Newsroom

Seventeen Years Accident-Free at Innovative Plant

May 8, 2007 marked the seventeenth consecutive accident-free year (lost time incidents) for Graniterock’s South San Francisco Road Materials’ production facility. The facility typically operates 24-hours per day, seven 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 seventeen years, the accomplishment is a credit to the professional care given to observing the safety practices of each Team Member.

“Our safety program provides a solid foundation for a safe work environment, although we pride ourselves most in the ability to communicate with Team Members when we witness someone working in a potentially unsafe manner,” said Frank. “We watch each others’ back. We have worked together a long time.”

“It is all about communication. Each Team Member knows what the other team member is doing and that is key to being safe,” added Eddie. Other team members responsible for reaching this impressive milestone include Jacques Dhuyvetter, John Nolan, Richard Costello, Thanh Ngo, Erica Pedersen, and Wayne D’Antonio.

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 165,000 payroll hours producing millions of tons of asphalt on miles of roadways. 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, Cupertino, Santa Cruz, Seaside, Salinas, Hollister, Aromas, Felton, San Jose, Redwood City, Oakland, Turlock, 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:
Rich Sacher, Division Manager, 650.482.3802
Keith Severson, Marketing Services Manager, 831.768.2063