* First large employer business in Vermont to receive the Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety

1. Comprehensive written and implemented safety program with periodic revisions.

2. All volunteer Safety, Health and Resource Protection (SHARP) Committee with majority representation by field employees.

3. Comprehensive new-worker screening and orientation program that includes:
  a) POPES Assessment: Post Offer Pre-Employment Screening is used to determine the suitability of the prospective employee to the proposed work assignment.

  b) Safety Orientation by Safety Director: The Safety Director provides a comprehensive safety orientation to all new employees prior to their field assignment.

  c) Field Orientation: Project Superintendent provides a safety orientation specific to the work assignment and the project.

4. Comprehensive Safety Training:

  a) All Project Supervisors are American Red Cross trained in First Aid/CPR.

  b) Employees are trained in workshops, seminars and in the field. Training subjects include Fall Protection, OSHA Ten-Hour, Scaffold, Scissor and Boomlift, Hilti, Excavation, Forklift, and Respiratory Protection.

5. Recognition Programs are used to support and reinforce the safety program and include the "Good Job Safety Award", "Safety Star", annual recognition of safe, injury-free field employees, Safety Employee of the Year Award and the "Using Don" program.

6. Return-To-Work-Program: A systematic program is used to integrate any employee back to the work environment by modifying the assignment to meet their physical ability.

7. Safety Equipment: DEW's policy is to budget for, purchase and provide first-rate safety equipment for all employees.

8. Safety Meetings and Safety Audits: Weekly on-site safety meetings and audits are conducted by the project supervisor and periodically by the Safety Director.

9. State and Federal Voluntary Compliance Programs: DEW utilizes these resources on every project.

10. Pre bid safety review of proposed projects.

Darcy Spear, DEW Assistant Superintendent