Mine Safety and Health Administration Presents Rare Safety Award to Pennsy Supply
Prescott Quarry achieves remarkable 10th consecutive citation-free inspection; Pennsy’s progressive safety program a model for surface mining safety
HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 23, 2006) -
Officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, yesterday presented Pennsy Supply, southcentral Pennsylvania’s leading supplier of aggregate, concrete and asphalt, with a Certificate of Accomplishment as Pennsy continues to lead the way in surface mining safety. This unique and rarely bestowed award is in recognition of Pennsy’s Prescott Quarry in Lebanon, Pa., completing 10 consecutive regular assessments without violation of the Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977. Ten consecutive citation-free inspections is a remarkable feat in the mining industry, with only one other facility in the Northeastern District earning this honor in the past 20 years.
“In addition to its impressive citation-free record, since 2001, this mine has submitted over 160,000 hours worked with no employee accidents reported, resulting in “0” incidence rates of fatal incidents, non-fatal days lost and no days lost. The national average incidence rate during this period for a mine with this classification was about 3.80,” said Donald Foster, CMSP, assistant district manager, Metal & Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health, Northeastern District Office, MSHA. “Everyone associated with this operation should be very proud of their accomplishments because it takes a unified commitment and sincere dedication to a safe production culture to achieve such a great accomplishment.”
“Obviously, mining safety has been dominating the news recently due to the tragic mining accidents in West Virginia and Mexico,” said Robert Dailey, vice president, occupational health, safety and environment, Pennsy Supply. “With Pennsylvania being a heavily mined state, mining safety hits very close to home.”
“We are celebrating a very significant accomplishment at our Prescott Quarry – its 10th consecutive citation-free inspection,” added Dailey. “Safety is one of our principal values. We are committed to the highest standard of safety at every location and it doesn’t stop at inspections. We look at the safety regulations of MSHA and OSHA as a starting point, not the goal.”
Pennsy, which operates 13 surface metal/non-metal mining quarries and 11 manufacturing plants that turn aggregate into asphalt and concrete, is also an active participant in MSHA’s “Stay Out, Stay Alive” program and has partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in a video promoting the program across the state.
Safety has always been a core value of Pennsy and one of its top concerns, but in 2004, the company embarked on an even more aggressive and progressive safety initiative.
“To get employees truly aware and committed to safety and health issues required a culture change, a process we began two years ago when we launched the new program—and that’s a slow process. It typically takes 5-7 years to realize a full culture change,” said Dailey. “We’re very encouraged at the impact we’ve seen in less than two years.”
Pennsy’s new safety initiative is called TRACK. The acronym stands for: Think, Recognize, Assess and Control hazards, and Keep safety first in all that you do. Dailey’s safety team helps employees identify hazards and how to eliminate or control them.
Employees go through an initial, thorough safety training program and take refresher training every year. Supervisors hold “weekly safety chats” with employees about specific safety issues at the start of each week. Safety issues are also addressed in employee newsletters and communications. Pennsy’s parent company, Oldcastle Materials, Inc., has a national safety committee that meets twice a year to stay proactive on safety issues and promote healthy work environments.
In addition, safety has been incorporated into every aspect of Pennsy facilities, practices and planning. Pennsy managers analyze how safety can be improved in everyday practices and new facilities are being designed with the latest safety methods and features—such as eliminating ladders in favor of stairs; installing automatic swing gates and protective bars on ladders; installing safe access platforms for drivers; using automated scales with safety shut-offs; and many more.
“Since we began the TRACK initiative in the fall of 2004, we have seen a reduction in injuries and a much heightened safety awareness among employees,” said Dailey. “The results have been very promising and we remain fixed on our goal of ensuring the safest, healthiest work environment possible for our employees and visitors.”
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