- Oldcastle Materials

2
MESSAGE FROM
RANDY LAKE
3
SAFETY
7
11
14
8
13
15
PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS
COMMUNITY AND
ENVIRONMENT
CUSTOMER FOCUS
MILESTONES
LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
AWARDS
1
Summer
2014
W-L Construction & Paving clears the way for
optimism in southwest Virginia
“Our company is pleased to have partnered with
the City of Bristol and the Governor on a project
that will bring great economic benefit to the area.”
2
As W-L Construction & Paving Inc.
continues to break up rock for
The Falls development site in Bristol,
Va., the city is one step closer to
achieving a more prosperous future.
On April 16, Virginia Governor
Terry McAuliffe stopped at the
W-L Construction & Paving job
site to conduct a ceremonial signing
of a legislature that allows the city
to collect tax revenues from the
planned retail center. Currently,
W-L Construction’s grading crews
are working on the pad for Cabela’s,
a leading outfitter of outdoor gear,
which will serve as an anchor store.
Shortly after, the remainder of the
site will be cleared so construction
can begin.
Jerry Short, general manager, W-L Construction & Paving
“This has been a challenging project,
but with all parties working together,
we have been able to overcome the obstacles and the successful completion
draws ever closer,” said Jerry Short,
general manager at W-L Construction
& Paving. “Our company is pleased to
have partnered with the City of Bristol
and the Governor on a project that will
bring great economic benefit to the area.”
The retail development with over 1
million square feet of planned retail
space will draw nearly 2 million visitors
to Bristol every year, increasing revenue
for the city and an anticipated 2,000
jobs for the community.
“We are already creating jobs and an
economic success for Bristol,” said
Bristol Mayor Guy Odum. “The signing
of the bill by Governor Terry McAuliffe
3
is a step in the right direction for all of
southwest Virginia.”
Senate bill 673 is McAuliffe’s first bill
as governor and will allow the City of
Bristol to get direct tax revenue from
the development.
“I made a commitment back then,”
said McAuliffe. “As governor I want
the entire Commonwealth to grow
and prosper with jobs. We have to
spend extra effort in communities
that have been hit hard over the last
few years.”
ABOVE FROM TOP: 1. Stoneco of Michigan’s facility on 100th St. in Byron Center. 2. Virginia governor McAuliffe (center) signs bill that overcomes financial obstacles for the City of
Bristol. 3. W-L’s construction site for the awaited retail center: The Falls.
A MESSAGE FROM:
Randy Lake, CEO
The Falls development in Bristol, Va.,
featured on the front cover of this
issue, is a great example of what I
see happening across the country.
Communities are beginning to see
new businesses move into vacant
strip malls, new developments are
underway, houses are selling and the
vacant lots in neighborhoods are,
finally, getting filled with new homes.
The economic recovery in the United
States is slow, but the optimism is there
and growing. At Oldcastle Materials
this optimism comes in the form of
newly paved neighborhood streets,
concrete curbs and sidewalks and
new roads and bridges that connect
these communities together. Although
the early season weather has been
challenging and the rains this spring
made for a late start to the construction
season, our business is strong, with
solid backlogs and improved pricing,
indicating a successful year ahead.
Of course, the primary measure of our
success is the safety and well-being of
each one of you. This issue features
several articles on safety:
1. Trotti & Thomson’s use of new,
innovative products to improve safety
on our job sites and in our work zones;
2. Pike Industries’ use of employee input
for new preventative safety measures;
and
3. Cessford Construction Company’s
use of employees’ responses to MSHA
training to develop a new, interactive
training model.
2
These are all examples of a commitment
to zero safety incidents and of continuous
improvement because they all found
new ways to enhance a routine process
or program and in turn, they improved
our business.
Additionally, a new column has been
added to this issue’s Safety section
called “From the Front,” where Robert
Dunlap, a shop/equipment foreman
at Midsouth Paving shares a great
story about applying safety practices
learned on the job to emergency
situations at home.
As always, good news is overflowing
in the Community and Environment
section. Our companies and employees
continue to build strong relationships
with local communities by hosting
educational tours for school children
and legislators, by volunteering in
career fairs to share their expertise
with potential employees, by turning
a quarry site into a natural habitat,
by benefiting a technical school and
its students–our future employees, by
turning a tired, old truck into a real
prize winner that everyone can enjoy
and by supporting causes that our
employees are passionate about.
I am always impressed by the level
of commitment we have to building
relationships in our business.
Finally, I encourage you to reflect on
ways your company and co-workers
are being innovative and nominate
them for a 2014 Oldcastle Innovation
Award. Innovation is as much about
discovering how to do the small things
better as it is about making a step
change to one of our production processes or using technology to improve
customer service. Take a closer look at
the changes you have seen at work, or
the changes you would like to see and
start sharing your ideas. Remember that
together we can find a better way.
Thank you and be safe.
Safety
A MESSAGE FROM:
Lee Cole, vice president, environmental, health and safety
Chris Willis, director, environmental, health and safety
Risks that KILL
Not all risks are created equally.
How important is it to conduct a risk
assessment? Is it just about filling out
the form or checking a box? Is it just
another piece of paper that we are
required to complete that no one ever
asks to see?
So, why do we perform a risk
assessment?
Approximately 90 percent of our serious
incidents are due to:
1. F
ailure to conduct a risk assessment,
2. Failure to conduct a quality and
thorough risk assessment (pencil
whip), or
3. F
ailure to follow the procedures
listed in a properly conducted risk
assessment.
