Rodger was cited for his leadership and positive impact on all areas of safety within the company.  Specific areas of improvement in the company records include: implementation of programs such as “Zero Tolerance to Unsafe Conditions”, safety recognition through “Good Catch” and “Close Call” and a measurable reduction in property damages and fleet accident claims.  

“Zero Tolerance to Unsafe Conditions” is an innovative way of thinking, living and attitude of identifying/observing potential safety hazards and taking action with immediacy. 

To make a Zero Tolerance attitude functional company wide, it was vital to keep team members informed on not only the attitudes and responses of all team members, but safe work practices all team members were using to create that environment. This led Rodger to the formation of “Good Catch!” and “Close Call” recording and reporting. A “Good Catch!” is viewed as anytime a potential hazard exists, but is recognized and evaded due to safe work practices resulting in no incident or close call occurrence. Similarly a “Close Call” is any occurred incident in which said incident held the possibility of causing personal injury/death or damage to property and/or the environment. 

When a Good Catch! or Close Call occurs, a safety coordinator or manager will report to the site and immediately start detailing the situation in a summary report. The summary will include the date, time, site location, exact location of potential hazard, scope of work being performed, measures taken to control the situation, employee responsible for recognition, an action plan to avoid potential future hazards and finally any pictures that may assist in the summary. Following the summary report the gathered details are inserted into a “Safety Alert” which is instantly corresponded to ALL employees to be briefed upon as soon as current work conditions safely allow and any necessary and available steps are applied on the spot to eliminate any potential elements in which could possibily result in a similar re-occurrence.

Rodger also eliminated the process which caused employees feeling that they became a “whistle blower” when notifying management about safety concerns. They are now handled immediately and directly through “Good Catch!” and “Close Call” reporting.

Overseen by Rodger, Minnesota Limited, LLC participates in Minnesota LECET Safety Driven Program and Rodger has served as a Safety Congress Co-Chairman for DCA. Through Rodger’s aggressive programs and idealogy, Minnesota Limited has received several National Safety Council awards including the “Occupational Safety Award”.

Others nominated by their employers for the DCA 2011 Safety Director of the Year Award include: Weston Countryman, Midwestern Contractors; Thomas Densberger, Midwest Underground, Inc.; Tim Knaup, InterCon Construction, Inc.; Kim Kontz, Q3 Contracting, Inc.; and Sean Nicholson, Michels Corp.

The Safety Director award is given annually after peer review by other Safety Directors and by the DCA Safety/Risk Management Committee.  Finalists were evaluated on innovation, program effectiveness, personal profile and personal accomplishments. The area of program effectiveness includes reduction in personal injuries, reduction in property damages and fleet accident claims, and overall cost reduction through safety. The nominees were also rated for their involvement in the DCA Safety Congress and Arthur T. Everham Safety Award. 

In addition to a unique plaque, the Safety Director is awarded $1,000 cash. 

Past winners of the award are:  William Kessler, formerly of Miller Pipeline Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana (1998); Ralph A. Miller, Michels Corp., Brownsville, Wisconsin (1999); Steve Theis, formerly of Henkels & McCoy, Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania (2000); Stuart Buhrendorf, The Hallen Construction Co., Inc., Island Park, New York (2001, 2007); Larry Cripps, Distribution Construction Co., Greensboro, North Carolina (2002); James Kurth, formerly of InfraSource Underground Services, New Berlin, Wisconsin (2003); Ron Martinez, Pilchuck Contractors, Inc., Kirkland, Washington (2004 & 2006); Kevin Beswick, Miller Pipeline Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana (2005, 2010); Tim Knaup, InterCon Construction, Inc. (2008); Kevin Werner, MasTec North America, Inc., Shevlin, Minnesota (2009).