As a Highway Industry labor-management trust between the Ohio Laborers’ Union and the Ohio Contractors Association, Ohio LECET began planning in 2004 to promote a program to focus on safety in highway construction work zones where our union members and contractors both work. This meant building a campaign to change driver habits through a multifaceted effort to reach drivers across Ohio.

The first step in early 2004 was the creation of Bud the Barrel, a character who works in a “Smokey the Bear” fashion to raise awareness of safety with a recognizable image. Since to the public, orange barrels are so common in work zones, creating a talking barrel helped connect the public to the message.

Bud is a popular character, winning the ARTBA award in 2005 in recognition of our public awareness campaign. Bud’s no-nonsense expression was a winner with the judges and the public.