Drew faces down the snow, ice and Arctic conditions of Alaska eight months of the year. He takes the lead in clearing ice from critical Ryan Air ramp entry areas so that forklifts can move cargo safely to the aircraft and keeps entryways to offices and hangars free of snow and ice. He helps keep daily operations safe for the people he serves.
Talk to any Saltchuk Safety Award winner, and they’ll tell you: ensuring that everyone makes it home safely every day is everyone’s responsibility. Each year, Safety Award nominations come from across the Saltchuk family of companies, highlighting employees who go the extra mile for safety. We asked each of the dozen 2024 awardees to tell us something about themselves and why they like to play it safe on the job.
Getting to Know Drew
Q: Tell us about yourself?
“I grew up in Koyuk, Alaska until I was 12. I moved to Kotzebue, Alaska because my parents were looking for work and so, I attended school at Kotzebue Middle-High School.
After High School I worked seasonally with my dad in the carpentry field where safety and communication played a huge role.
I applied at FBX Aviation, where I worked with cargo and also helped with loading and unloading the Coast Guard when they came to town with the C-130 or C-17 aircraft. I worked there for three years and then applied for the Ryan Air cargo position.”
Q: Tell us about working in Kotzebue and the work you do for so much of the year to stay safe in extreme weather conditions.
“I feel that I was nominated for the safety award because of my safety awareness. I have seen many mistakes or accidents: People slipping when it’s slippery. Forklift tires spinning out or slipping. Even IT loaders doing the same.
When there is fresh snow the weight of the loader will compact the snow causing it to form like ice. So, on the main forklift pathways, I chip ice or spread out some ice melt. When it snows all night or there is a blizzard, we as a team would shovel the forklift pathway and use the front loader to clear the yard. “
Safety to Drew
Q: Is there something in your life that drove your commitment to safety?
“Back in 2018 I had a bad snowmobile accident outside of work which changed my way of living. We do not need any kind of bad accidents to happen at work.”
“My first impression of Ryan Air was, it feels like home.”
Working with Ryan Air
Q: What was your first impression of Ryan Air? Tell us your favorite story about your time with the company.
“My first impression of Ryan Air was, it feels like home. It just feels comfortable to be working with the employees — working as a team to get the job done.”
