General DNR News

CASH IN HAND FOR DNR EMPLOYEES LEADING SAFETY PROGRAM

Volunteering for on-the-job safety duties has paid off for Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employee Manuel Lam, a senior energy analyst for the Technology Assessment Division. Lam’s willingness to take on the added duties as assistant floor warden for the department’s Safety Program paid cash dividends this week. He and 56 other dedicated DNR employees were honored and presented checks for their role in the department’s safety initiatives.

Lam, a 12-year DNR employee, has been involved with the safety program for 10 years. He says the toughest part of the safety job so far is seeing that all 13th floor coworkers carefully and patiently take 28 flights of stairs to exit the building during a fire drill.

DNR Human Resources Director Anne Tillman said the agency recently implemented a new policy that recognizes employees with monetary rewards for voluntary duties performed in conjunction with the department’s safety program. She said that a primary assistant floor warden receives $50 annually for volunteering and participating.

DNR is the first state government agency to establish a monetary reward’s policy and now others are looking to model the program and the reward incentives. DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell presented $5,000 in monetary rewards to participating employees during an awards ceremony held November 30th, emphasizing the department’s commitment to providing a safe working environment. He complimented the good management of the program by the safety committee and staff.

Tillman said the cash incentive was approved by the Department of Civil Service in the spring of 1999. Tillman also praised DNR safety program director Claire Gremillion for her efforts in ensuring the department’s compliance with state safety mandates.

Monetary awards were given to the following employees who were floor wardens, certified first aide/CPR providers or safety officers in the program:

Office of Coastal Restoration and Management -- Laura Aucoin, Stanley Aucoin (Abbeville), Garrett Broussard, David Castellanos (Abbeville), Todd Folse (Thibodaux), Derek Hamilton, Todd Hubbell, (Thibodaux), Dolores LaBauve, Darin Lee (Thibodaux), Troy Mallach (Abbeville), Brian Marcks, Annell Peek, Cynthia Pittman, Lawrence “Phil” Pittman, Lisha Rabalais, Richard Raynie, Christian Seifert, Cynthia Taylor and Jessica Wallace.

Office of Mineral Resources -- Sherry Ballard, Veronica Bateman, Darlene Bourgeois, Clyde Cason, Glenda Cheek, Connie Chenevert, Craig Hyland, Mary Beth Kling, Lisa Kursevich, Preston Walters and Xiaoyun “Deborah” Wang.

Office of Conservation -- Dale Bergquist, Raye Boyd (Shreveport), James Broussard (Shreveport), Brent Campbell, Clarence Chandler (Monroe), Paula Chaney, Carolyn Hoover, Richard Hudson (Lafayette), Janet Lemaire (Lafayette), Deborah Lorio, Susan Marler, Charles McGough (Monroe), Kenneth McIntyre, Lillie “Sheron” Simms (Monroe) and Cynthia Youngblood (Lafayette).

Office of the Secretary -- Debra Brune, Shelly Buckley, Yvette Chauvin, William Delmar, Mike French, Isaac Jackson, Manuel Lam, Judy LeBourgeois, Joyce Parker, Elizabeth Richey, Wayne Thetford and Gwendolyn Thomas.

Editors: For more information, please contact DNR Public Information Office at (225)342-0557.