Rogers Group's Central Kentucky operations had a visit from MSHA last week, but this was not a typical inspection: the MSHA Administrator for Metal/Nonmetal, Bob Friend, came to learn more about underground quarrying and Rogers' safety system.
Mr. Friend, the top official in the Metal/Nonmetal area, was accompanied by Harry Verdier, Assistant District Manager, Mark Skiles, Director of Technical Support, and Dana Haynes, Field Office Supervisor. Rogers and MSHA are partners in the innovative Mine Safety Alliance between MSHA and NSSGA, a cooperative effort to reduce worker injuries.
"This visit is the kind of outreach that can help both sides of the alliance share best practices and continuously improve safety for our people and workers throughout the industry," explained RGI Safety Director Ed Elliott. "We can learn from each other and build a positive relationship."
The MSHA officials met with Central Kentucky VP Les Geralds, Superintendents Ken Caldwell and Jim Gregor, Central Division VP Mike Agee, and Safety staffers Ed Elliott and David Lyon at the SMA office in the morning to hear about Rogers' approach to safety and results over the past few years. They then were given a tour of Jefferson Underground, followed by a barbecue lunch with employees.
A Kentucky native, Mr. Friend told the group how he had been an MSHA inspector early in his career and had even inspected Bullitt County Stone. He described how the agency wants to be a resource for training and trouble-shooting in cooperation with Rogers and other companies, and talked with the employees about some examples of those resources, such as Mark Skiles' Technical Support department that focuses on engineering changes to eliminate unsafe conditions in plants or equipment.
Mr. Friend, Mr. Verdier, Mr. Skiles and Mr. Haynes thanked Rogers' managers and employees for their hospitality as their visit concluded, and offered any and all kinds of assistance to help prevent injuries.
"The employees were sincere when they espoused the effectiveness of Rogers' safety process, and everyone I spoke with was highly complimentary of the company," said Mr. Friend. "It was a most memorable tour."
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MSHA's Dana Haynes and Bob Friend, center two facing camera, share lunch with Jefferson County Stone employees
Standing: Harry Verdier, Dana Haynes, Bob Friend, Ed Elliott, Ken Caldwell
Jefferson County Stone employees with MSHA officials, RGI managers
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