2024 Safety Award Winners

In 2023, the department began using electronic forms on supervisor and safety personnel phones and tablets for them to perform scheduled gate checks at the yard, inspecting for policy compliance and equipment inspection compliance. . The application allowed for the results of the inspection to be delivered immediately via email to the driver’s immediate supervisor to address the compliance issue with the employee. These leading indicators then became the focus for the Safety Team to begin inspecting these high-priority items in the field.

The Mesa Wellness Program enhances employees' and their families' quality of life by fostering a culture of health through education, motivation, and engagement. The Mesa Wellness 360 Program, a voluntary initiative for City of Mesa employees and their spouses/partners, encourages healthy lifestyles by offering health screenings, activities, and financial incentives.  The Health and Wellness Center, an on-site facility available to over 11,000 members of the city’s health plan, provides free primary care services with convenient access. Since implementing these programs, the City of Mesa has observed a 19.11% increase in wellness class participation, 72% engagement in on-site health coaching (with a 91% completion rate) and a 65% completion rate for health assessments, contributing to a 2.4% reduction in employee health risks.  

ACUA collection staff expressed that their biggest safety concern was the unsafe way the public drives, putting collection teams at risk.   In response, ACUA Risk management and the marketing/public relations teams developed a video to provide safety training to the public and to spread awareness of the NJ Move Over Law. The video was shared via email and social media, where the public reacted positively. The New Jersey Department of Highway Safety offered a partnership, utilizing $20,000 in grant funding to air the video on Comcast cable for a month; create racks cards that promote the Move Over Law; and post six billboards in the service area reinforcing the safety message. ACUA has not seen an incident involving an employee and a motor vehicle since the video was aired, and it was averaging three to five per year previously.  

The department’s organizational culture emphasizes safety above all else. This commitment has enabled it to achieve VPP Star Site status, where every employee is empowered to act as a "safety officer" with the authority to stop work if they identify unsafe conditions, even with onsite contractors. Its commitment to employee safety is evident statewide, where it has been acknowledged for its dedication to workplace safety and its support of safety initiatives in other municipalities.