The need to improve our risk assessment
process is obvious. A thorough and quality
risk assessment that is properly conducted and followed by the employees
involved in the task, can be a very effective planning tool. It is not by mistake
that risk assessment is our No. 1 Fundamental for Fatality Elimination. It is
the most important Fundamental! It
encompasses everything pertinent to
completing the task safely and productively. Knowing this, why don’t we
do better with our risk assessment
process?
There are several reasons or excuses
why people don’t assess risk. Many
people accept the belief that since it
worked fine the last time, we don’t need
to evaluate it again. Some take a short
term focus, thinking that the task will
only take a short time, and so they just
need to hurry and get the job done.
Sometimes employees, especially
newer employees, believe that their
fellow employee is an “expert” and they
hesitate to question his/her approach.
Some will make assumptions and take
the approach that someone else has
addressed the hazards and dismiss the
potential risks. In many situations,
employees become complacent concerning the risks of a task, especially
when they have done it repeatedly over
a period.
However, there are some activities that
have such a high risk that we must not
let complacency or any other excuse
factor into the process. Earlier this year
we asked each line of business to help
us identify certain high risk tasks. As a
result these tasks were named “Risks
that Kill.” It is extremely important that
a special risk assessment is conducted
before work commences on any of these
identified high risks tasks. This means
that everyone involved in these tasks
must take the time to:
1. D
iscuss the task to be performed
(from beginning to end).
2. Identify the hazards/risks associated
with the task.
3. D
iscuss ways to reduce and/or
eliminate the identified hazards.
4. T
ake action to reduce/eliminate the
risk.
5. R
eassess if something changes during
the task (near miss occurrence,
weather, personnel change, etc.).
This type of risk assessment is a
refreshment of our long-standing
process of risk evaluation. A proper
risk assessment not only addresses
the safety concerns but should also include a discussion on all aspects of the
task. Whether it is changing flights in
the drum at the asphalt plant, to setting a lane closure for night work or to
performing maintenance on the jaw
crusher, a proper risk assessment will
not only improve safety but will also
improve communication of expectations, quality and ultimately production.
So, why do we perform a risk
assessment?
These specific high risk tasks are activities that, if not performed properly,
could end up in disaster. We have
experienced many incidents that have
caused some serious injuries but could
have resulted in a fatality. For the sake
of our employees, we must agree that
failure to conduct a proper risk assessment before conducting these high risk
activities is unacceptable. Let’s hold
each other accountable to perform
every task safely by assessing the risk.
So, why do we perform a risk
assessment?
Because those that are closest to the risk
should have the most to say about it.
Because someone’s Husband, Wife,
Dad, Mom, Brother or Sister works
here, and they are expected at home,
safe and sound, at the end of every work
day. We owe it to them and their families
to deliver on that expectation.
The second half of every year brings
many challenges when it comes to safety.
Work zone intrusions increase, plants
and equipment break down and require
emergency repairs and we work longer
hours during this time of the year. Please
remember that we must hold each
other accountable to work safely.
That may mean reminding each other
to wear the appropriate PPE, to buckle
our seat belts and, most importantly,
to assess and reassess the risk many
times throughout the same day.
Let’s make sure
everyone goes
home to their
families every
day.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
3
1
> PSP super meeting: exploring
safety processes in 2014
by Ken Stambaugh
Pennsy Supply employees are demonstrating their commitment to safety
practices by joining a Pennsy Safety
Process (PSP) team. In March, more
than fifty leaders across several PSP
teams came together for the semiannual PSP super committee meeting
to learn about the 2014 process. Some
of the topics discussed include how to
prioritize action plans by scoring risk
using the frequency-likelihood-severity
model, and the new Pennsy Supply
Safety Process Playbook, a brief manual
describing how to structure a PSP team
and conduct meetings.
2
> Turning safety around at
Pike Industries
by Steve Thyng
In 2012, the equipment division at
Pike Industries in Maine had its worst
safety performance year with six
recordable injuries, one of them a lost
time injury. This particular division
conducts many of the repairs and
maintenance work on the field where
conditions are continually changing
and risk tends to be higher. To address
this issue and improve the overall
safety culture within this division,
the management team implemented
initiatives to help push for a complete
engagement in safety.
As a first step, management asked shop
employees to brainstorm ways to reduce
personal injuries and make the shops
a safer place to work. Employees then
came up with safety commitments and
completed a Personal Commitment to
Safety form, which were later given to
the local foreman for discussion and
kept on file.
In addition to employee input, four
extra preventative safety measures
were implemented:
1. Safety conference calls were mandatory
on a weekly basis.
2. Group and individual risk assessments
were required on all projects.
3. B
ehavioral Based Safety (BBS) was
implemented in all shops.
4. T
eam based safety was implemented
in all shops.
The new changes proved successful at
Pike Industries’ equipment division.
With hard work and a stronger emphasis
on preventative safety, the equipment
division worked the 2013 season with
zero recordables.
Trotti & Thomson – Focusing on Safety
The Safety Department at Trotti & Thomson is constantly finding new ways to make safety a top priority. Recently,
Safety Director Alejandrina (Alex) Hernandez discussed four new initiatives undertaken at Trotti & Thompson to
help facilitate safe practices.
“Providing the best products for our employees will facilitate their jobs in the safest way possible,” said Hernandez. “Keeping
on top of safety is a never-ending job and one I take personally.” These initiatives range from informative safety pamphlets,
new roadway products to enhanced PPE.
