DOBSON — Reflective orange and yellow seemed to be the unofficial
colors this week at Surry Community College.
Nearly 70 N.C. Department of Transportation employees from Division
11 — comprised of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes,
Yadkin — sported the safety colors during the annual safety and skills
competition.
The employees competed in one of six disciplines and put the skills
they use everyday in the field to a challenge on a level playing field. Each
event is designed to show the driving, operating and safety skills necessary to
perform everyday tasks improving safety and road conditions for North Carolina
residents.
Truck drivers — single axle, tandem axle and a low-boy driver —
made their way through a slalom course, parking drills and a safety check.
Tractor mower operators weaved their way through a tight course. Backhoe
operators scooped a golf ball from sand with a spoon attached to the bucket. And
motorgrader drivers leveled their blade to tap tennis balls from a plastic
tee.
“This is one of our most important and largest safety sessions of
the year,” Division 11 Safety Engineer Doug McConnell said. “Everybody picks up
tips from everybody else that they can use every day.”
The top two in each of the six competition received a plaque for
their accomplishment. The winners advance to the state competition to be held
later this year in Raleigh.
The winners from Division 11:
- Single Axle Truck: Philip Woodring, Watauga County Equipment
- Tandem Axle Truck: Zac Roupe, Ashe County Bridge
- Low-boy Truck: Lonnie Phipps, Ashe Maintenance
- Backhoe: Tony Cleary, Yadkin Maintenance
- Motorgrader: Kerry Mabe, Alleghany Maintenance
- Tractor-Mower: Bobby Edwards, Alleghany Equipment