Occupational Health and Safety

Cement, a cornerstone of our national economy, facilitates safe and sustainable transportation and infrastructure. Yet the most precious resource in our industry is not the material but the people who work with it. The Portland Cement Association and our member companies have spent decades investigating and promoting practices that lead to enhanced workplace health and safety.

The U.S. cement industry adheres to the same strict health and safety regulations as the mining industry, with guidelines enforced at cement plants and distribution centers nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is legally required to inspect all surface mines and facilities at least twice a year. In contrast, operations like underground stone mines undergo four inspections annually. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforces standards at cement terminals.

The PCA-MSHA Alliance

To enhance worker safety in the cement industry, PCA and MSHA collaborate closely on education, training, outreach, and communication.

• PCA and MSHA leadership meet bi-annually to discuss safety issues and work together on improvements.
• The MSHA and PCA develop training programs addressing critical safety concerns.
• Regular newsletters inform PCA member CEOs about safety trends and best practices.

The cement and concrete industry’s health programs are a testament to our commitment to safeguarding employee health. Companies prioritize two critical areas: respiratory and auditory health.

• Companies use comprehensive programs to safeguard workers from dust exposure. These programs follow international consensus standards and regulatory standards that include regular reviews and evaluations of respiratory protection measures to ensure continued risk mitigation.
• Hearing conservation programs protect employees’ auditory health from excessive noise. These programs use initial and follow-up audiometric testing to identify and address any potential hearing-related issues proactively.

Cement manufacturers employ formal safety programs that cover all stages of production, from quarrying to packaging and distribution. For example, some accident prevention measures include:

• Workplace exams before and during work to identify unsafe conditions and follow up for corrective actions when necessary.
• Frequent, regular, planned safety meetings to help employees understand how to work safety.
• Accident investigations to determine causes and preventive measures and accident analysis to uncover trends.
• Standard operating procedures and job safety analyses to develop step-by-step procedures for performing jobs safely.
• Individual safety contacts when there is potential of an accident.
• Pre-job discussions when doing infrequent jobs.
• Industry-wide focus on safety topics every June.

Tom Harman

Senior Director, Government Affairs