OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Safety and teamwork in a work zone is critical to seeing that everyone makes it home at the end of the day. The men and women of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation work in all conditions and put their lives on the line to construct, maintain and repair our state's highways, interstates and bridges. Safety is ODOT's top priority and the agency conducts onsite reviews, accident follow-up and ongoing safety education as part of its worker safety program. The total number of employee injury accidents has declined more than 55 percent in the past decade. 

At their meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission and ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson recognized the crews who demonstrated a continued commitment to safety in the past year.

The Governor's Safety Excellence Award is presented each year to the ODOT field division with the best overall safety record in the past year. The 2016 award went to Division Four, which increased its safety performance record by 66 percent compared with the previous year. Total accidents, accident severity and lost work days are all taken into consideration in determining the Governor's Safety Award winner. Division Four is headquartered in Perry and is led by Division Engineer Brian Taylor. The division includes Grant, Kay, Garfield, Noble, Payne, Kingfisher, Canadian, Logan and Oklahoma counties.

The Progressive Excellence Award recognizes the ODOT field division with the most improved safety rating. The award for 2016 was presented to Division Six, which is headquartered in Buffalo under the leadership of Division Engineer Ron McDaniel. The division improved its safety performance 84 percent since last year. Division Six includes Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties.

The Director's Safety Awards are presented to the unit in each of ODOT's eight field divisions and its Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, headquarters with the best safety record. Consideration is given to safety, housekeeping, training and equipment maintenance.

The winners for 2016 are:

"¢ Division One, Cherokee County Maintenance
"¢ Division Two, Antlers Residency
"¢ Division Three, Johnston County Maintenance
"¢ Division Four, Perry Shop
"¢ Division Five, Clinton Shop
"¢ Division Six, Division Wide Crew
"¢ Division Seven, Anadarko Residency
"¢ Division Eight, Washington County Maintenance
"¢ Division Nine/OKC Headquarters, Survey Division