Ascension Parish Government

Adapting Safety to a Changing Environment

Unfortunately, the government has a bad reputation for being slow and resistant to change. Many of our employees love the phrases ‘well, this is how we have always done it’ or ‘that is not my job.’

Typical government work in our area includes drainage, grass cutting, water treatment, and asphalt work. That work has not changed, but the equipment the neighborhoods have. What was a quiet country road 20 years ago is now a major road with businesses, residents, and heavy traffic.

You must account for these variables when identifying risks and preventing incidents. The idea that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is a reliable way to communicate with senior elected and non-elected administration personnel. 

Building Trust with the Workforce

You need to listen more than you speak. The public works employee doing the job every day can provide you with more information than any book, study, or AI chatbot.  Make yourself available and do not get upset when teams call you to check on something.

Your public works teams must feel you are actively embedded and vested in their operations. Once you build this trust, they can see the proactive measures start to work. This will be slow and have setbacks. Employees and supervisors will leave or get moved around, so the work is never done; it is an ongoing effort.

It takes a long time over a long distance to turn an aircraft carrier around, changing the mindset from reactive to proactive. With public workers, it takes longer, but the reward is worth it. We must hold supervisors accountable. If supervisors are turning a blind eye to unsafe work, we must retrain and discipline them as well. This will set an example for other supervisors and help to hold them accountable.

Balancing Safety with Operational Needs

I have never been a fan of the phrase ‘safety first,’ because it is unattainable. If safety were first, we would pay employees to sit in the break room all day. No one would get hurt, but nothing would get done.

“Operational efficiency, quality, and safety are a tripod that supports each other. When one leg fails, the entire system fails.”

Operational efficiency, quality, and safety are a tripod that supports each other. When one leg fails, the entire system fails. I work in Southeast Louisiana, and we are no strangers to natural disasters. Oftentimes, during and following a hurricane, we have teams working or ready to work as soon as the wind slows down. We understand this puts them at risk, so we work closely with other agencies such as the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, and State Police to assist and, when possible, monitor employees.

Remember to reach out for help if needed and develop good relationships with these organizations. Being prepared beforehand helps too. Supplies after a disaster can be hard to get; make sure you have enough PPE stocked for at least a week. Finally, a great risk-management tool is emergency drills; do employees know where to go and how to call for emergencies, fire, active shooter, or chemical release?  These are simple and can be a fun break for employees sitting at desks all day. 

Confronting Distraction on the Job Site

The largest risk I have noticed and continue to notice is inattention related to cell phones.  We do not walk through a gate with a guard in the morning, the way plant or manufacturing workers do. Too often, I walk on a job site to do an audit, and a truck driver or traffic control employee is on their phone.

This risk is compounded by the fact that motorists driving in the area may also be distracted. Unfortunately, I find supervisors disregard this, claiming they never see it. This is one of the most important proactive things to address. It often involves getting HR involved to ensure it is taken seriously.

Everyone is angrier and more short-tempered now than ever. I have been called everything but a child of God by residents, and escalating this type of interaction can lead to worse outcomes. Brain rot is real and is not going away any time soon. Take distraction and cell phone use seriously, incorporate it into regular training, and correct usage on the spot; do not let it fester.

Taking Initiative to Build a Career

All compensation is not money. I took a pay cut to work for government; however, it gives me more time off, a take-home vehicle, better benefits and a dedicated retirement plan. Safety professionals in government can move up quickly into other positions with more responsibility, especially those of us with private industry experience.

You will likely be the sole safety professional, so your knowledge and point of view will be unique. Be honest and remember that it is okay to disagree; do so politely.  Do not turn down the chance to learn or do something not directly related to safety. 

Finally, do not expect opportunities to come to you; go out, make plans, and follow up on ideas and suggestions.