Veolia Transportation’s DRIVE program recently received an international award for Innovation and Sustainable Development from Caisse des Depots, a French group serving public economic development.

Launched in May 2011, the Innovation and Sustainable Development trophies recognize initiatives that are exemplary breakthroughs in sustainable development. Veolia’s DRIVE program was among 30 nominees from around the world considered by the Awards Committee.

DRIVE is an employee-driven, management‐supported program focused on improving safety at the company’s locations. The program has a common structure and ground rules, but is completely administered by local employee teams. Local interdisciplinary teams are created and meet regularly to implement tangible, measureable improvements to safety.

Local DRIVE teams focus on the five base components that comprise the acronym DRIVE — Dedication, Requirements, Instruction, Values and Equipment — and suggest and implement a wide variety of improvements in safety practices. Employees earn a percent of the savings generated by reductions in accidents and injuries. Rewards are shared among all employees at each location.

Since the DRIVE program’s launch in 2008, employees at 47 of Veolia’s locations in the U.S. are actively participating.

The DRIVE program facilitates opportunities for employees and managers to meet regularly to discuss safety, share concerns, and maintain a constructive two-way dialogue focused on safety practices. DRIVE has been a powerful contributor to enhancing a culture of safety, along with a suite of other Veolia employee engagement and training programs.

“We are very proud to have received this prestigious award for the DRIVE program, which has been a powerful contributor to our ongoing efforts to improve our safety performance and culture,” Christopher Moore, senior director of safety and security, who oversees the DRIVE program in the Transit Division, said. Moore will travel to France this month to receive the award on behalf of Veolia employees participating in the DRIVE program.