1
Safety risk assessment
tri-fold pamphlets contain site
specific safety tips and will
become part of the daily safety
discussion held prior to beginning work. This risk assessment
contains potential hazards and
solutions, personal protective
equipment (PPE) needed for the
task and a pledge to “STOP when I see something, I will DO
something.”
2
Rumble strips consist of inchhigh miniature speed bumps that
are currently being tested for
use in roadways to alert drivers to
direct their focus as they approach
work zones.
3
Fluorescent green hard hats
and safety vests are more
visibile from far distances than
the traditional yellow used in
the past. A transition to the new
and brighter look is now underway.
This change also serves as a safety
reminder to crew members to use
their PPE everyday.
4
Halo lighting system for hard
hats increase visibility in all
directions for over one-fourth of
a mile and connect to most hard
hats, powered by a re-chargeable
lithium-ion battery that lasts up
to 12 hours; they also provide
additional light for the task area.
There are five halo devices
currently in use. Field testing will
soon begin at the next night
project.
ABOVE FROM LEFT: 1. Mark Snyder, Mid-Atlantic region president, discusses how leaders manage change during the semi-annual PSP super-committee meeting. 2. Hand-painted
pedestrian crosswalk for the Pike staging area on the St. Johnsbury-Lyndon, Vt. Route 5 project.
4
A
PAC Tennessee stands
down for safety
1
“ Work Zone Speed: A Costly Mistake,” was this year’s theme at the 16th
Annual National Work Zone Awareness Week, which began April 7. Crew
members across APAC Tennessee recognized this event by participating in
a company-wide safety stand down on April 2.
T
he purpose of the stand down was to emphasize safety as a core value in all areas
of business, reiterating that while profitability and deadlines are important, they
should never be placed above safety.
2
B
eau Boulden, company president, spoke about the importance of eliminating
complacency and rushing to meet deadlines instead of focusing all senses on
the task at hand. Boulden reminded employees that the safety slogan: “If I See
something, I will Stop and I will Do something” should be a rallying cry for all
employees.
“ The ultimate success of APAC Tennessee rests in the hands of each and every
employee, and we must work together and take responsibility for ourselves and one another in respect to safety,” said Boulden.
“If all of us strive to be a safety leader, APAC Tennessee will have a very successful and prosperous construction season.”
FROM THE FRONT:
Before every shift, all Midsouth
Paving employees including
those in plants, labs, shops and
offices, take five minutes for a
safety meeting (T-5) to discuss
potential safety risks, hazards and
near misses they may encounter
during their shifts. This training
is so valuable that oftentimes
employees translate what they
learn to tasks at home. Examples
include: making sure to wear
safety glasses and the proper PPE
while doing yard work and teaching your son or daughter the Smith
System®, to help them be safer
drivers.
T-5 plus commitment to ZERO equals
Safety First, Always by Robert Dunlap, shop/equipment foreman
escalated into a potentially lifethreatening situation.
As the flood waters rose, Wayne
quickly decided on a course of
action. This is where the safety
training learned at work made all
the difference. Wayne managed to
keep calm, level-headed and lead
not only his own family to safety,
but he used his 24-foot fishing boat
to help steer five of his neighbors to
higher ground as well.
3
Whether working on a hot screed,
turning the right side screw, raising
a manhole cover or using power
tools at home, safety should always
be the priority. Taking five minutes
to conduct risk assessments, asking
for assistance and staying calm are
all habits that can make a big difference when faced with unforeseen
danger. Routine safety training at
work turn safety practices into lifechanging habits that stay with you
everywhere you go.
4
Recently, the Florida panhandle
suffered from severe storms and
flooding that severely damaged
homes, roads and businesses.
Wayne Sweet, Midsouth Paving
area manager in Pensacola, Fla.,
and his family, were caught in the
midst of these rising waters that
ABOVE FROM LEFT 1. APAC Tennessee-Company President Beau Boulden speaks to employees during the company-wide safety stand down on April 2, 2014. 2. Employees at
APAC Tennessee’s I-40 project in St. Francis County, Ark., participate in the company-wide safety stand down. 3. Damage caused by rising waters due to severe storms in Florida’s
panhandle. 4. Boat used by Midsouth Paving’s Wayne Sweet to transport family and neighbors to safety.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
5
Raising the bar at Cessford Construction Co.
In an effort to comply with annual MSHA training
requirements, Cessford Construction Co., like many
mining companies, conducts their Annual Refresher
Training for Miners in one eight-hour session. Trainers
for these events normally use lectures, PowerPoint
slides and videos to deliver their programs, which are
often seen by participants as less than exciting and very
repetitive. These types of delivery processes are passive,
allowing minimal interaction and little participant
engagement.
In surveys conducted following these traditional sessions,
employees described the training as “boring,” “repetitive”
and “long,” which inspired management to look for new ways
to deliver the content.
They met with Environmental Manager for OMG Midwest,
Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., and EHS Director for the Central
West Division Billy Snead to share employee feedback and
brainstorm ways to make training sessions more engaging
and valuable for employees.
From these discussions, they decided to develop a training
process that got employees active and truly involved by:
m
m
m
m
m
I nteracting in small group discussion
Participating in group activities and structured exercises
Having trainer play the role of facilitator versus “teacher”
Using a minimal number of PowerPoint slides
Limiting facilitator’s “lectures” to topic introductions
and reviews
Participants were asked to sit in small groups with only four
to six at a table and given “assigned” seating to encourage
“...there is only one problem with the
training...you have set the bar so high,
what will you do next year to make it
even better?”
