The awards recognized “efforts to improve work practices and create efficiencies,” according to a release from District 1 Press Officer Jill Harry.

Among the nine awardees in District 1 – Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties – were Transportation Equipment Operator Daniel Benson and Welder David A. Schwartz Jr. at the Warren County facility.

Benson and Schwartz collaborated on the creation of a spreader chute.

“The aluminum spreader is an attachment used in Warren and Forest counties to fill low shoulders along the roadway without having to remove the spreader,” Harry said. “The chute directs material off the roadway to fill low spots while keeping the truck on the roadway.”

Daniel Benson

“These folks took it upon themselves to create a tool to fill low shoulders more efficiently,” PennDOT Warren County Maintenance Manager Adam Elms said. “The main goal is to fill isolated areas up to a few hundred feet long such as inside curves where vehicles cause drop offs and areas where road rain runoff has created a safety hazard.”

The equipment is particularly beneficial in the winter. “They are used throughout the year, but a key when trucks are equipped with winter material spreaders,” Elms said. “In the past material was dumped on the roadway and shoveled or pushed off the roadway by hand or with equipment. This was a much slower operation.”

The enhancement is only in use in Warren and Forest counties, so far, according to Elms.

“Employees were recognized for ideas and smart practices submitted through IdeaLink and WorkSmart, online suggestion systems that allow employees to share their ideas and efficient work practices,” Harry said. “Over the last decade, PennDOT staff have submitted more than 3,300 ideas through IdeaLink, several hundred of which have been implemented. Since 2016, more than 230 smart practices have been published in PennDOT’s WorkSmart system.”

“Our District 1 team is always looking for ways to enhance efficiency and safety for our employees and our customers,” District 1 Executive Brian McNulty said. “These honorees demonstrate how those innovations can be for everyday operations as well as long-term improvements.”

“PennDOT has a strong legacy of creativity to help us meet our daily mission and goals,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “I’m proud to recognize these employees for their creativity and dedication to the department.”