The 12th Annual Dig Safely New York Excavator Safety Seminars came to an end on March 29, 2018.
The nine (9) events brought 3,320 attendees throughout the state to the program.
During the nine (9) educational events, Dig Safely New York implemented a new, fresh presentation with interactive components that engaged the attendees, and also clearly illustrated the best practices of safe digging in accordance with Code Rule 753. A new survey, which was given on a voluntary basis throughout the seminar by staff, was also facilitated. 1,325 surveys were conducted of the 3,320 attendees, which is about 40% return rate.
A few survey highlights from the combined results:
- 41.54% of respondents said it was their first time attending a Dig Safely New York seminar.
- 74.55% of respondents said their experience at the event was moderately better or better than expected.
- 66.62% of respondents said they found the information presented very useful and were leaving with a wealth of information.
- 66.01% of respondents said that the Dig Safely New York staff were great presenters.
- 82.25% of respondents said that they will likely or will absolutely be back next year for the 13th Annual Dig Safely New York Excavator Safety Seminars.
- 82.55% of respondents said at least one thing at the seminar made them change the way they look at safety in their professional or personal life.
(From the desk of Aimee Milks, Marketing and Public Relations Manager — I just want to call out the last bullet. The fact that over 1,000 people that took the survey at our events said that they now change the way they view safety, is personally satisfying. It’s an incredible achievement to change safety mentality and perception, even slightly, through these events.)
The attendee’s response to Keynote Speaker, Brandon Schroeder was also positive. Schroeder, an experienced electrician of over 19 years, addressed audiences around the state on his moment of poor judgement that he still relives to this day. On August 24, 2011, Brandon survived an arc flash explosion — an explosion that should have wielded fatal results. All because he gave into pressure from his boss to get the job done, resulting in his discussions to not call or wait for the utility company to respond.
2018 Excavator Safety Seminar Media Coverage
Week 1
- 3.4.2018 Common Ground Alliance’s Monthly Update Newsletter: February 2018
- 3.12.2018: Mars Hill Network Interview with Dig Safely New York’s Executive Director Kevin Hopper
- 3.14.2018: NPR Media 88.3 Syracuse Public Media’s Spring Construction or Landscaping Project? Call to 811 Could Avoid Explosion, Electrocution, etc.
- 3.14.2018 Melville, NY: Durante Rentals’ Durante Rentals and NY-NJ Takeuchi to Sponsor the 2018 Rockland County Excavator Safety Seminar Series
- 3.14.2018 Suffern, NY: Rockland Review
Week 2
- 2.27.2018 Albany, NY: News Channel 10’s Dig Safely This Spring
- 2.28.2018 Queensbury, NY: Froggy 100.3’s Dig Safely This Spring
- 3.7.2018 Marcy, NY: Big Frog 104’s Man Who Survived Workplace Accident Shares Safety Tips with Central New York
- 3.9.2018 Utica, NY: Access Compliance’s Dig Safely New York News
- 3.20.2018 Albany, NY: Spectrum News
- 3.21.2018 Herkimer, NY: News Channel 2
- 3.25.2018: Potsdam, NY: Watertown Daily Times’ Excavators Gather for Annual Safety Training
Week 3
- 2.28.2018 Hamburg, NY: Country 106.5’s Excavator Safety Seminar Coming to Hamburg
- 2.28.2018 Castleton, NY: Vermeer Northeast’s Calendar Announcement
- 3.27.2018 Hamburg, NY: News Channel 4
- 3.27.2018 Buffalo, NY: The Buffalo News' Community Calendar