A resident loader operator
interaction with employees from other plants and projects.
For increased participation, facilitators asked employees
to share their experiences dealing with issues, near misses
or similar things related to the topic being discussed. An
interactive workbook consisting of 13 sections was developed as a tool to guide the MSHA educational process.
Unlike slides, the workbook titled “MSHA Eight Hour
Refresher Education,” required participants to read, think
and answer questions on subjects covered.
Cessford employees responded favorably to their Annual
Refresher Training delivered through this new method,
describing it as: “The best MSHA safety training they ever
participated in.”
But perhaps the most significant comment came from one
of the company’s resident loader operators. With over 25
years of service and a veteran of MSHA training sessions,
he said, “this was the best training I ever had with the
company.” He added, “there is only one problem with the
training . . . you have set the bar so high, what will you do
next year to make it even better?”
20%
These same studies show
retained learning is much
higher when participants
are engaged and active.
When a training process
allows individuals freedom
to participate or interact,
they retain:
10%
of what they say and do
Studies show individuals
generally retain:
30%
of what they see
of what they hear
of what is read to them
90%
70%
of what they say
*Klatt 1999
6
Project Spotlights
Tri-State Paving paves Thoreson Park Trail
Thanks to Tri-State Paving, visitors
of Thoreson Park in Estherville,
Iowa, can now fully enjoy the park’s
amenities and avoid muddy areas
by utilizing a new, 915-foot asphalt
trail. The 14-acre park is home to
a large playground, bocce ball court,
sand volleyball court, basketball
court, park benches, picnic tables,
three baseball fields and three
shelter areas.
Tri-State donated both time and
equipment to complete the first phase
of the project. The remaining three
phases, which may take several years
to complete, are still in the planning
phase. With the help of Tri-State, the
City of Estherville saved nearly $25,000
because they had to purchase only
material for the project; the first phase
of the trail required 314 tons of asphalt.
handicapped visitors may enjoy a
convenient area to sit. The park’s
renovation will also be accompanied
by construction of a shelter and restrooms and signage.
Phase two will connect ball fields one
and two and the third phase will
complete the trail around the park.
Phase four plans for a trail that will
encircle field three. There are also
plans to improve accessibility by
paving pads near the ball fields so
1
Provo City Center temple
ack B. Parson Companies is supplying 80,000 cubic yards of readyJ
mixed concrete for the Provo City Center Temple reconstruction
project. Through preservation and careful study of the original
structure, the temple will be restored to emulate the historic beauty
of the former Provo Tabernacle. Currently, the building shell stands
10 feet above ground on steel beams.
2
T
he existing interior walls will be restored and reinforced to maintain as
much of the original structure as possible. The interior details will closely
replicate the prior structure including the wood molding, newel posts, rich
woodwork and other design elements.
“ The Provo Temple is one of the most unique projects I have ever been a part of,” said Mike Larsen, superintendent on the job.
“The brick structure had to be suspended 35-feet in the air to work under it.”
This project began winter of 2012 and is projected to be completed in the fall of 2015.
University of Utah Ambulatory Care Center
ack B. Parson Companies in Salt
J
Lake City is supplying 30,000 cubic
yards of ready-mixed concrete for the
new Ambulatory Care Center under
construction at the University of
Utah campus.
Phase one of the project includes a clinical
building and upgraded parking with a
capacity of 1,400 stalls. The center, to
be completed within the year, features
state-of-the-art clinical and lab spaces
for same day procedures for Primary
Children’s Medical Center and the
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics.
3
ABOVE FROM TOP: 1. Tri-State Estherville Park. 2. Provo City Center Temple reconstruction project. 3. New Ambulatory Care Center at the University of Utah campus.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
7
Community and Environment
> Shelly’s Ostrander Wildlife site fits in with quarry tour visits: The Shelly Company’s 80-acre Ostrander Wildlife Habitat Site has taken flight with kids,
learning and fun since earning its 2013 WHC Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) certification.
The quarry has been hosting school tours for nearly a decade now, and the Wildlife Habitat Site adds new opportunity for the experience. As of May, nearly 400
people have visited the site, which also donated land to the local community soccer field. “We are proud to share the site with our community members,” said
Danny Moore, Ostrander limestone quarry plant manager. “This is a way to give back and to build relationships.”
> Tilcon celebrates Earth Day with elementary school
event: Employees from Tilcon visited the Catherine A. Dwyer
School in Rockaway Township for their 5th Annual Earth Day
Presentation on April 22. This year the second grade students
began the event by coloring their own animal masks among
other fun activities.
Brad Carroll, general manager of aggregates, taught students
about the Mount Hope Quarry, its history, the geology of the
land and about the blasts and equipment on the site at Tilcon.
> P.J. Keating Company hosts 8th annual quarry tour for local students: In May, P.J. Keating
Company hosted guided tours of the plant in Lunenburg, Mass., for the sixth grade class of Sky
View Middle School. The students saw the quarry, recycling area, stone crushing plant and asphalt
plant. P.J. Keating employees Dave Normandin and Mark Routzohn fielded questions from the
students, who recently completed a geology unit and were excited to see the “real thing.”
They learned about the types of rock in the quarry, the weight of the haul trucks (at least four
times as heavy as the school bus!) dust suppression and recycling process water on site.
P.J. Keating is proud to host these tours for the local community and contribute to students’ education.
