Granite received two 2021 CalCIMA Excellence in Safety Awards at the 2021 CalCIMA Education Conference. The awards recognize “exceptional contributions to safety leadership, innovation, and commitment,” and award categories include aggregate, industrial mineral, cement, concrete, and asphalt facilities, as well as employees, safety professionals, and special recognition.
Granite’s Solari Sand & Gravel facility in Arvin, Calif., won in the Small Aggregate Mine category. This one-year-old mine has a number of systems to enhance safety, including innovative cone crushers that remove the need for working at elevation or in confined spaces, electrical systems that reduce arc flash potential, and state-of-the-art noise and dust control systems.
Granite’s Desert Cities Asphalt Plant in Indio, Calif., won in the Asphalt Plant category. This plant has implemented a number of safety processes regarding enforcement of PPE standards, updated air conditioning to protect workers from the heat, and daily “Take 5” safety meetings to keep safety at top-of-mind for all employees.
“We believe successful safety performance begins with a culture built on the principles from the book ‘Extreme Ownership’,” said Matt Struiksma, Desert Cities plant manager. “We are responsible for the choices we make during every moment of every day and it’s on each team member to ensure best practices are not only met personally, but to hold each other accountable to that standard.”