14
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
January/February 2019
FACTORS AND FORCES 'DIPLOMAS' EARNED BY MORE
THAN 378 EMPLOYEES IN 2018
Close to 400 employees earned some stylish new
hand-fashion accessories that offer more than just
cool looks.
A total 378 Davey employees attended and "graduated"
from Factors and Forces training courses in 2018.
The training program, implemented in 2018, provides
instruction on tree risk assessment. Attendees are taught
to determine the risks associated with working in, on or
near a tree in a straightforward and efficient manner using
terminology printed on custom work gloves.
The Factors and Forces gloves, which are only available to
employees who attend and pass the course, feature the
five factors that can cause strength loss in a tree and the
forces that can alter those factors – such as weak branch
attachment or decay being impacted by wind or ice, causing
a failure. The work gloves are considered the diploma for
participants and are awarded upon completion.
R.J. Laverne, manager of education and training, Davey
Institute, traveled across the U.S. in 2018 to facilitate 11
instructor-led sessions, which typically grouped together
employees from multiple Residential/Commercial offices.
Laverne said sessions were also held for employees in
Eastern Utility services and Davey Resource Group.
"It's continually evolving," Laverne said of the program.
"It never stays the same."
In addition to the 378 graduates of the instructor-led
program, several more employees completed the digital
course available online through the Davey Learning
Management System.
Laverne said the goal for 2019 is to focus on providing
the training to more Utility employees.
"I encourage people who attend the program to offer
their ideas, criticisms and input," he said. "The only way
to evolve and improve the program is to continually get the
knowledge, insight and experience of people who have
that knowledge of climbing, rigging, roping and generally
working in trees. That's why we built the program."
Above: Employees from the Northwest and South Detroit and Toledo
Residential/Commercial offices attended a Factors and Forces training
course in September 2018. The course was one of 11 instructor-led
sessions held companywide in 2018. Here they show off their
"diplomas," the custom Factors and Forces work gloves.
IMPROVEMENT
