Limestone quarry employees achieve safety milestone
Employees at a quarry operated by Montana Limestone near Warren, Mont., achieved one year without a lost-time accident on Aug. 25.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- September 2, 2010
Warren, Mont. - Employees at the limestone quarry operated by Montana Limestone Company achieved one year without a lost-time accident on Aug. 25, 2010. During this period, the quarry had 13 full-time employees and one seasonal employee. The last time the quarry achieved a year without a lost-time accident was in October 2007. The quarry is located six miles east of Warren.
Sherri Kegley, business and safety coordinator for Montana Limestone, said to help reach their goal of zero reportable accidents, zero lost-time accidents, and zero Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) citations, employees attend safety meetings and are subject to safety audits. "Safety is the main focal point of our daily mine operation. We are using the Pursuing Excellence Rewards Program to give our employees the opportunity to earn safety points, and we are experiencing more employee commitment and interaction for continuous improvement," Kegley said.
Achieving a safety milestone like this is a two-way commitment. Kegley said Montana Limestone is committed to providing a safe work environment and proper safety equipment. "A company can provide all the safety equipment in the world, but it's up to each individual employee to work safe as well," she said. "I'm proud of our people who work safe each day and maintain that commitment on a daily basis."
Employees attend the annual MSHA Spring Thaw, which is presented by MSHA and the state of Montana, and the annual Joint Western Regional Mine Safety Conference. "Both are good resources for information on what MSHA inspectors are finding at other mine sites. It also gives us good insight as to what changes and/or updates MSHA is placing their focus on," Kegley said.
Montana Limestone is a subsidiary of Dakota Coal Company. Dakota Coal is a subsidiary of Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
About Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. It generates and transmits electricity to 135 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.8 million consumers. For more information, go to www.basinelectric.com.
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.