> P.J. Keating employees share expertise at career fair: Experienced employees from the P.J. Keating
Company provided their expertise to high school juniors and seniors during the 12th Annual Massachusetts
Construction Career Days, hosted by The New England Laborers’ Training Academy.
This event is an opportunity for high school students to learn about the various career paths available
in the construction field. Massachusetts Department of Transportation volunteers spoke to students
about their careers, skills, technical knowledge and the rewarding high-paying jobs in the construction
industry. The event allows students to maneuver construction equipment, pavers, loaders and backhoes
under the supervision of trained P.J. Keating Company operators.
8
> The Shelly Company shows it cares with health fairs: This year The Shelly Company
hosted an all-time high number of health fairs for its employees and their family members
statewide. The six scheduled events provide important preventative care opportunities
and were attended by more than 196 Shelly employees.
The fairs included:
- Vendors from EyeMed, Fidelity and Northside Pharmacy among others.
- Door prizes and much more.
- Heart and vascular screening offered by Genesis Healthcare System to Oldcastle
healthcare participants.
Eleven employees became organ donors because of the events (a single organ donor could
save up to eight lives) and 170 employees participated in potentially life-saving screenings.
> Tri-State Paving employee Steve Fisher helps humans and
their furry best friends: Steve Fisher of Tri-State Paving in Estherville,
Iowa, and his wife, Jean, donated $10,000 to Martin County Humane
Society in Fairmont, Minn. The money will be used toward construction of a new building and to spearhead a microchip implant program,
which allows the Humane Society to track lost pets and return them
to their rightful owner.
The Fishers also purchased 12 cakes from a cake auction in April
for $6,000. The proceeds supported the Domestic/Sexual Abuse Assault Outreach Center (DSAOC) in Fort Dodge, Iowa. DSAOC provides
safety, support and hope for both adult and child victims of sexual
assault and domestic violence. It also offers support for families
whose loved one has fallen victim to homicide.
> Pennsy Supply noted as CPAVTS Partner- printed in the CPAVTS Newsletter
A local company for 90 years, Pennsy Supply helps further Cumberland Perry Area Vocational
Technical School’s (CPAVTS) Diesel and welding programs by hiring a co-op student from
each program every year. Some of the contributions include providing evaluators for the
National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) exam and donating an enormous
amount of used truck and engine parts to the Diesel program. In addition, because
Pennsy has access to a supply of heavy construction and quarry equipment, they also
provide students with certifications in repairing and maintaining these machines through
co-op education.
Kevin Taylor, equipment manager at Pennsy Supply, said, “We’ve felt the collaboration
with CPAVTS has been a successful endeavour, and we’ve been satisfied with the quality
of the students. I have one CPAVTS student who’s been with us for 15 years, and we’re
looking to hire another senior this year.”
Pennsy Supply has been a valuable and much-appreciated asset to Cumberland Perry
AVTS for nearly two decades, helping to ensure our students succeed!
> Wendy Webb climbs for her father: Wendy Webb, accounts
receivable specialist at OMG Midwest, actively supports the American
Lung Association. In a single month she participated twice in the
Fight for Air Climb “vertical” race - once in Des Moines, Iowa, where
she climbed 66 flights of stairs and later in Chicago, which involved
2,400 individual stairs. Proceeds raised go to the American Lung
Association to support education, research and advocacy. Wendy’s
purpose is to raise money for people affected by lung disease and
fight for healthier air in our communities.
Her motivation for climbing is her father, Robert Richards, who died
of stage-four lung cancer. Raising over $1,000 herself and securing
an additional $1,000 through a company match by OMG Midwest, Wendy
was the fourth biggest individual fundraiser in the Des Moines event.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
9
Refurbished Mack takes prize by Kevin Taylor
Skies were blue and temperatures held steady for the East
Petersburg Antique Car Show in May. It was the first show
entry for the Pennsy Supply Refurbished Mack Concrete
Mixer. Pennsy Supply volunteers surrounded the iconic
mixer, distributing candy to onlookers during show hours.
The mixer was completed in the fall of 2013 by Kevin Taylor,
equipment manager, and his Paxton St. team at the request of
Mark Snyder, MIDA region president.
“We are amazed at the interest in this old truck,” said Taylor.
“On the road, people constantly do double takes. On display,
everyone wants to know its history. We are quite proud to have
been involved in the process.”
esearch through Mack has determined that it is a 1958 model.
R
The truck was used at Pennsy Supply since new and was
transferred to an OMG precast company in the early 1990’s.
Pennsy took ownership of it again in late 1995 with the intent
of refurbishing it as a show truck.
The initial restoration took over a year. Upon completion, the
truck was put back on the road in an attempt to earn a return
on the costly refurbishment. The truck was used for a year until
it was determined that to be effective it needed air conditioning,
as well as the ability to travel faster than 52mph. So, over the
following winter air conditioning and electric heated mirrors
were added. In the end, the truck could travel 70mph in air
conditioned comfort and was used every day. Eventually, the
bowl drive failed and without available parts Pennsy Supply was
forced to retire what proved to be a prize attraction.
Bob Alford, one of the Paxton St. mechanics originally involved
with refurbishing the mixer, is the mixer’s current “caretaker.”
He has driven it in parades and displayed it at several events.
Most recently, it made an appearance at two antique car shows,
winning an award at East Petersburg.
