The Ash Grove Cement Co.’s Montana City, Mont., plant was recognized for its outstanding safety record by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association as part of the Sentinels of Safety award program.
The Sentinels of Safety awards program is intended to stimulate greater interest in safety and to encourage development of more effective accident prevention programs among the nation’s mineral extractive industries. The Montana City plant was honored in the program’s large quarry group for the achievement of an outstanding safety record. “We are honored that our plant’s record of 15,956 employee-hours worked in 2010 without a lost-workday injury has been recognized by the Mine Safety and Health Administration,” said Plant Manager Dick Johnson. “This is the type of recognition of our team’s efforts that demonstrates that safety is a cornerstone of how we operate every minute of every hour of every day.”
According to Ash Grove’s Corporate Director of Health and Safety, Steve Minshall, each of the company’s eight cement plants actively participate in the company’s health and safety management system, which includes injury prevention, compliance management, audits and training to ensure a safe work environment for employees. “Excellent safety performance does not just happen. It takes effort, teamwork, accountability and truly valuing the well-being of every person. This recognition is a validation of the Montana City employees’ commitment to safety excellence,” Minshall said.
Ash Grove’s Montana City plant, which has operated since the 1960s and employs approximately 80, is one of two cement manufacturing plants in Montana. Ash Grove sells its products throughout the Montana as well as in surrounding states. The facility has the distinction of having the longest-running record without a lost-time accident among all eight Ash Grove plants, which currently exceeds 11 years. The plant also has earned safety awards from the Portland Cement Association and has earned the Ash Grove President’s Gold Safety Award six times, as well as Silver Safety Awards twice.
