New Jersey Turnpike Safety Focus
With nearly 530 company-owned and operated stores (Co-ops), development of site specific safety programs is extremely challenging. However, in June of 2008 the Marketing Health and Safety department and the Operations department partnered to address safety concerns specific to the twelve New Jersey Turnpike Service Plaza Co-ops.
The turnpike plaza areas have higher risk activities than conventional Co-op sites, as they are high traffic areas and the employees provide full serve gasoline and diesel fueling, roadside vehicle service, and vehicle repairs. The Division Manager, Area Operations Managers and the Store managers met quarterly to identify:
- High risk tasks;
- Challenges to creating a safe work environment; and
- Identify best practices.
From this information, a New Jersey Turnpike Specific Safety Program was created and includes:
- Increased Health and Safety site presences;
- H&S assistance in incident investigations;
- Monthly safety topics specific to the high risk activities;
- Enhanced personal protective equipment;
- NJTP specific training tools; and
- Preventative maintenance schedule for site equipment.
Since implementing the program, the OSHA recordable rate for these twelve sites was reduced 85% from 2.95 (January – June) to 0.43 (July – December). The program will continue into 2009 with the goal of continued safety performance improvement. |
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