In a greatly expanding, dynamic and outstanding community, safety will always comes first. The City of Eden Prairie has continued to include the very essential responsibility of keeping its public as well as its staff as safe and sound as possible. Several years ago when I accepted a position within the City of Eden Prairie’s Utility Division, I would become a part of something so essential to running a City which has been rated one of the top communities in the country. Not only do I find great pride in serving my home town community through my work as a utility operator, I also greatly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of various other facets to my job as a public steward. One of which allows me to attempt to positively affect the community in a way which may hopefully save time, loss and cost associated with asset loss, personal injury and god forbid, death! This particular facet I am speaking of is the City of Eden Prairie’s management and employee safety committee.
All successful organizations should include some form of safety program designed to positively affect personal wellbeing. In my particular line of service as a Utility operator, I tell you this truth rings true. Much of us who work for the City, do so in what I call an inherently dangerous atmosphere. Whether it be work for the Fire or Police departments, Utilities, Streets, Fleet service, Parks and Recreation, even administrative staff, we all may potentially be exposed to potentially hazardous conditions at any point in our day. My fellow utility staff and I routinely work near or in roadway traffic, within what are called “confined spaces”, around hazardous machinery and often times, with potentially harmful substances such as chlorine, fluoride, hydrogen sulfide gas and other things which may not necessarily agree with proper human biology. Equally as important to our staffs’ safety, is of course our city’s residents, and visitors’ safety. The public who we serve drives on the roads we pave, walks the trails we cut, uses the facilities we build and drinks the water we provide. To not attempt to create both a safe working environment as well as a safe living environment would be a great injustice to the wonderful city that I call my hometown.
Our city’s Management and Employee Safety Committee is currently comprised of 15 highly qualified and outstanding individuals representing the various areas and departments within our organization. Each of us brings our expertise and insight regarding safety based on our personal area of business. The committee is headed by Wayne Estenson who is in charge of the city’s risk management and does an exquisite job of it. The committee was established in April of 1989 and meets every month according to a planned schedule. Although this meeting is intended to surely be effective and very structured, a casual atmosphere is desired, leaving the forum open for discussion on any topic regarding safety at most any point.
We usually begin by opening with questions or concerns anyone may have regarding workplace and community safety and various related topics, much of which stems from issues outside of our community. We often talk about stories seen in the news. Unfortunately, we routinely see on television and hear on radio horrible stories of trapped miners, wild fires, vehicle accidents, fatal falls, and bridge collapses all too often. We understand the utmost importance of learning from misfortunes which happen elsewhere in order to avoid the same or similar fate here at home. In fact, our organization feels so deeply for neighboring communities misfortunes, we have recently sent one of my fellow staffers south to Rushford Minnesota to assist their community in regaining Water service to its residents. Hats off to Andy Allmann for his selfless act of humanity to our fellow Minnesotans!
We also review recent accidents within our community involving personal injury, auto accidents/incidents, and public property incidents. Fortunately we’ve faired well since I’ve been on board. I can personally state that our safety record is excellent considering our communities size, amount of city assets and number of staff. The safety programs, training and competency of our employees are second to none!
Our program includes safety audits of most of our City facilities and grounds every year. During these audits our committee tours these facilities and grounds such as the community center, water plant, public works office, fire stations, city hall, and liquor stores to name a few. While conducting such audits one of our key assets to the committee is our members who serve in our fire and police departments. Fire officials such as Chuck Shaitberger, Rick Hammershidt, Fred Ziebol and Tim Peltier give vital insight and recommendations regarding fire code and fire safety. Sergeant David Becker of the Eden Prairie Police department has a keen eye for public safety and facility security during our audits as well.
With organizations such as OSHA maintaining a vigilant eye and post 9/11 security threat issues looming, this gives us even more reason to “run a tight ship” so to speak. When auditing facilities including my personal favorite, the water plant, the street/fleets/parks main facility, liquor stores and city hall, others on the committee such as my self give reference to particular potential workplace hazards involving materials, equipment, work practices and ergonomics. All inconsistencies and hazards are immediately noted and dealt with appropriately.
One of our key tools in promoting employee participation with safety, a side from the employee and management safety committee itself, is our safety incentive program. This safety incentive program allows employees to conveniently report a potentially harmful situation. The employee will also conceive a remedy to attempt to avoid accidents, injuries or loss. In return, all safety suggestions will be documented, acted upon to allow for a proper correction and a physical reward is given based on a point value determined by the committee. Once the safety suggestions are submitted, the safety committee comes together four times annually and votes on all submissions during the regular committee meetings.
Safety committee members will vote on each individual submission and award a point value based on the individuals remedy for originality, ease of implementation, how well it might be received by those affected, the number of people potentially affected (both employees and/or residents of EP), related accident history and an overall evaluation of the employees remedy to the potentially unsafe situation. Prizes awarded to participating staffers include eight hours added to his/her personal leave amount (1st place), a sixty dollar gift value (2nd place), a forty dollar gift value (3rd place), and a ten dollar gift value for 4th place. Given the potential savings that this program allows related to time lost by employees and medical expenses due to injury, the safety incentive program can greatly increase safety, employee safety awareness, and organizational effectiveness. Ultimately, this allows for just one person to make a huge difference in a big community, help others stay safe and avoid disaster!
As you see safety really is essential to operating a city effectively, efficiently and economically. Our organization takes outstanding measures to ensure the wellbeing of not only its staff but also its citizens and visitors. People are the key to our existence. We value our customers who include our residents, visitors and staff very much. Without all of these important individuals, we might not be able to stake our claim as one of the nation’s best places to live. Live, Work, Dream…Safely. Eden Prairie!
Jeffrey Campbell
City of Eden Prairie
Utility Division