Apr

25

Safety Initiatives at Evergreen Roadworks  

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Apr 25th, 2024

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Rachel Jackson

Person in safety vest holding safety helmet

Safety is part of the fabric of Evergreen Roadworks™ ; safety team managers Butch Cross and “Safety Dan” Nelson lead the organization in ensuring that Evergreen not only meets, but exceeds, all local, state and federal safety requirements.  

“The passion for safety in our organization truly starts from the top, with Joe Lamb setting the highest example for our team,” Cross shared. “Joe begins and ends each meeting with reminders of the value of safety, and how we have collectively created a culture that puts a premium on that very initiative.” 

Safety training is ongoing, for all team members in all departments. From day one all new hires attend dedicated onboarding safety classes, even if they are in an office role. Every employee gets at least four hours of safety-related training every year. From weather related preparedness to forklift use, hazardous materials management and even CPR certification through the American Red Cross are on the calendar for our team to attend during the year.  

Cross is a certified instructor by several different organizations including the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). He is working towards being a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certified trainer and expects to be set up with that later this year. “This is unique to a company of our size,” Cross said, “and it really gives us the flexibility to host trainings whenever they are needed.” 

Daily at every job site our teams expect to start the day with a “tailboard” standup meeting that provides safety reminders and where personal protective equipment is available to grab if needed for the day. “Sunscreen, hats, gloves, sunglasses as well as extra vests are always stocked and ready for teammates who need them” Nelson stated, “Safety is an unwavering core value at Evergreen.”  

Beyond physical safety, there are resources that support mental health and emotional safety.  Ongoing education includes anti-harassment videos and access to resources for mental wellness.  “We want individuals to speak up if something, anything, feels uncomfortable to them, to stop, step away and alert management, we call it “taking a timeout,” said Evergreen Roadworks President Joe Lamb, “but to create that type of environment we need to set the stage to make people feel safe and comfortable to do so, so we work towards that in every way we can.”  

With Evergreen Roadworks operating across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Cross and Nelson have a full schedule meeting with teams, visiting job sites and sharing safety knowledge. 

Butch Cross with Evergreen Roadworks leads safety training.

Butch Cross, one of the safety training leaders with Evergreen Roadworks.

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