Another Successful Safety Seminar in the Books

The VTCA Annual Safety Seminar was held on December 4 in Staunton, Virginia. Once again, this year, only one seminar was conducted. Last year, the Safety & Health Committee decided to move from two seminars held on consecutive days in two separate locations across the state. This has proven to be a successful adjustment.

This year’s seminar had over 75 attendees and presenters that included safety and operational personnel for our members.

We were also joined by an MSHA representative from the Norton District and VA Energy – Mineral Mining.

This year’s presentations included:

• Welcome — Andrew Wren, Safety Committee Chair, Rob Lanham
• Hazard Recognition & Miner Health — Dave Nichols, Dave Nichols Consulting
• Silica Best Practices — Tom Baylis, GES and Andrew Wren, Vulcan Materials Co.
• Gaize Technologies Impairment Recognition — Dan Zell, Gaize, Inc.
• Coaching & Training — Troy Austin, Luck Stone Corp. and Jason Roy, Luck Stone 
• MSHA Update -— Brian Dotson, Norton District Manager, MSHA
• Mine Electrical Safety — Dean Blair, MSHA
• Mine Automation Safety — Panel
  • Ryan Marker, Vulcan Materials Co.
  • Richard Church, Carter Machinery
  • Troy Charron, Quick Supply Co.
• Virginia Mineral Mining Update & Resources — Paul Saunders, VA Energy - Mineral Mining
• Hard Hats — Devon Corum, Kask America

The feedback we received from those who attended was positive and the information presented was relevant and timely and gave the audience some new resources to consider employing to provide a safe workplace for our miners.

All slide presentations are now available to those that attended the seminar and will be available soon to all VTCA members.  

The Safety Seminar program is determined by the Safety & Health Committee.

We would be remorse if we didn’t give a GREAT BIG thank you to this year's Safety Seminar Sponsors:

• Charles W. Barger & Son
• Rockydale Quarries Corp.
• Cedar Mountain Stone
• Frazier Quarry
• Boxley
• Luck Stone
• James River Equipment
• Salem Stone Corporation
• Carter Machinery
• Chaney Enterprises
• Carmeuse
• Chantilly Crushed Stone
• E. Dillon & Company
• Vulcan Materials Company
• Virginia Vermiculite