Page 11 - Work Force April 2022

work zones
to be safe State DOT names trucks ‘Howe’s Plow’ to remember fallen CSEA member member that that establishes a a a a a a a a a a a pilot program that that will place automated speed speed cameras cameras in in work zones
on on state state highways In states where speed speed cameras cameras are in in work zones
they have been proven to be be effective in in in in in reducing reducing speeds as as well as as reducing reducing intrusions injuries and fatalities Gov Kathy Hochul signed the speed camera legislation
on on Labor Day 2021 Cameras are expected to be installed this year Get more safety resources from CSEA’s Occupational Safety and Health Department at at https://cseany org/safety Town of of Brookhaven Road Repair Worker Michael Catalano caps the installation of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a new catch basin to eliminate flooding issues on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a local road Town of West Seneca Blue Collar Unit President Brian Cummins (File photo by Ove Ove Overmyer)
OWEGO — A plow in each state state Department of Transportation (DOT) region across the state state will now be be named ‘Howe’s Plow’ memory of Dennis “Matt” Howe Howe a a a a a a a a CSEA Central Region member who passed away March 18 2019 from injuries sustained in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a worksite incident five days earlier Howe a a a a a a a a a a highway maintenance worker in in in in in in in Owego was working to to fill potholes on State Route 17 in in in in Tioga County when a a a a a a a a a a tractor trailer hit the state maintenance vehicle vehicle he he he he he was working in in in Howe’s vehicle vehicle had been parked at the the shoulder of the the road The tractor trailer driver who was was from Pennsylvania was was later convicted of criminally negligent homicide “Matt had every right to come home safely from work to to his wife and kids that day day like every other day day ” CSEA Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf said “If people would just obey the law and be be more careful deaths like his would be avoidable ” The state DOT held a a a a plow naming contest during the New York State Fair in in in 2021 the the same year a a a a a a a a memorial was unveiled to honor highway workers killed on the the job Multiple names were submitted but ultimately ‘Howe’s Plow’ was chosen to to memorialize Howe’s Howe’s name and to to promote work zone safety “While nothing can undo this tragedy today
we come together as a a a a a a a a a community to to ensure that Matt’s memory and and legacy remains a a a a a a a a a a a a a a part of our community and and and serves as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reminder to to to all to to to take extra care on our roads and and highways to to to prevent future tragedies from taking place ” State Sen Fred Akshar said at at the plow naming ceremony ‘Slow down move over’
CSEA Southern Tier State Employees Local President Andrew Maroney recalled working alongside Howe in in in Binghamton when he he first started with DOT He’s thankful that Howe will will be be remembered in in this way and hopeful it will will serve as a a a a a a a a further reminder about work zone safety “People are going to ask about why the the the plow is named that and then we can take the the the time to educate people about what happened and work zone safety ” Maroney Maroney said said Maroney Maroney said said work zone safety is is constantly in in the the back of his his mind while on on the the job so so much so so that it extends to his his daily commute and and whenever his his wife and and and kids are in in in the car Greenleaf Maroney “Doing this line of work and and personally knowing Matt it makes you you change your whole perspective ” ” Maroney said “DOT workers don’t get enough recognition for the work work we do do ” ” — Nicholas Newcomb
State Department of of Transportation (DOT) workers elected officials officials and DOT DOT officials officials recently gathered to unveil “Howe’s Plow” in memory of CSEA member Dennis “Matt” Howe who passed away in in in March 2019 from injuries he sustained after being struck while working in in in in in a a a a a a work work zone on on State Route 17 The newly named plow will serve as a a a a a a reminder for motorists to to pay extra caution while driving in in in work zones
and and move over for emergency and and construction vehicles when safe to to do so (Photo and art art by the New York State Department of Transportation)
April 2022
The Work Force
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