ATSSA Signal Jan/Feb 2019

The Signal | Jan/Feb 2019 35 Training News on the road. The ability to retain our workers is a direct correlation to the fact that we respect and value them.” Guidemark General Manager Dave Lamont said new candidates are in- formed immediately that safety is a top priority within the company. “During the hiring process it’s import- ant to find employees who fit the mold of what we do,” Lamont said. “It’s a unique job and we work hard to find individuals who have the same growth mindset as we do. Safety is a priority for us and we try to do everything we can to be as safe as possible. In regard to safety and overall performance, we have recently implemented an incen- tive-based program, rewarding those who are putting forth daily safety ef- fort and growing the company. Com- panies who are struggling need to know the type of individual they’re looking to hire, have the proper training avail- able for a new hire to be successful, and above all have structure.” Dolinar said it is important for those in leadership roles to not only tell em- ployees about company standards but also to lead by example. “We look for people who are team play- ers. The culture is established by the leaders of the company and the tone that we convey to the employee,” Dolinar said. ATSSA Board Member Cindy Williams, of Time Striping Inc., said for her company it comes down to communication. “The number one priority in our com- pany is making sure we’re openly and consistently communicating with our employees,” Williams said. “We have seasoned employees who have been here over 10 years and have on-the- job training, specialty training, and just years of experience so when they tell new hires to go do a task, we need to make sure we’re effectively communi- cating with new hires so they under- stand their job roles.” Former ATSSA Chair and current Board Member Debra Ricker, of Worksafe Traffic Control Industries Inc., said her employees are all trained with ATSSA traffic control courses as well as state- requiredOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) courses. In terms of retention, Ricker said she includes her employees in the company’s stra- tegic planning process along with de- veloping safety plans. “I find that the more involved they are, the better,” Ricker said. “It’s building those relationships and having every- one be a part of the team that makes them quicker to follow safety rules and appreciate safety when they’ve got some say in how those policies are drafted and what training courses they attend.” ATSSA will continue to provide resourc- es addressing the issue of training and retaining work zone employees. Visit www.atssa.com/Training for more in- formation about available courses.