Demonstrating a strong commitment to employee safety and health, the environment, communities where we mine, and the industry as a whole, Southern Illinois Stone Company (SIS Quarry) – one of the Delta Companies Inc., received numerous awards and recognition at the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers’ (IAAP) annual convention on April 12th in Springfield, Illinois. The SIS Quarry is located at 4800 State Route 37 N in Goreville, Illinois.
Jason Schlee, IAAP Safety Committee Chairman, addressing convention attendees said, “Over the years, the IAAP Safety Committee has crafted an award program encouraging adoption of systems and practices we can confidently say enhances the safety and health programs of participating companies and helps them to get to the goal of zero injuries. The high achievement of so many companies is a testament that the culture being created really works.”
The IAAP Rock Solid Safety Award program was developed to publicly recognize members producing crushed stone, sand, gravel, and industrial minerals as well as companies providing services to the industry. A company and its employees must meet specific health and safety criteria that go beyond MSHA requirements to qualify for four levels of awards: Bronze, Silver, Gold and the highest award Rock Solid Excellence in Safety. Calendar year 2017 is the sixteenth year for this program and Southern Illinois Stone received a Rock Solid Excellence in Safety award.
Southern Illinois Stone also qualified for a Community Relations award for efforts undertaken by the company and its employees to demonstrate corporate citizenship and support community groups near the mine in Buncombe, Illinois.
A Gold level Certificate of Achievement in Environmental Excellence was granted to Southern Illinois Stone for having successfully demonstrated efforts to comply with the multitude of Federal, State, and local regulations concerning the protection of our air, water, and land thereby creating a sustainable future while enhancing the public’s perception of the mining industry.
“By rewarding our industry’s leaders, member companies are encouraged and being recognized for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone at the mine site and in nearby communities,” said Dan Eichholz, IAAP Executive Director.
The attached photo was taken during the Rock Solid Excellence in Safety award presentation and includes (left to right) Ed Elliot – MSHA Senior Advisor, Rodney Lingle – SIS Quarry Manager for Delta, Jerry Neels – Regional EHS Coordinator for Delta, and Pat Kirk – MSHA Peru Field Office Supervisor.
The Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers is the trade association serving the aggregate and industrial mineral mining industry in Illinois for more than fifty years. You may learn more about IAAP by visiting its website: iaap-aggregates.org.
Congratulations to Aggregates Area Manager Mike Martin, Quarry Manager Rodney Lingle, Quarry Foreman Jethro Lanphear, EHS Manager Bruce Menke, Regional EHS Coordinator Jerry Neels, and the entire crew at our SIS Quarry for earning these awards. You make us proud!
