The Portland Cement Association (PCA), representing America’s cement manufacturers, recently 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 also 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 both their company and their colleagues.”
The following are the winners of the 2020 Safety Innovation Awards:
Buzzi Unicem USA Inc. — Joliet, Illinois
Barge Entry Ladder: Buzzi Unicem’s Joliet cement terminal reduced fall hazards associated with unloading cement from barges by designing an adjustable wall-mounted barge entry ladder.
General Facility
Ash Grove Cement Company — Durkee, Oregon
Upgraded Cart for Burner Pipes: Ash Grove Cement Company’s Durkee plant reduced safety hazards associated with moving cement kiln burner pipes by designing an upgraded, automated cart.
Milling/Grinding (Tie)
The Monarch Cement Company — Humboldt, Kansas
Roller Mill Noise Reduction: The Monarch Cement Company’s Humboldt plant reduced noise hazards at its roller mill by custom designing foam insulators filling gaps in mill components.
Buzzi Unicem USA Inc./ Signal Mountain Cement Co. — Chattanooga, Tennessee
Finish Mill Access Platform: Buzzi Unicem USA’s Chattanooga plant reduced fall hazards from accessing the finish mill by designing, fabricating, and then installing a platform above the mill.
Pyroprocessing
GCC of America — Pueblo, Colorado
Semi-Automated Clinker Feeding System: GCC of America’s Pueblo plant reduced employee both exposure time and risk associated with working inside the clinker dome by designing a semi-automated clinker dome feed system.
Quarry
Ash Grove Cement Company — Louisville, Nebraska
Dump Box Hardened Material Extraction Tool: Ash Grove Cement Company’s Louisville plant reduced multiple hazards associated with moving material. They developed a dump box hardened material extraction tool for their skid steer.
About the Portland Cement Association
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) was founded in 1916. It is the premier policy research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA members represent over 90 percent of U.S. cement production capacity and additionally they have facilities in all 50 states. The association promotes safety, sustainability, and also innovation in all aspects of construction. They also foster continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment.
