Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa and Washington.
The Director’s Safety Award is presented to the unit in each of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety record. The 2016 winner for Division 9/OKC Headquarters was the Survey Division.Pictured from left are Commission Chairman David Burrage, Chief of Surveys LeRoy Tacket and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson.
