No aspect of our job at I&M is more important than the health and safety of our customers and our employees. Zero Harm is at the heart everything we do so everyone goes home in the same condition as when they came to work.
Donny Williams and his kids.
We are sharing employees’ reasons why they work safe, what safety means to them and their best safety message. This month we feature two of our leaders - Donny Williams, Manager of Distributions System in southwest Michigan, and Jesse Lafromboise, Manager of Distributions System in Fort Wayne.
Q. How long have you worked at I&M and in what roles?
Williams: I have worked for I&M 24 years, but I have worked on I&M property 29 years. I was a contract lineworker with a few companies and made the move to I&M. I worked as a Line Crew Supervisor, Safety Coordinator, Distribution System Supervisor in the Michiana barns and now as MDS for the Michigan district.
Lafromboise: I have worked for I&M for almost 2 years and have been in the Fort Wayne MDS role since joining the team. Before that, I worked at First Energy for 16 years starting out as a Substation-Network Electrician, Substation Operations Supervisor, Substation Operations Manager, Line Operations General Manager, and other leadership roles.
Q. When you hear the word “safety” what does that mean to you?
Williams: The constant and conscious effort to be injury free allowing us to return home daily in the same state we left.
Lafromboise: Safety means ensuring my team gets home to their loved ones the same way they came to work.
Q. Why or who do you work safely (for) each day?
Williams: Myself, my family and for my co-workers.
Jesse Lafromboise and his family.
Lafromboise: I make sure I work safely for my team at work and at home.
Q. What is your top safety tip you share with your teams?
Williams: Be your brother’s keeper - none of us will catch it all, but together we can.
Lafromboise: Do not be afraid to speak up when you see a safety issue, big or small. That’s how we show we genuinely care for one another.
Q. As a leader, how do you encourage/inspire your teams to have a safety mindset?
Williams: Convince and show them I honestly believe safety comes first. Hopefully, the team will see me cast a positive safety shadow. We are fortunate to work for a company that values our safety and affords us every tool and opportunity to be successful in going home every day the same as we arrived.
Lafromboise: It starts with building trust and letting your team know you care about them as a person first. That leads into a safety culture where everyone watches out for one another. We all work so we can take care of our loved ones and enjoy special moments with them. Do not let a lack of safety be the reason you cannot enjoy that precious time.