Safety Achievements Highlighted at MSHA Conference

Aggregates operators attained a historically low injury rate in 2015, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) Vice President for Safety Joseph Casper said at the MSHA South Central District Conference, held in Dallas on March 30.

“This vividly demonstrates just how committed the industry is to safety,” Casper said. He pointed out that 2015, with an injury rate of 2.00, stands as the 15th consecutive year in which aggregates operators reduced the injury rate from the previous year. The 2.00 rate translates to two reportable injuries for a workforce of 100 miners over the course of a year.

NSSGA has supported the conference, attended by about 460 members of the metal/non-metal and coal sectors, for the last four years as it provides excellent opportunity for stakeholders to candidly discuss issues of workplace safety and compliance with MSHA. The conference is spearheaded by Mike Davis, district manager, and supported by more than a dozen operators, many of them NSSGA members.

In his remarks, Casper also called attention to outstanding NSSGA members whose efforts helped propel the industry’s safety achievements. The 2015 Safety Excellence Gold Award recipients were Southington Sand and Pit, operated by Tilcon Connecticut Inc., an Oldcastle Materials company, and the Abilene Black Lease facility in Texas and Dalton Quarry in Georgia, both owned by Vulcan Materials Company.

He also recognized the 2015 Sterling Safety Award recipients Iddings Quarry of Mifflinburg, Pa., Anchor Stone Co. in Tulsa, Okla., and Martin Marietta in Raleigh, N.C., as well as Matthew Bunner, the 2015 James M. Christie Safety & Health Professional of the Year award recipient. These operations and people were recognized during the 2016 NSSGA Annual Convention and AGG1 Academy & Expo in Nashville, Tenn.

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