The Portland Cement Association (PCA) announced the winners of the 2020 Safety Innovation Awards, recognizing creative safety-enhancing projects in the cement industry. The winners were determined by a panel of judges that evaluated safety projects completed in 2019 from across the country in five categories: distribution, pyroprocessing, general facility, quarry and mine, and milling and grinding.
“Our industry prioritizes the safety of its employees above all else,” said PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland. “We are proud of our members’ efforts to pursue excellence in safety innovation for their company and their colleagues.”
The following are the 2020 Safety Innovation Award winners:
Distribution
Buzzi Unicem USA Inc. (Joliet, Ill.) for an adjustable wall-mounted barge entry ladder that reduced fall hazards associated with unloading cement.
General Facility
Ash Grove Cement Co. (Durkee, Ore.) for an upgraded, automated cart that reduced safety hazards associated with moving cement kiln burner pipes.
Milling/Grinding (Tie)
The Monarch Cement Co. (Humboldt, Kan.) for foam insulators filling gaps in mill components to help reduce roller mill noise.
Buzzi Unicem USA Inc./ Signal Mountain Cement Co. (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for designing, fabricating, and installing a platform above the finish mill to reduce fall hazards.
Pyroprocessing
GCC of America (Pueblo, Colo.) for designing a semi-automated clinker feeding system to reduce employee exposure time and risk associated with working inside the clinker dome.
Quarry
Ash Grove Cement Co. (Louisville, Neb.) for developing a dump box hardened material extraction tool for its skid steer to reduce multiple hazards associated with moving material.
