Lessons learned from the snow fight

Well we didn’t get our wish of no snow this year. In fact, our first big snow/ice event hit before the official start of winter and by the time you read this we will probably be well through our second event. I experienced the first storm up close and personal. I was in the SE District the day before, honoring some of our long-term employees at the service award lunch. When I got to the hotel in Cape it was just me and the Ameren crews. I talked with them about what they were up to and how bad they thought it was going to be. They were prepared for ½-inch of ice and downed power lines. Sometimes it is good to know we are not the only ones out there. By the next morning everything was white and it was coming down fast. I headed up to the Jackson Building to see how things were going and listened in to the morning snow call. It is really great to see how well our teams are organized and how well you all adapt to changing conditions. A couple of districts asked for help and without hesitation folks stepped in and made it happen. After the call I hung out at the building for a while and talked with some of the team as they came in to reload. It is always good to hear first hand how things are going. It was pretty clear this one was going to be a challenge. I headed north on 55 and quickly noticed not much traffic, just me and a bunch of trucks. About every 20 or 30 miles I came upon a couple of yellow trucks, usually a tow plow teamed with another truck. They were definitely making a dent in it, but it didn’t take long for the snow to cover it back up. By the time I got to Jefferson County things were letting up a little and I met a couple of waves of plows headed south, my first reaction was why don’t they have their plows down and then I quickly realized that they were the crews headed south to help. Sometimes we take for granted what it takes to make all this happen and just how good we are at snow operations. That does not happen without really talented, dedicated folks doing great work. We learned some things from this storm we get better and the beat goes on. Thanks to everyone who makes it happen.

Key to Safety is Vigilance

Safety is our number-one priority.  It is at the top of MoDOT’s Values and Tangible Results.  But safety isn’t just about putting on the right equipment.  And it isn’t just about numbers and statistics.  It is something that must be at the forefront of our minds every hour of every day.   It requires vigilance.  We must always remember that being vigilant about safety means we go home safe every evening.  Because in the end, safety is not just about us.  It is about our families, our friends, our customers and our coworkers.

Below is a video that covers my view of this important topic. Feel free to comment and share your own views. Let me know what you think!