Spring Thaws focus on safe practices

from The Conveyor - Spring Issue 2023

by CMS

The often-overlooked value(s) of sleep

By Julia Maldonado,

Coordinator, CalCIMA

When it comes to the materials industry, safety should always be the first priority.

CalCIMA held its 2023 Spring Thaw safety conferences this past February in Ontario and Sacramento, which focus on different techniques and technology that member companies use to practice safe habits in the workplace.

The Spring Thaws began with a tribute for the nation's 29 fallen miners in 2022. CalCIMA President and CEO Robert Dugan presented a slideshow of the miners and talked about their lives and families. To honor those who lost their lives, the audience lit 29 candles and held a moment of silence.

The Spring Thaws had 3 panels with different experts and topics speaking on each one. The Mine

Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), SESPE Consulting, Inc and NIOSH discussed silica standards, how to monitor and control silica exposures, and new technologies. A panel of Graniterock, Granite Construction, 3M and Castle Mountain discussed the ways different companies address site-specific training for customers and visitors to mine sites. In the final panel, P.W. Gillibrand, Stoel Rives and Sobereye discussed fitness for work issues regarding sleep, cannabis impacts, and alertness technology.

Additional presentations included how to handle conflict at the workplace by the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, a mining and tunneling overview by Cal/OSHA, the elements of a risk assessment by Vulcan Materials, the 5S housekeeping system by CEMEX, and an overview of MSHA’s enforcement, regulations and education initiatives.

CalCIMA would like to thank the CalCIMA Safety & Health Committee for their hard work to put together the 2023 Spring Thaws, as well as all presenters. CalCIMA would also like to thank the following exhibitors: