ODOT crews recognized for workplace safety: South Central district awarded for best safety record
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release # 24-019
ODOT crews recognized for workplace safety: South Central district awarded for best safety record
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 interstates, highways and bridges. Safety in these work zones is a collective commitment and critical to ensure each driver and worker makes it home at the end of the day. With safety being ODOT’s top priority, the agency conducts regular 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 Safety Consultant Tanner Mikles awarded field crews who demonstrated a continued commitment to safety throughout the past year.
The Governor’s Safety Excellence Award is presented annually to the ODOT field district with the best overall safety record over the past year. The 2023 award went to District Three, headquartered in Ada and led by District Engineer Ron Brown. The district includes Cleveland, Coal, Garvin, Hughes, Johnston, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. District Three worked just under 400,000 hours, experiencing only eight injuries, none of which caused lost days of work. Total accidents, accident severity and lost work days are all taken into consideration in determining the award winner.
The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. The award for 2023 was presented to District Two, which is headquartered in Antlers under the leadership of District Engineer Anthony Echelle. The district in Southeastern Oklahoma earned this award by reducing its overall accidents by 27%, as well as reducing lost work days from 86 lost days in 2022 to 0 lost days in 2023. District Two includes Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Marshall, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties.
The Director’s Safety Awards are presented to the crew in each of ODOT’s eight field districts and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety efforts for 2023. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.
The winners for 2023 calendar year are:
- District One — Checotah Interstate Maintenance Unit
- District Two — LeFlore County Maintenance Crew
- District Three — Wewoka Construction Residency
- District Four — Enid Residency
- District Five — Area Wide Traffic Crew
- District Six — Woodward County Maintenance Crew
- District Seven — Love County Maintenance Crew
- District Eight — Ottawa County Maintenance Crew
- Oklahoma City Headquarters — Office of Information Technology, Business Services Branch
Governor’s Safety Excellence Award
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2023 Governor’s Safety Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District Three. 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 Three Engineer Ron Brown, Commission Chairman Bob Peterson, Wewoka Resident Engineer Wendy Ross, District Three Safety Manager Annette Nichols and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. District Three is headquartered in Ada and includes Cleveland, Coal, Garvin, Hughes, Johnston, Lincoln, McClain, Okfuskee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie and Seminole counties.
Progressive Excellence Award
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2023 Progressive Excellence Award was awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District Two. The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field district with the most improved safety rating in the past year. Pictured from left are District Two Commissioner James Grimsley, LeFlore County Superintendent Ernest "Nate" Warren, District Two Engineer Anthony Echelle, District Two Safety Manager Keith Bonham and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. District Two is headquartered in Antlers and includes Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Marshall, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties.
Director’s Safety Awards
At the June Oklahoma Transportation Commission meeting, the 2023 Director’s Safety Awards were awarded to the unit in each of ODOT’s eight field districts and its Oklahoma City headquarters with the best safety efforts for 2023. Pictured from left are Greg Lott, Tim Mason, District Eight; Jarrid Drew, District Six; Rob Bowers, District Six; Craig Sim, District Four; Jacob Peery, District Four; Dustin Murang, District Eight; Richard Bright, District Five; John Stotts, District Five; Ernest "Nate" Warren, District Two; Lisa Niebauer, District Seven; Keith Bonham, District Two; Annette Nichols, District Three; and Tanner Mikles.
