Vulcan quarries receive safety awards from NCDOL

The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) honored Vulcan Materials Co. with safety awards at the company’s safety conference in Winston-Salem, N.C.

North Carolina Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry presented 19 awards to Vulcan for both large and small quarry operations, as well as sales yards located within North Carolina. Safety achievements ranged from two to 25 consecutive years of safe work environments. The top award was presented to Vulcan’s Smith Grove Quarry for 25 years of accident-free activity.

“A safety award shows employees and the community you are committed to a safe work environment,” Berry says. “A good safety record is something to be proud of, and businesses deserve to be recognized for their efforts.”

According to NCDOL, its awards honor outstanding on-the-job safety achievements of each division during 2014. Under program rules, companies must have been free of fatal accidents at the site for which the award is given to be eligible. Award criteria are based on a DART (days away, restrictions and transfers) rate that is at least 50 percent below the statewide rate for an industry.

“Vulcan’s breadth and depth of safety performance speak loudly on the priority they and their employees put on safety,” Berry says. “You can tell by the number of facilities being recognized and how long they have been demonstrating exemplary safety performance that Vulcan is a leader in its industry and sets a great example for all companies in North Carolina.”

Wayne Hemmerich, Vulcan’s Mideast Division manager of safety and health, adds, “Our division has a rich tradition of leading the company and the quarry industry in safety performance. Our goal is to provide a quality work environment so our employees can return home safe and healthy each and every day.”