New York DCAS Wins 2025 Green Cross Safety Excellence Award

NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) operates the largest municipal fleet in the United States, with over 28,500 vehicles, and assists with the oversight of a 10,000-vehicle NYC-contracted school bus fleet. DCAS adopted a New York City Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP) in 2017. The SFTP formalized a set of best-practice vehicle-safety technologies for all NYC vehicles to prevent and mitigate crashes, in direct support of Vision Zero.  In 2014, NYC was the first city in the United States to adopt Vision Zero. DCAS has been a lead agency from the onset. The SFTP, which was developed in partnership with the US DOT Volpe Center, was updated in 2019 and then again in 2025. 

DCAS announced in January 2025 that over 100,000 safety upgrades had been implemented through the plan including national leadership in intelligent speed assistance, truck sideguards, addressing visual awareness for trucks, and telematics. 

The safety initiatives born out of the SFTP and its updates include implementing the country’s largest adoption of active Intelligent Speed Assistance technology, which prevents a vehicle from accelerating beyond the speed limit or a speed set by DCAS and implementing the nation’s first requirement for sideguards for the citywide truck fleet. 

Meet the Other Safety Excellence Award Finalists

IPEX USA, LLC

IPEX, a leading thermoplastic piping systems manufacturer with over 5,000 employees operates 12 strategic U.S. distribution sites. In 2021, IPEX Distribution began a safety transformation that significantly improved employee behavior, operational practices and reduced its Total Recordable Incident Rate year after year. The following year, IPEX introduced key HSE KPIs and partnered with Distribution leadership to drive initiatives like weekly Gemba walks. Revamped safety meetings to include safety moments and learning shares, reinforcing the “Be Safe, Not Sorry” vision. And launched the first network-wide Distribution Safety Day. 

IPEX rolled out the Safety Hub Learning Management System and Cority for incident and hazard management in 2023. The company also introduced an online HSE orientation module and a hazard identification program, conducted cross-site audits and environmental surveys, and developed a standardized PPE matrix and launched the first annual Safety Week. All of which resulted in a TRIR reduction of approximately 65% compared to 2022.

In 2024, key initiatives focused on building an interdependent safety culture. IPEX integrated safety KPIs into performance reviews. Launched ergonomics assessments, risk factor training, and the “Happy or Not” program. Improved the happiness index by 25%. Standardized equipment, communication boards, contractor safety protocols, and macro-level risk assessments. IPEX also received the Health & Safety Best Practices Award from Aliaxis, selected from 53 global submissions.

U.S. Steel Corporation

U. S. Steel implemented the Caterpillar Driver Safety System (DSS) across 58 haul trucks at its Minnesota Ore Operations to address operator fatigue and distraction—key contributors to mobile equipment incidents. DSS uses infrared cameras to detect microsleeps and distraction in real time, triggering in-cab alarms and seat vibrations to alert drivers. Verified events are reviewed and prompt supervisory intervention if needed. 

Since deployment, average daily fatigue and distraction events have dropped significantly, improving operator safety and reducing equipment damage. The system also led to the early detection of health conditions like sleep apnea. Privacy concerns were addressed through open communication and system transparency, emphasizing safety over surveillance. U. S. Steel plans to expand DSS across additional equipment and sites, refine system capabilities with high-precision GPS and promote broader fatigue awareness. The program serves as a replicable model for other high-risk industries seeking to enhance operator safety through proactive, data-driven monitoring and intervention.