“For the people who have been part of Pennsy for so many years,
it is a historical icon and a vision of the past,” said Taylor. “For
myself, having worked here for nearly 40 years, I can remember
working on this very truck when it was not so ‘old.’ It is somewhat coincidental, but we are almost the same age.”
ABOVE: 1958 Mack concrete mixer truck entered into the East Petersburg Antique Car Show.
10
> OMG Midwest ‘Springs’ Into Health: On April 15, OMG Midwest threw its first
health fair for employees, encouraging them to live happier, healthier lives by
making health conscious choices every day. The event was so successful that OMG
Midwest plans to make the health fair an annual event. Nearly 100 employees
attended the fair, and all services were provided free of charge.
Several vendors provided information about fitness, proper nutrition, dietary
supplements, medical and vocational case management and physical therapy. A
nurse practitioner was present to administer health screenings, which included
BMI, blood sugar and blood pressure tests, but perhaps the biggest hit of the
day was the massage therapist.
Employees who visited certain booths were entered for prize drawings from vendors.
These included free gym memberships, a barbeque basket, dietary and weight loss
supplements, gas gift cards and 30-minute to one-hour massage sessions.
> Preferred Materials wildlife team digs in to wildlife project: In June,
Oldcastle Materials employees in Odessa, Fla., joined by the OMG Environmental
Best Practice Group, planted 2,500 flowers, trees and shrubs, resulting in
a pollinator garden with more than 90 different species of native plants. This
is the first wildlife habitat site by the Preferred Materials - Concrete Division as part of the 2014 Preferred Materials Wildlife Garden Project. The
eight acre site houses a ready-mix facility where one acre will be used for
wildlife garden and outdoor learning space. Their efforts will help Preferred
Materials achieve the goal of earning the Wildlife at Work and Corporate Lands
for Learning certifications through the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2015.
Oldcastle Materials partnered with the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2004 to
improve biodiversity on the corporate lands through the establishment of
wildlife habitat sites. As of today, Oldcastle Materials has 18 certified sites
throughout the country, primarily on quarry sites. The Preferred Materials’
project is an example of what can be done on a smaller – non-traditional site.
Customer Focus
Shelly Materials sponsors Ohio
Valley Oil and Gas Expo
The oil and gas explosion in eastern
Ohio has been advantageous for The
Shelly Company. Its Shelly Materials’
East Fultonham and Allied Petersburg limestone quarries and Alliance
rail yard have benefited in sales by
providing the quality, specified stone
needed for the numerous drilling pad
construction and roadway projects.
Additionally, Shelly’s Smith Concrete
has provided concrete for these projects.
To expand its outreach and support the
boom, Shelly Materials sponsored the
3rd Annual Ohio Valley Regional Oil and
Gas Expo held in St. Clairsville, Ohio, at
the James E. Carnes Center in Belmont
County on April 30 and May 1. The B2B
event, hosted by Belmont County Commissioners and the Belmont County
Port Authority, featured an array of
vendors exhibiting equipment products
and services and displays. The Shelly
Company representatives manned its
corporate display while providing
brochures and handouts at the table. The
Expo held a series of educational sessions,
and speakers at the event included Rice
Energy President Toby Rice; President of
“O” Ring CNG Fuel Systems Bob Beatty;
and Director of the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Craig Butler.
3
BOTTOM RIGHT: 1. (from Left to Right) Rudy Pennock, Steve Alex, Randy Ziemer and Jay Garrison.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
11
Pennsy Supply Silver Spring team
lends expertise by Dawn Darkes
On March 19, employees at the Pennsy
Supply Silver Spring facility conducted a week-long field session for
the Highway Maintenance Foreman
(HMF) Academy. The HMF Academy
is designed to provide newly promoted
PennDot foremen with the basic
knowledge necessary to perform
their functions effectively and
efficiently. In addition to supervisor
and leadership sessions, the participants are presented with technical
material delivered in three, weeklong sessions.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
is contracted to provide the administration and facilitation for the HMF
Academy and conducts approximately
50 percent of the classroom sessions.
The remaining 50 percent is devoted to
field sessions covering environmental
awareness, work zone traffic control,
pipe replacement and pavement preservation. The Pennsy Supply Silver Spring
facility hosted the PennDot foremen
for the pavement preservation field
covering asphalt materials.
Many thanks to Brandon Groff, asphalt
operations manager; Shannon Lane,
asphalt plant operator; Larry Stine,
quarry superintendent; and Chris Barton,
concrete quality control manager, for
making the field session a success.
The feedback IUP received on
the session hosted by Pennsy
Supply was outstanding.
“On behalf of the Indiana
University of Pennsylvania, I’d
like to extend our most sincere
gratitude for the assistance
you provided to this HMF
Academy,” said Timothy R.
Pieples, P.E., and IUP assistant
professor. “It was extremely
successful and was greatly
appreciated by the facilitators
and the participants.”
1
Shelly Ready-Mix Division implements customer
focused training for drivers by Jamie Sturgeon
Ready-mix drivers are the frontline
leaders who have the responsibility
of safely delivering a quality product
in a timely manner, while providing
excellent customer service – all
day, every day. In efforts to equip
drivers with the necessary skills,
tools and resources to accomplish
this goal, Shelly’s Smith Concrete
and Medina Supply sales and operations management teams created and implemented a two-day
training program for all drivers
and ready-mix division employees.
Customized materials were created
in-house to keep costs down and
included a PowerPoint presentation,
course workbooks, facilitator guides,
flip charts, job aids and posters. Sales
and operations management were
trained and ready to serve as facilitators.
