A Strong Commitment to Safety in All Operations

“Employees need to have safety in mind all day and every day,” says Spencer Weitman, president of National Cement Company of Alabama, Inc. “That’s one reason for our new communications program. We are spreading the word – from the management team throughout the whole organization.”

The company is not only dedicating significant resources to crucial safety meetings and training programs but is also deeply committed to fostering a culture of safety. This goes beyond mere compliance with regulation or periodic initiatives: it signifies a comprehensive and ongoing effort to make sure that safety is a priority in all of the organization’s daily operations. From management to the frontline staff, the company aims to instill a mindset where safety is viewed as a collective responsibility, integral to the ethos and practices of the organization.

“What we’re trying to instill in our workers is the importance of creating a team atmosphere. People looking after people, teams looking after teams. It’s all about people helping one another."

A Culture of Safety

This culture of safety is about creating an environment where every employee feels empowered to take proactive steps towards preventing accidents, identifying potential hazards, and contributing to a workplace that not only promotes well-being but also enhances overall productivity and morale.

This culture of safety is about creating an environment where every employee feels empowered to take proactive steps towards preventing accidents, identifying potential hazards, and contributing to a workplace that not only promotes well-being but also enhances overall productivity and morale.

Thibault Dumortier, chief operating officer, National Cement Southeast, echoes Weitman’s sentiments. “Our target is zero accidents. This year we are pushing to improve training, feedback, and teamwork on safety. This will be a big focus this year.”

A commitment to safety must start at the top, Terry Brasher, president of ConcreteSouth says. “And that’s certainly a commitment that I’ve made. It’s one of the top things we talk about in our manager’s meetings. And if that doesn’t start with me, and if it’s not genuine, you can feel it, and you see it in the results,” Brasher says.

Spencer Glassco, general manager of Kirkpatrick North, says the company is all in on the commitment to safety. “We’ve been really involved in this. We’re always pushing it. We’re trying to have a member of management go to all the safety meetings to listen to any concerns, any ideas, that our employees have to make things safer.”

Matt Mobley, general manager, Hodgson Concrete says: “There’s nothing we do that’s more important than safety. There’s nothing we need to be in a big enough hurry to risk somebody getting injured. Nothing’s more important than our people going home safe at the end of the day,” Mobley adds.

Walker Concrete’s Mark Rongey agrees saying: “The way we approach safety is to remind everybody, nothing we do here today is more important than going home to your family.”