As The Drum Turns…

In the recent Safety Blitz sessions we talked about short-cuts and behaviors…

This one had a significant impact on one of our employees.

On September 15th, an employee was washing his truck and performed an action that many, if not most of us have done, he ducked under the chute to get to the other side of the truck.  He had done it a 100 times, rarely bumping his head.

This time he nailed it.  The employee indicated he had been hit before (no details provided) but this one put him to his knees.  Did you know head wounds bleed like crazy? His shirt became soaked with blood.

If we take a short-cut or do something risky and nothing bad happens:

•           We tend to repeat the behavior

•           We continue to put ourselves and others at risk

•           Over time we accept the risk as normal and move to even riskier actions…

What-If:

•           He was in an isolated jobsite instead of at the plant.

•           Working at night and at a remote wash-down area

•           He knocked himself out

•           Slipped into the washout basin

What-If instead of ducking under he:

•           walked around the truck

•           swung the chute out of the way

•           had his hard hat on…

Don’t Compromise Your Safety or the Safety of Those Around You…

It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that Priscilla Slate, Payroll Coordinator has decided to retire from the company effective October 31, 2010.

Priscilla has been part of our organization and our Human Resources department for over 39 years focusing on the important role of processing and administering the company’s payroll while also handling other duties including filling in as our switchboard/receptionist as needed, conducting the first day orientation for new employees, and handling all benefit employees get paid accurately and on-time every pay period and that  visitors and guests feel welcome.

She has always been a true team player in the HR department eagerly helping in any way she can to complete a task or project as well as taking on additional responsibilities in recent years. Priscilla has also been a mainstay in the company’s annual United Way campaigns helping conduct and coordinate meetings across the company.  Her involvement has played an important part in the many successful campaigns we have had over the years.

With a cheerful personality Priscilla has befriended many employees throughout the campany and many have come to see her as their advisor, confidante and most importantly, their friend.  She has always made it a point to learn about the employees in the organization often remembering special occasions such as children’s birthdays and significant accomplishments.  While she has always been quick to help someone in need she has been equally as quick to give candid advice and let someone know if they need to “shape up”.

While we are happy and excited for Priscilla, we will miss her knowledge, experience and cheerful personality.  We are currently reviewing the duties of the position to determine the most efficient transition and structure.  We anticipate a decision within a few weeks.

Please join me in thanking Priscilla for all of her many contributions and wishing her the best as she transitions to taking on more full time duties as a grandmother enjoying her grandsons Ethan and Erik.

Dawn Richey has joined the company as a Dispatcher in our Roanoke office effective today. While she will report directly to me in this role she will also work closely with Tracy Saunders, Corporate Dispatch Manager.

Dawn has over 8 years of dispatch experience with Yellow Roadway freight in Fishersville VA. She also has experience in billing customer service and dock operations supervision. She holds a CDL and has also done team driving as an OTR driver.

Dawn will participate in a 7 week training/orientation process which will include time at the corporate office in dispatch as well as in the masonry/block operations, building supply and quality control areas.

Dawn and her husband will continue to live in New Castle, VA.

Please join me in welcoming Dawn to our organization.

Frank Caldwell, Roanoke Area Manager

The new parking lot at Chandler’s corporate office gets some inside help from Casey Roberts.

A sample video.  Why an IT Manager does not drive a mixer truck!

The Salisbury Plant was recently notified that it has earned the prestigious Green Star Certification from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), one of only 45 plants recognized nationally thus far.

The Green Star designation is earned after a rigorous review of the plant’s environmental management systems to ensure there is a formal and structured program in place to minimize/reduce possible pollution and to make the most efficient use of natural resources such as water and air and must include a process for continual monitoring and continuous improvement.

Processes and programs examined include the effective handling of process water and storm water discharges; water conservation, reuse and recycling; airborne process and fugitive emissions; vehicular emissions; fuel consumption; managing returned concrete; fuel and chemical use and community issues such as noise and aesthetic conditions.

The Salisbury employees along with Environmental Manager James Woody have all worked very hard to earn this recognition and are to be congratulated for this accomplishment.

It’s no secret that the market has been volatile over the past year. In fact, it is also no secret that a lot of people with investments have been trying to figure out the best way to protect their savings.

One proven strategy to help achieve pong term retirement security is to give careful consideration to the benefits of a well balanced and diversified investment portfolio.

This simply means allocating your money among different types of investments to help achieve a favorable rate of return while minimizing your overall risk of losing money. This results from market or other economic conditions that cause one category of assets to perform well often can cause another asset category to perform poorly.

If you invest more than 20% of your retirement savings in any one company or industry your savings may not be properly diversified. While diversification is not a guarantee against loss, it is an effective strategy to help you manage investment risk.

No single approach is right for everyone because individuals have different financial goals, different time frames for meeting those goals and different tolerances for risk.

It is important to periodically review your investment objectives and the options available in our Plan to help ensure that your retirement savings will meet your retirement goals.