After three months of planning and
preparing, with the help of human
resources, the training program was
ready to implement.
2
The first day consisted of a seven-hour
session covering customer focus areas
with key principles, service steps, case
studies and customer challenges. The
second day covered safety and concrete
101. Year to date, more than 150
employees have participated in the
program resulting in 390 hours of
training executed.
“It makes me proud to see this type
of initiative from our management
teams in the Shelly Ready-Mix
Division,” said Dick Wilson, Shelly
Ready-Mix division vice president
and general manager. “It is important
we provide our employees with the
tools needed to perform their jobs to
the best of their abilities, and this
training is a great opportunity.”
To assist in measuring the program’s
effectiveness, employees receive hard
hat stickers for earning recognition
from customers. Also, management
will follow-up with participants to
discuss how the training assisted
with their daily performance.
ABOVE FROM TOP: 1. Brandon Groff, asphalt operations manager, reviews Pennsy Supply’s HMA current operations at Silver Spring. 2. Medina Supply ready mix drivers,
Randy Eby, Gary Pollock and Mark Victor, participate in customer focused training.
12
Milestones
1
D
ick Bennett, long-time
concrete salesman in
the Parkersburg,
West Virginia market,
retired from Smith
Concrete on April 30,
2014, culminating
nearly 35 years in the
ready-mix business.
Bennett, age 62, had been the area manager overseeing
sales, operations and quality control at the Athens, Belpre
and Marietta plants. He joined Smith Concrete in 1997,
where he served as general manager. Before that, Dick
worked for Arrow Concrete, starting as a ready-mix driver
and promoted to salesman overseeing several of their
West Virginia operations.
“Dick Bennett had a large and loyal customer base. From
his beginnings as a ready driver to managing several
plants and big portable jobs, Dick saw a lot of changes
during his career. He will be missed by me, but more
importantly, by his customers,” said Area Manager Ross
Snyder.
J
oe Mikulski is hanging
his hard hat up after 42
years of service at the
Shelly Co.’s Shalersville
sand and gravel
operation!
Joe started in the industry as
a laborer for Standard Slag at
3
Shalersville. Joe followed the
acquisitions that have happened
at the facility from StandardSlag to Lafarge and eventually
Shelly. As his career progressed, he moved from the laborer
position, haul truck driver and loader operator. He has
served as the customer loader operator at the site for the
last 35 years. Joe will be greatly missed by employees and
customers. Joe and his wife of 37 years, Michelle, have two
children, Joe and Heather. He enjoys playing euchre and
poker, along with hunting and fishing. We wish Joe and his
family the best of luck! Thanks again, Joe!
D
enny Eshler, superintendent for Northeast
Division, The Shelly
Co., has decided to hang
up his hard hat after
43 years of highway
construction.
Denny began working for
Cleveland Trinidad, moving
to Northern Ohio Paving and
eventually working for Shelly.
Over the years, Denny has supervised countless highway
construction projects in just about every corner of Northeast
Ohio. Denny’s ultimate legacy is not the miles of highway
he has constructed over the years but the impact he has
had on the lives and careers of his co-workers. Denny was
a true mentor to those around him and had a unique ability
to command respect not only from his co-workers but from
inspectors, subcontractors and just about anyone he encountered during his long career. Denny is now free to direct his
attention and energy toward less stressful activities such
as raising cattle, driving his ’65 Chevelle and focusing on adding to his antique thermometer collection. Best wishes!
2
H
al Moore is a 36-year
employee with 36
years of safe driving.
Hal retired from Central Pre-Mix
Concrete in Spokane after 36
years. He won driver of the
year in 2007, and the Three
Million Mile Award for his safe
driving record. Apart from be4
ing an excellent driver, Hal is a
model employee. He started
out as a mixer driver, then as a tire man and then as a mixer
and pup truck driver at the time of his retirement.
Hal has been married to LaDonna for 29 years, and together
they raised six children. He’s now looking forward to hunting,
fishing and wood working. Hal would also like to thank
all his Central Pre-Mix friends and family for their support
when his young grandchild succumbed to cancer last year.
ABOVE FROM LEFT: 1. Dick Bennett. 2. Denny Eshler. 3. Joe Mikulski. 4. Hal Moore (left) with NWD President Jim Gauger.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
13
Legislative Focus
A MESSAGE FROM:
John Hay, senior vice president, corporate relations
Federal highway trust fund: is the crisis over?
As you know, Federal highway
funding is crucial to Oldcastle
Materials. Nearly 45 percent of
your state’s highway program
funding comes from federal investment, primarily through the
resources available in the Highway
Trust Fund (HTF).
The HTF was created to ensure funding
is available to invest in our nation’s
roads and bridges. The primary source
of revenue for the HTF is the federal
gas tax. That tax, currently $18.4 cents/
gal, has not been raised since 1993.
For a number of years federal gas tax
revenue has remained below what
flows out of the HTF to fund the federal allocations going to your state
DOTs. That shortfall reached a critical
point just a few weeks ago when the
HTF, without additional resources,
would no longer be able to fully
reimburse states for the obligations
they incurred for highway construction.
For the past several years, Congress
has at least been able to transfer
General Fund resources to shore up
the HTF. That occurred again in
mid-July when the Congress passed
legislation to transfer $10.8 billion
to the HTF to allow it to meet its
obligations through May 31, 2015.
Although the immediate crisis, the
insolvency of the HTF, was averted,
it is only a temporary fix.
