Safety Materials

Substantial and continuous improvement in safety within the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is needed. The occurrence of preventable accidents and injuries is unacceptably high, with the Department's current safety culture believed to be partially responsible. For the purposes of this document, safety culture is intended to refer to all values, mores, norms (i.e., the explicit and implicit rules that dictate the expected/appropriate behavior for that culture), behaviors, traditions, customs, etc. Examples of the types of preventable accident claims that are occurring include general bodily injury and property damage, state vehicle bodily injury and property damage, and workers compensation claims. Bodily injury and worker's compensation claims are arising out of back injuries and eye injuries, among others. A Safety Manual exists that details employee and employer safety responsibilities and rules, however it appears that safety policies and procedures are not being followed or applied uniformly throughout the department. There also do not appear to be any ramifications associated with preventable accidents or injuries arising from non-compliance with safety rules, policies, or procedures. Organizational changes, replacement of retired employees with new employees, and reduction of the DOT training program may also contribute to higher occurrence of preventable accidents and injuries.

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