The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is reaching out to those with hard hats and steel-toed boots to weigh in on the construction industry's workplace environment. MnDOT has teamed up with SDK Strategic Services for a needs assessment survey aiming to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of highway heavy construction sites from those on the ground.
Workers have until the strike of midnight on July 3 to share their experiences -- all without dropping their name or their employer's. The survey's anonymity is being stressed, so there’s no fear of backlash for speaking out. Clearly aware that time is money, especially on a construction site, MnDOT promises the questionnaire takes a mere 10 minutes to knock out.
For those tasked with spreading the word, MnDOT suggests tactics like posting a flyer with a QR code directly on the job site or slipping the same flyer into paystub envelopes. The goal is to reach workers through screens and in person, to get a full spectrum of voices. Whether it's an email blast or a quick heads-up in the next scheduled meeting, workers are encouraged to talk up the survey like it's the hot new lunch spot.
A bulletin released on June 30th states: "Responses will guide MnDOT in designing programs and other efforts to improve worksites." This suggests that whatever insights the survey yields could lead to real changes on the ground -- changes that are inspired by the very people lacing up their boots and clocking in each day.
Got questions or need more info about the survey before spilling your thoughts? Point your browser to SDK Strategic Services at [email protected], they're the brains behind the operation. And for the workers whose first language isn't English, they’ve got you covered with the survey in Spanish and Somali, accessible through provided links. So, if you’re swinging hammers or maneuvering heavy machinery on Minnesota's highways, take those 10 minutes and let MnDOT know what's up. It's your worksite, your voice, and possibly, your chance to make it a better place.
