Eight Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts recently received a nod for maintaining a pristine safety record. The Texas Bluebonnet Safety Award was granted to these districts for their unwavering commitment to keeping incidents at zero, a benchmark that places them at the forefront when compared to similar organizations. The TxDOT districts recognized include Atlanta, Abilene, Brownwood, Lubbock, Pharr, San Angelo, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, according to the agency's announcement.

In a culture where safety is not just a box to be checked, but a lived experience, TxDOT has shown it is possible to effectively entirely eliminate workplace incidents. "Safety is our mission each and every day at work," said Atlanta District Engineer Rebecca Wells, in a statement released by TxDOT Newsroom. This year's award winners didn't just happen upon this achievement; they worked with deliberate intention under the agency's Mission Zero initiative, which aims to ensure no one suffers any injury or incident.

TxDOT's Mission Zero initiative is more than just a set of guidelines—it's about fostering a safety-first mindset. All TxDOT employees are trained to keep safety at the forefront of their minds at all moments and are encouraged to take proactive steps to identify and mitigate hazards. As a part of the initiative, employees can call for a "safety timeout" whenever necessary and are urged to share safe practices with their colleagues.

The Atlanta District stands out with its record for the entire 2024 year, boasting no injuries, no incidents, and no lost time. "It is our expectation and our goal every single year as we carry out our extensive workload," confirmed Wells in the TxDOT Newsroom article. Sam Salazar, director of TxDOT's occupational safety division, added, "Whether we’re in the office or out in the field, we’re making safety a habit." This recognition underscores the significant effort made by the districts to ensure that safety remains a priority.

These districts' successes serve as a testament to TxDOT's ongoing efforts to eliminate all workplace incidents. For communities and families, the payoff goes beyond the workplace, as it ensures workers return home each day without harm—a commitment TxDOT seems determined to keep at the heart of its operations.