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Terry Smith named 2013 Safety Person of the Year

Terry Smith’s remarkable efforts to keep mountain passes in his maintenance area open during winter storms and his ongoing commitment to safety earned him 2013 Safety Person of the Year honors. Chief Engineer Tom Cole presented the award last week during the semi-annual service awards ceremony. It was part of the monthly Transportation Board meeting in Boise.

Smith is responsible for the Montpelier maintenance area that experiences some of the coldest temperatures and harshest winter conditions in Idaho. It often catches frigid arctic air masses from Montana and Wyoming, making it difficult to keep clear of snow and ice.

Colleagues considered some of those challenges in recommending Smith for the annual safety award:

Terry maintains four summits that range in elevation between 6,200 and 7,400 feet:

Georgetown, U.S.30, elevation 6,283 feet
Border, U.S. 30, elevation 6,361 feet
Geneva, U.S. 89, elevation 6,939 feet, and
Emigration, Idaho 36, 7,413

Even the lowest point in Terry’s area is nearly 6,000 feet. Because of those extreme altitudes and seasonal temperatures that frequently plunge below zero degrees Fahrenheit, winter maintenance can be difficult. Yet, Terry maintains a positive attitude toward safety and winter maintenance and keeps his crew and the traveling public safe on the roads during extreme weather conditions.

Terry also was instrumental in the straight salt program in District 5, with chemical and salt applications on higher elevations and mountain passes. He consistently works to find the best methods for clearing the highways, benefiting not only ITD but also the traveling public.

Away from his daily work schedule, he is an admired and active member of his community. He works with the Boy Scouts of America, serves as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and is a certified rescue diver for Bear Lake County Search and Rescue.

Terry constantly looks for ways to improve and make the roadways safer.

On Idaho 36, he worked with the U.S. Forest Service to improve drainage, widen the road and flatten slopes.
He maintains turnouts for recreational users, such as hunters and snowmobilers, to make their highway experience safer.
Terry patrols U.S. 89, a heavily used highway for recreationalists that goes along Bear Lake. He ensures that motorists, including boaters and fishermen, can travel safely and that they do not obstruct traffic when parking along the shoulder of the highway.
Terry is adamant that his personnel are trained to operate all equipment in a safe manner.
He also requires crew members to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when performing maintenance tasks.
Terry works closely with the District 5 EEO, safety and training person to ensure that all of his crew members are current in safety related training such as first aid, defensive driving, flagging and traffic control for technicians and supervisors.
Terry has been a certified first aid/CPR trainer with District 5 for many years.

An example of his innovation and creativity is the use of a Sno-Cat to create dikes in the snow. Historically, the Montpelier maintenance crew used a D-6 Caterpillar with a large V-blade to dike.

Landowners objected to the dikes made with the D-6 because of their tendency to damage their fields and surrounding terrain. However, using a Sno-Cat, Terry’s crew can create dikes without harming the environment. Also, because of those dikes, road sections are made safer and can be cleared quicker and more efficiently.

Terry monitors the Road Weather Information System (RWIS) sites in his section. He stays ahead of the weather by watching forecasts, surface “grip”, air and surface temperatures, water equivalent amounts and other measures so he can better schedule and dispatch crews to make it safer on Idaho roadways.

During the annual building inspections performed by the district safety officer and the State Division of Building Safety Inspector, Terry’s maintenance shed and surrounding buildings have routinely done very well.

Rare minor deficiencies that are noted are fixed immediately, rather than being scheduled on a “to-do” list for addressing sometime in the future. Terry also leads his crew by ensuring that monthly safety meetings and building inspections are done. He also recognizes when change is needed and is quick to implement corrective measures to improve safety.

Terry regularly volunteers for teams and committees, and has been the District 5 representative on the maintenance steering committee that handles with statewide policies and procedures to enhance safety.