Press Release
June 15, 2004

Graniterock Production Plant Achieves Safety Milestone Fourteen Years Accident-Free at Innovative Plant

May 8, 2004 marked the fourteenth consecutive accident-free year for Graniterock’s South San Francisco Road Materials production facility. The facility often operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week supplying high-quality construction paving materials for demanding jobs at San Francisco International Airport and other projects in San Mateo County.

A team effort has led to the more than decade-long safe operating record. According to team members, Frank Garcia and Eddie DuPee Sr., who have worked at the branch through the fourteen years, the accomplishment is a credit to the professional care given to observing the safety practices of each team member.

“Safety begins before you start to work. For example, we even make sure we park our vehicles out of the way to avoid all trucks and mobile equipment that move around in the yard,” said Frank.

“If an person gets to a point where they stop looking out for their fellow team member, they are working at the wrong place. Injuries are caused when people neglect to watch out for each other,” added Eddie.

Other full-time team members responsible for reaching this impressive milestone include Jacques Dhuyvetter, Tim Costello, Wayne D’Antonio and James Wolfe.

“Safety is taken very seriously at Graniterock. I have worked at other places that talk about safety, but then do not support it. At Graniterock, safety is not only talked about, but it is also practiced from the CEO on down. It seems like what ever idea we have that improves safety is met with the enthusiasm and the funding to get it done,” explained Jacques.

The South San Francisco facility is known within the construction industry for the development of High Stability hot mix asphalt (“black top”) that can withstand the fully loaded weights of Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet aircraft on taxiways and runways. Previously, such heavy loaded aircraft would deform the asphalt pavement if they stopped for extended periods of time, especially in hot weather.

Graniterock puts “Safety Before All Else” in both its corporate objectives and in practice, as exemplified by the South San Francisco location. This milestone represents a team operating safely for over 100,000 payroll hours producing over three million tons of hot mix asphalt. The location has also invested in safety improvements to the production plant and other facilities, making the production environment much safer than is common in the industry.

“The achievement at South San Francisco is a testament to the dedication to safety that Graniterock People practice every day,” said Bruce W. Woolpert, President & CEO.

Graniterock was founded on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1900. Graniterock has operations in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Seaside, Salinas, Hollister, Aromas, Felton, San Jose, Redwood City, Oakland and South San Francisco. The Company’s Pavex Construction Division is a significant regional heavy engineering contractor building roadways, airports and private commercial and residential projects. Graniterock received the 1992 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the 1994 Governor’s Golden State Quality Award.

For more information, contact:
Tim Costello, Graniterock, 650.482.3803
Keith Severson, Graniterock, 831.768.2063