It takes time and intentional effort to create a workplace culture that prioritizes safety. Colleagues say Wayne Bay makes sure safety is the top consideration every day, in every task or project.
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A Crew Chief I with the Utilities Maintenance division of Public Utilities, Bay and his team install, maintain and repair water and sewer lines. That means working in trenches, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration identifies as one of the most hazardous type of construction jobs. The biggest risk is soil cave-ins, with one cubic yard of soil weighing as much as a car. And crews never know what they will find when they start digging, from buried storage tanks to unmarked utility lines.
Bay said the biggest challenges he and his crew face are the deep trenches and the unknowns that come with trenching and excavation. “All trenches must be made safe before employees enter,” Bay said. “I say a prayer every morning for the safety and wellbeing of my crew. We all want to go home to our families at the end of each day.”
Bay holds daily “tailgate meetings” with his Two Rivers Utilities team to review safety procedures for all of the tasks they will be doing that day. Colleagues say he also takes inexperienced workers under his wing and mentors them to be as safety conscious as he is. And he makes suggestions to supervisors on ways to increase safety with improved procedures or equipment.
The award nominations describe Bay as a role model who leads by example. In 21 years with the City, he has never had a preventable accident. Despite the dangers of his job, Bay described the City as “a fun place to work.” He said he enjoys training new employees and solving customers’ problems. Winning the award left him “shocked,” but he said it is a great feeling that his work and dedication are recognized by his peers.