This result keeps the HTF solvent
for nine months but does not address
the long-term needs of our nation’s
surface transportation system. We
need a dedicated revenue source and
a long-term federal highway bill
authorizing these programs for at
least six years. Oldcastle and most in
our industry are strong advocates for
raising the federal gas tax sufficiently
to meet these needs.
Don’t you think it’s about time your
members of Congress stepped up to
robustly invest in our nation’s transportation infrastructure? I certainly
do. Congress should act in the best
interest of the country instead of
taking a pass on that responsibility.
Oldcastle Materials will continue
to actively advocate for increased
highway funding and a new long-term
highway bill. Your support will help
us achieve our goal. Hosting a legislator at a plant or job site, visiting
congressional offices, writing letters
or emails, or going to a town hall
meeting are effective ways to communicate with your elected officials.
Together we can succeed!
Stoneco’s Zeeb Road operation receives visit from Representative
On July 23, Rep. David Rutledge,
serving the 54th district of Michigan and known for his support
and advocacy of infrastructure
construction and repair, visited
Stoneco of Michigan’s Zeeb Road
facility. Paul Cuthbert, a Stoneco
salesperson, and Dean Vandevelde, a Stoneco superintendent,
gave Rep.Rutledge a tour of the
facility, where both explained
Stoneco’s purpose, and the needs
of our industry.
As the end of this year’s House and
Senate terms approached, some representatives voted to leave for summer recess. Instead, Rep. Rutledge
said, “Michigan drivers are saying
loud and clear they want a plan to
repair our roads and bridges, and my
colleagues and I now join them in
saying, ‘Take a vote, not a vacation.’ ”
and that there has been too, a hard
push for better roads by the people of
Michigan for something not to be done.
During this tour, Rep. Rutledge said
Michigan will see real changes coming in the next months, further stating that Michigan has been lagging on
infrastructure updates for too long
ABOVE: (from Left to Right) Paul Cuthbert with Stoneco Sales, Representative Rutledge, and Dean Vandevelde, Stoneco Superintendent. Standing in front of the entrance to the
Zeeb Road Quarry in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
14
Awards
0
Stoneco’s 100th St. facility wins operations of the year
RECORDABLE INCIDENTS
LOST-TIME INCIDENTS
MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION CITATIONS
Stoneco of Michigan’s facility on 100th St. in Byron
Center was recently recognized with the Operation
of the Year Award for its performance during the
2013 construction season. The Operation of the Year
Award is an annual event during which Stoneco of
Michigan reviews its 18 Michigan facilities based on
four criteria: safety, community involvement, site
appearance and cost control.
In 2013, the 100th St. facility finished the season with
zero recordable incidents, zero lost-time incidents and
zero Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA)
citations.
“The operations team at the 100th St. facility are leaders
in driving excellence in our safety culture,” said Tony
Halloran, operations manager. “The team’s core values
are rooted in the ‘If I See something, I will Stop and Do
Something,’ so the team has taken ownership on an individual level to ensure each and every person who comes
on-site returns home safely every day.”
This facility was also recognized by Stoneco parent company,
Oldcastle Materials, as the Best Aggregate Facility for
Sustained Performance in 2013. The criteria for receiving
this award requires best in class performance across all
Oldcastle companies in all aspects of operations.
“The team has a lot to be proud of for
setting the bar for outstanding cost
control without losing safety as the
primary focus.”
Dan Lenon, division manager
Stoneco operates four limestone quarries, 11 sand and
gravel operations and three rail terminals in Michigan’s
southern Lower Peninsula.
The team is also actively involved in its local community.
Beyond being good stewards of the land by reclaiming depleted mining acres to farmable land, the team organized
site visits for state and local officials to promote growth
and prosperity in the community.
ABOVE: The team at Stoneco’s 100th St. facility achieved zero recordable incidents, zero lost-time incidents and zero Mine Health and Safety Administration (MSHA) citations.
CONNECTIONS | Summer 2014
15
DO COMPETE, DON’T BREAK THE LAW Leading with Integrity
2
Oldcastle and CRH have a shared history of operating with high integrity
and ethical standards and is fully committed to complying with competition
laws. The company recognizes that operating a free and open market is in
everyone’s interest: customers, employees, shareholders and competitors.
AVOID THE MOST COMMON ANTI-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES:
1 Bid or quote rigging
2 Price fixing
DO
• Compete vigorously
•D
iscuss general industry-wide
matters, ensuring no company/
customer sensitive information is
disclosed
•F
ind out as much as possible
about competitors from public or
independent third-party sources
(always note the source)
3 Market allocation
4 A buse of dominant market
5
E xchange of confidential
competitive information
position
Consult with Management
or Oldcastle Law before
•P
articipating in or submitting
information to a trade association
• J oining in social interactions with
competitors outside of normal business
contact
•E
ntering into any form of information
exchange
Don’t
• Fix prices directly or indirectly
•A
llocate or carve up customers or
markets
• Fix any other terms or conditions
•D
iscuss any aspect of pricing
(credit terms, discounts, margins
or rebates)
• Control or limit production
• Discuss bids or quotes
•A
gree with a competitor to not
supply certain customers
•R
each any “understanding”
regarding any of the above
> For further advice and support contact the Oldcastle Law Group or consult the Competition/Anti-Trust Compliance
Code available on Interchange.
Material Matters
16
Did you know you have access to important news and messages
from Oldcastle Materials leadership from any device with an
Internet connection? Check out news stories, videos and more
at www.materialmatters.biz.