The Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association (MTBMA) recognized outstanding operators at their fourth annual safety banquet on April 22. Joseph Casper, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) vice president of safety, called attention to outstanding NSSGA producer members in the state, Aggregate Industries, Blue Grass Materials and Chaney Enterprises for success in eliminating injuries.
“The success of all Maryland aggregates operators in reducing injuries last year is exactly what helped the broader industry reduce its injury rate to an historic low level,” Casper said, and added that 2015 was the 15th consecutive year that the injury rate declined from the previous year.
MSHA’s total case incidence rate (TCIR) is calculated annually, and the 2015 TCIR rate was 2.00, which translates to two injuries for 100 workers over the period of a year. Casper said that NSSGA’s advocacy efforts are focused on promoting regulations that are reasonable, rather than overly-zealous and nothing carries more weight with regulators than declining injury rates.
The event was chaired by Jim Russ, MTBMA president, and featured addresses from Thomas Meighen, commissioner of the Maryland Division of Labor and Industry, an appointee of Gov. Larry Hogan. It was the fourth year that the event grew in attendance.