[Sunshine]

Our team won the international safety award last year in Atlanta. It was obviously the highlight of our season.

IMHO, we won the award because of what we do all season long. We won because safety is a major priority and a critical mindset for everything we do. We have instilled a culture in the team that safety is top priority.

We have all mentors and students take safety tests on every machine that will be used.

We start most meetings with safety discussions or learning moments about what is expected in industry. It is more than just wearing safety glasses.

We teach about things like MSDS sheets; 5 S's of safety; how to use a fire extinguisher and where they are located; where the first aid kit is located for each meeting and how to use the contents; sound safety; lock out devices; how to lift properly; when are gloves and hard hats required; electrical safety; etc. etc. etc.

Let me share a quick story. I had the opportunity to talk with a UL safety advisor in Atlanta. One gentleman was watching our team form afar. I started a casual conversation with him and he asked if I wanted to know what he was doing there. He indicated that many teams download safety manuals off the net and tell UL judges that they practice all safety precautions. He said that: "We talk the talk, but was observing if we walked the walk". He was impressed that EVERY student and mentor practiced correct safety all the time and that everyone they interviewed knew all of our safety practices, not just our safety captain.

Somethings will get your team noticed in a positive or negative way. Escorting teams around the event, handing out safety items like ear plugs work to get you noticed in a positive way. Students taking off safety glasses or running at the event when they think no one is watching gets you noticed in a negative way. We tell students that they should conduct themselves in manner that they assume they are being watched at all times all year long. They are.

Hope this helps and good luck.