October 2018

Winter is coming I was at the Fall Maintenance Academy in Bend a few weeks ago and had just finished training the next wave of ODOT employees that will soon be on the road when I realized that teaching this class reminded me of a quote I heard Darin Weaver use at the 2018 Annual TIM Conference:  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens his friend” Proverbs 27:17 These words couldn’t be more true. As a responder, I was there sharpening the next generation of friends and partners just as they were sharpening me. It’s something that gives me immense pride and I feel so lucky to have been there with all of you. The academy training was the last big thing for me in September. What about you? Is your head still above water? Don’t get too comfortable, October is here and with it, many opportunities to train. Are you ready to settle in for winter and start training again? My hope is that each of you takes the time to sign up for a TIM training this winter. Although you may have attended training in the past, skills can get dull. Now is the perfect time to sharpen them! Stay safe out there,

Justin Guinan, Oregon TIM Program

National Move Over Day is Saturday, October 20, 2018 Each year, our Oregon TIM program participates in the National Move Over Day. The goal is to spread the word that we are all responsible to move over when we see responders on the side of the road. It’s the law. It’s also the right thing to do to keep responders and fellow travelers safe. The majority of drivers don’t know to move over and slow down when they see responders working on our roadways, and the men and women who risk their lives to keep our roads safe and clear are paying the price. This year, during the third weekend of October, we’re asking all of you and members of the general public to write a personal message, take a picture or video with it, and post to your personal Facebook page. Buddy and group shots are great too! BE SURE TO TAG OREGON TIM RESPONDERS. You can also send your pictures to jessica.m.mcgraw@odot.state.or.us with who to tag and anything else you want us to know! We want to break the internet, so please share why you move over! Need some inspiration? Try one of these: #MoveOver #Moveover so I can celebrate my ______ birthday. #Moveover so I can go home to my family. #Moveover so I can watch my kids grow up. #MoveOver. We all go home. #MoveOverSlowDown Every worker, every time. #MoveOver Give us room. #MoveOver Join the movement. #MoveOver Move over for my dad/mom/brother/sister/________/ (have loved one hold the sign) Move over. Keep us safe. Please move over. Our families depend on it. Spread the word. #MoveOver We’ll do our job. Please do yours. #MoveOverSlowDown Learn more about Oregon’s Move Over Law at: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Pages/Enforcement.aspx

Investing in the future

We invest a lot in our relationships. Whether they’re personal relationships, work relationships or agency relationships, they all take work. Every day we invest in each other because we know the importance of our investments.

We had the opportunity to visit with responders from the Eugene-Springfield area about the investments they’ve made to build relationships across disciplines. Brandon Bynum from ODOT Incident Response District 5, OSP Sergeant Hank Duren, A+ Tow Operator Andrew VanWinkle and Captain Mark Vanderville from Eugene-Springfield Fire shared how they’re creating an environment of cooperation, collaboration and respect for each other.

Everyone agreed that the most important piece of collaboration is to let each discipline do their jobs and not tell the others how to do theirs. A clear separation of duties means there is no stepping-on-toes or bickering. Read on!

Q: How has each discipline made improvements toward working as a team in your area?

A: ODOT- We are all consistently showing up and responding to incidents, being there when we are needed. Consistency is important in building relationships with your local responders. Getting their units back on the road as quickly as possible to maximize their responses is critical. The autonomy of incident response in District 5 has allowed more availability and time to build our relationships as well.

OSP- Fire and OSP work well together. There is unified command happening on scenes without the topic needing to be brought up. OSP is doing better about calling the towers when the time is right to limit the idle and staging time for them. OSP has started scanning the ODOT channels regularly to monitor and listen for ways they can assist and also to improve responsiveness.

Tow-Getting better information from the responders on scene. IR has been very helpful assisting when they are needed.

Fire-It’s great having partners there. It allows us to do our job. Traffic control from ODOT allows fire to do what they need to do without worrying about the traffic. Everyone has started checking for any additional needs before we leave the scene.

Q: Where do you feel that teams can improve?

A: ODOT- Building relationships never stops and needs to continually happen. It comes back to ODOT being consistent across the board.

OSP-Communications are key and there is always room to improve communications. Continuing the TIM Team to keep the face time is important. Don’t be afraid to speak up on issues.

Tow-Getting a game plan together and having the conversations. This has to continue to allow everyone a voice.

Fire-Allowing for us to do what we need to do. We need to have the time and the space. Ensuring that traffic is set and safe before asking them to move. They need to ensure the safety of their personnel. Realize that fire rigs are in place to ensure the safety off all.

Q: What would you tell others that are trying to improve?

A: ODOT-Respond. You need to go out and be consistent. All conditions and times are just as important. 

OSP- Build the relationships. Put the time and effort in. It will pay off in the end.

Tow-Relationships. Making tow a part of the first responders group and giving them a voice. Use us as an initial resource and not a later resource.

Fire-Responding. Get the buy in from others. Come talk to us. Ask about needs and how you can help—in the end this will speed up the process.