Employees at the 19th Avenue Plant, the safest and most proactive bank and pit, sand and gravel operation in the United States
Coveted national safety award won
Employees at the Rinker Materials West Division's 19th Avenue Plant located in Phoenix, Arizona, are the recipients of the coveted Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and National Mining Association (NMA) Sentinels of Safety Award.
The annual award program is designed to recognize outstanding safety records among the nation's mineral extractive industries. It also encourages the development of more effective accident prevention programs, which helps to stimulate a greater interest in safety.
This achievement signifies that the 19th Avenue Plant is the safest and most proactive bank and pit, sand and gravel operation in the United States. Jim Shields, plant manager, says that Rinker Materials' commitment to safety from top management on down is the reason this plant won the award.
"I believe that managers at all levels need to spend time in the field with their employees. Only then do employees realize that we really care about safety. It's not just lip service."
Last year, the 19th Avenue Plant worked 109,481 man-hours and produced 1.3 million tons of aggregates and sold 326,293 cubic yards of ready mix concrete and 498,612 tons of asphalt.
The Sentinels of Safety trophy, provided by the National Mining Association, was awarded to the Company at its annual awards banquet in Washington, D.C. In addition to the trophy, each employee at the plant will receive a Certificate of Accomplishment in Safety.
Research grant for Readymix
Readymix Australia - along with the University of Melbourne and the CSIRO Division of Manufacture and Infrastructure - has won a competitive research grant from the Australian Research Council (Commonwealth Government).
The research aims to answer questions related to post-tensioning in concrete slabs and beams. Post tensioning is where reinforcement in concrete is stretched (tensioned) to provide thinner and longer spanned slabs.
Joshua Choong, a master's student with the University of Melbourne is currently writing his thesis on the subject. The grant will enable work to continue through the funding of another student at PhD level.
The project is expected to result in the potential for more efficient construction, with more fit-for-purpose concrete mixes.
