DBi presents on maintenance workforce development

DBi presents on maintenance workforce development at TRB annual meeting

Representing both DBi Services and AMOTIA (Association for the Management and Operations of Transportation Infrastructure Assets), Shawn Yorke, DBi Services Director of Learning and Development delivered a presentation titled Developing the 21st Century Maintenance Workforce to attendees at The Transportation Research Board (TRB) 94th Annual Meeting in Washington DC in January. The information-packed program attracted nearly 12,000 transportation professionals from around the world.

The presentation featured:

• Identifying challenges the industry faces – including non-conformity among state, potential safety issues, language barriers and cost factors.
• The contractor’s perspective on training the workforce – putting safety as a top priority, along with broad scope consistency and performance based certifications, rather than seminar/training only based certifications.
• The DBi approach – utilization of standards such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training, even in circumstances where it is not required; requirement of higher certification than mandated; and cross training.
• Comparative effectiveness of safety initiatives – certified vs. non-certified – Contractor must be accountable and must manage the risk with safety always as the top priority.

Following the presentation, Mr. Yorke participated in a panel discussion featuring other industry experts from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, University of Vermont, Federal Highway Administration and McDonough Bolyard Peck.

Many questions from the audience were directed toward the innovative and successful approaches to workforce development that DBi uses each and every day. DBi delivers an approach to preparing and sustaining a comprehensive, effective and safe workforce that was viewed as innovative and valuable by the audience.

At the conclusion of the conference, Mr. Yorke was quoted as saying “Events such as this continue to establish DBi’s position as the definitive leader in the Transportation Infrastructure Operation and Maintenance Industry. I think we’ve really set ourselves apart in terms of our commitment to workforce development, quality and customer service. I’m honored to be a part of this team.”

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) 94th Annual Meeting was held January 11-15, 2015 in Washington DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The TRB Annual Meeting program covers all transportation modes, with more than 5000 presentations in nearly 750 sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to all attendees – policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers and representatives of government, industry and academic institutions.