Clayton Puts People At The Heart Of Workplace Safety

CLAYTON, N.C. – For Risk and Safety Officer Jerome Parker, workplace safety comes down to one goal: every Town of Clayton employee should leave work the same way they arrive.

“You are dealing with a person’s life,” said Parker. “They have a family. They have kids. They have a life.”

Helping make that happen is part of the work taking place every day within the Town’s Human Resources Department. Parker and Safety Technician Devin Evans support employees through training, job site visits, and hazard prevention. They also help the Town meet requirements from agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Labor and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration along with insurance and workers’ compensation requirements.

Their days can take them almost anywhere. Parker may start his morning at a Town job site before heading to the office while he and Evans also coordinate training and help employees prepare to work safely. That can mean checking protective equipment, making sure roads are properly closed, or confirming barricades are in place before work begins.

But keeping employees safe is not something Parker and Evans can do alone. About a year and a half ago, the Town formed a Safety Committee that brings together representatives from departments across the organization. Members share lessons learned, identify training needs, and talk about ways to make their departments safer. They then take those conversations back to their coworkers.

“Everyone here plays a big part in safety,” said Parker. “Every department gets a couple minutes at the roundtable to talk about safety in their department or things they need.”

That shared responsibility also means preparing employees to respond when someone needs help. The Town began expanding CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training about a year ago. While some positions already required it, the Town set a goal of having all employees trained. Parker and Evans are qualified to provide the instruction, working alongside Clayton Fire Department personnel who train public safety staff.

Preparation is only one part of the approach. The Town is also finding new ways to prevent emergencies before they happen, including hydration monitors for employees who spend much of their workday outside. The idea came after three employees experienced overheating or dehydration over the past two years. The monitors allow Evans to check employees throughout the day and spot signs of dehydration that could signal it is time for water, a break, or a chance to cool down.

That focus could eventually reach beyond the Town workforce. Parker is working toward making AEDs easier to find in Town facilities and community spaces, including parks and greenways. The Town currently has about 25 AEDs and is reviewing its existing devices as well as options for adding more.

The long-term vision is to map those AEDs through the Town’s GIS system, allowing someone to go online and find a nearby device during an emergency. AED locations have already been added to emergency evacuation maps in Town buildings.

“My goal would be to make the Town of Clayton a heart-safe space,” said Parker.

For him, that goal is thinking ahead, recognizing risks, and putting resources in place before someone needs them. His approach comes from years of experience.

Parker was introduced to workplace safety while serving in the military and later carried that experience into jobs at a power plant and with a private contractor before joining the Town. It was during those earlier roles that he saw firsthand how workplace incidents can affect people.

“One reason I have a passion for safety is that I have seen a lot of bad things happen on job sites,” said Parker. “Safety is one of my main jobs, and I hold it very dear to my heart.”