At the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, safety is more than a policy — it's the way we work, the way we lead, and the way we care for each other. In a state as vast and unpredictable as Alaska, we know that conditions can change in an instant. That's why our safety culture begins with people: the plow driver on the pass, the engineer in the field, the traveler on the road. Everyone deserves to come home safe.
We don't expect perfection from people — we expect systems to be strong enough to support them. Through the principles of Human and Organizational Performance, we focus on learning rather than blaming. When something goes wrong, we ask what we can improve — not who to punish. Every incident, near miss, and success story becomes a chance to grow stronger, together.
We believe safety thrives in environments where communication is open, leadership is accountable, and teams are empowered. It's a culture shaped by curiosity and humility, one that sees safety as a dynamic process — not a checklist. Our goal is not just to prevent harm, but to create conditions where people succeed, even when challenges arise.
In Alaska, resilience isn't optional — it's essential. That's why we invest in systems that protect, support, and adapt. This is how we move forward. Safely. Reliably. And always with people first.
We're making two big improvements to safety at Alaska DOT&PF.
First, we're upgrading the system we use to manage safety. It's not just about forms and rules anymore—it's about real tools that help prevent injuries, protect workers, and keep operations running. Our new Safety Management System gives us better ways to track, improve, and support safety every day.
Second, we're changing how we talk about safety. Instead of focusing on blame, we're focusing on what people need to do their jobs safely—even when things don't go as planned. That means learning from mistakes, listening to frontline employees, and building a culture of shared responsibility.
These changes put people first—and they're just the beginning.
We're officially launching a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS)—a structured, department-wide approach that makes safety something we plan for, support, measure, and continuously improve.
This isn't about rules on paper—it's about building systems and a culture that prevent injuries, support our people, and embed safety into daily operations.
To bring that vision to life, we've invested in HSI's cloud-based Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Learning Management System (LMS). This powerful platform will help us:
- Ensure Regulatory Compliance
- Increase Program Visibility
- Streamline Safety Processes
- Support Data-Driven Decisions
- Track Ongoing Safety Requirements
- Close the Loop
This is a major step forward. SafetyHub helped build basic awareness, but our employees made it clear: we need something more dynamic, flexible, and built for today's challenges. We heard you—and we responded.
We're also embedding Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) into our safety program. HOP shifts the focus from blaming individuals to designing systems that help people succeed—even when things go wrong.
We recognize that:
- People make mistakes. That's inevitable.
- Safety systems must tolerate error without leading to failure.
- The best solutions come from collaboration between frontline workers and safety professionals.
This means taking a total worker approach—one that looks beyond compliance and considers the health, well-being, and real-life challenges our employees face both on and off the job.
To support this shift, we're launching Weekly Safety Minutes. These short, accessible messages will focus on:
- Job-specific hazards
- Seasonal risks
- Lessons learned
- Real-world safety topics that apply to all of us—from office staff to operators, ferry crews to mechanics.
We're committed to building a safety culture where:
- Safety is proactive, not reactive
- Employees are partners, not just recipients of policy
- What's written down reflects what really happens on the job
- Frontline expertise drives how we design safety solutions
That's why we're rewriting, modernizing, and consolidating our guides and manuals—to make them clear, practical, and accessible. And thanks to the new HSI platform, you'll be able to find what you need more easily than ever before.
Alaska DOT&PF is powered by a skilled and diverse workforce, doing complex jobs across one of the most demanding environments in the world. We know one-size-fits-all doesn't work.
That's why our new safety program is built around employee input. We're listening to employees in every region, at every level, to understand:
- What's working
- What's missing
- What needs to change
This isn't a one-time fix—it's an ongoing investment. We're committed to continuously reviewing our policies, equipment, tools, and systems to make sure they're not just adequate, but optimal.
Safety doesn't stop at day-to-day operations. Our Safety Officers are part of the Incident Command System (ICS) and play a key role in emergency preparedness and response.
We're expanding their role by:
- Enhancing our overall response capabilities
- Increasing ICS training across the department
- Supporting stronger coordination with communities and partner agencies
This is an exciting time. We're not just improving safety—we're transforming it.
We invite every employee to get involved. Stay curious. Speak up. Ask questions. Share your ideas.
Because no one person has all the answers—but together, we do.
Welcome to the new Alaska DOT&PF Safety Program.
Stronger systems. Smarter tools. Safer outcomes.