Site safety at an aggregates operation must be addressed with a holistic approach from wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and everyday safety to training, good communication, and overall employee health.
Anne Kelhart, director of safety and human resources for Martin Stone Quarries, says that safety starts when a potential employee walks in the door for an interview. “I ask if [he or she] wears a seatbelt,” Kelhart says. “I don’t care if that person has 30 years of experience and can show me annual refresher certifications. With safety, you’re not a little bit safe. You are or you aren’t. It’s 24/7.”
This safety first and foremost mantra means it comes before productivity. Loader operators don’t need permission to clean up a berm while a truck waits.
“Loader operators don’t have to worry about getting in trouble for leaving a stockpile or dump truck for five minutes while fixing a safety problem,” Kelhart notes. “Maintenance crews don’t have to ask to fix things. They only need to let someone know if a part needs to be ordered.”
Like with other facets of operation, training is important. However, Martin Stone elevates its importance. “Twenty-four hours of classroom training is required for new miners — no exceptions,” Kelhart says. “Although it exceeds what is required, they do a minimum of 16 hours and up to six weeks with a mentor before anyone is allowed on their own in the field. No one is released until the mentor is comfortable that the employee is confident in the job, whether it is a loader operator or someone in charge of welding.”
Embracing technology for communication has helped LafargeHolcim be “safer and smarter,” says Alex Hall, U.S. head of health and safety for aggregate construction materials. “We have developed apps to take into the field that have a variety of interactions.” The ‘SHIELD’ app, developed in-house, allows employees to perform work in the field, highlight what work has been done, and where it has been done. “We can decide whether something requires an action,” Hall says. “The more interaction we have, the better effect we will have on reducing the incidents.”
Marty Tubbs, director of safety and health for Rogers Group, Inc., says continuous communication to employees is also important. To create constant awareness, near miss and other incident information is distributed through the company in an effort to prevent the same occurrence.
“This information is also archived on an internal website for review or to use as reminders in safety meetings,” Tubbs says. “We are adamant about constantly reinforcing our commitment to achieving a ‘Zero Injury’ safety culture without compromise by implementing all our safety principles.”
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