The 25th annual Worker Memorial Ceremony was held in front of the Caltrans District 5 Office in SLO on April 28.

While a solemn occasion as always, there was cause to celebrate a successful year as well.

“I’m very proud to acknowledge that no district employees have lost their lives on the job on the central coast since 2004,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. “Worker safety, whether it’s a maintenance employee or private contractor must always be at the core of our hazardous profession.  Complacency is the enemy of safety. We can’t always control what the motorist does but we can control how to protect ourselves.”

Local meteorologist John Lindsey, from PG&E was the keynote speaker at this year’s event.  Lt. Mike Brown of the San Luis Obispo California Highway Patrol and Kevin Drabinski, senior field representative for Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian also spoke.

Since 1921, said Caltrans local spokesmen, 184 Caltrans employees have been killed on the job, including eight in District 5.  That’s a little under two fatalities per year, an average that declines with each safe year, but they need the public’s help.

One of the biggest hazards for workers are motorists who do not exercise caution while driving through highway work zones.  Photos Submitted.