2024 Award Nominations Are Open!
40 Year Safe Miner Recognition and Hero Award
Nominate your 40 year safe miners! These are employees who have worked 40 years or longer in the Southeastern mining community without injury. This means they have not had any MSHA reportable incident. Here's your chance to recognize safe miners...and our chance to present them an award during our Annual Southeast Mine Safety and Health Conference.
Nominate your Hero miners! These are mine employees who have been part of a life saving event. Here's your chance to recognize hero miners...and our chance to present them an award during our Annual Southeast Mine Safety and Health Conference.
The award presentation event will be held during the Opening Session on October 31, 2023 when mining professionals from across America will be present. The Conference Executive committee will review all of the nominations and honor the top 15 recipients from our mining community.
Each of these miners will be offered free attendance at the conference. Photos of each miner receiving the award will be provided.
Do not delay! Safe job performance should not go unrecognized. The best safety records always affect your bottom line and recognition of these miners will further your safety cause.
Please note that this honor can only be received once per deserving miner.
Your application should include the following:
Miner Name & Brief Description of Job
Mine Name/Location/Contact Information
Years/time worked
Ideas from this miner as to what led to his/her safety success.
Nominations must be received before September 19, 2024. Email nominations to [email protected]
Please Note:
Due to the limited funding our organization has available we can sponsor only conference registration for 40 Year Safe Miner and/or HeroAward Recipients but can't cover travel expenses. With our limited resources our group's guiding principles can only allow the 40 Year Safe Miner and/or HeroAward to be presented to deserving persons that can also attend the conference and are willing to take part in the award ceremony portion of the conference kickoff event.
Hero Award
This award was developed by the conference to honor miners who demonstrate courage in life threatening situations by utilizing their safety training to save lives! 2018 Award Recipient Sibelco Red Hill Facility
Brian Gibbs (Leach Operator)
Bill Swann (Packager)
David Ayers (Furnace Operator)
Rodney Huskins (QQ Operator)
Scott Butler (Tank Farm Operator)
Blake Parker (Shift Supervisor)
On December 26, 2017 Joe Ollis was taking his break inside the 5th floor operators office along with Brandon Buchanan. Joe became dizzy and told Brandon he didn’t feel well, he reached for the door and collapsed. Brandon called on the radio for assistance from supervisor Blake Parker. The AED was grabbed and employees began CPR. Employees, Brian Gibbs, Rodney Huskins, Scottie Butler, David Ayers, and Bill Swann all assisted in doing CPR. The AED was applied and initiated approximately 5 shocks to Joe, each shock he showed some improvement. The paramedics arrived and Joe was taken to Johnson City Medical center by way of helicopter. Joe had severe blockage and had to have a defibrillator and pacemaker installed.
Hugh Talbert Merit Award
The Southeastern Mine Safety & Health Conference recognizes individuals that have demonstrated special contributions and efforts to enable the Mine Conference to a sustain it's successful history.
This individual must have demonstrated a mastery of the realtionships necessary for our partnerships between industry, government, and other employers. These relationships and networking have contributed greatly to the current success of the conference.
The individual shall be recognized by all conference committee members as a person to be relied upon to assist in multiple ways and over the days before, during, and after the conference.
Apply using this form complete and sent to [email protected]
2023 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | ine | Company | Key To Safety Success | Photo |
| Hubert (Huey) Shieder | 40 | Senior Maintenance Planner | Harleyville Cement Plant | Argos | I started out at a young age in the cement industry and had several coworkers and mentors over the years to help guide me through my journey. I would always talk to my peers about the task at hand and look for hazards to minimize the risk. The main goal was to be able to go home to my family like the way I left them. I got to see great improvements over the years with the safety equipment. One example is going from a safety belt and lanyard to a body harness with a shock-absorber.I would like to thank my coworkers and company for allowing me to have this opportunity |  |
| Richard Page | 42 | Night Shift Manager, production, shipping, maintenance | Cumberland River Quarry | Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel | Working alongside a lot of good men, knowing we all had each other’s back. At the end of a shift, we all had families at home. The aggregate industry provided us with the means to provide for them. |  |
| Michael Alderman | 43 | Maintenance Project Coordinator | Wingate Creek Mine | Mosaic | Working Safely is a team effort from all levels of the organization in order to go home safely every day. |  |
| James Kirkland | 46 | Maintenance Palnner | Four Corners | Mosaic | Safety is everyone's responsbility. So, always look out for yourself and your co-workers. |  |
| Cliff Hancock | 43 | Dragline Maintenance Mechanic | Four Corners | Mosaic | Always paying attention to your surroundings and watching out for your fellow employees |  |
2022 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | Mine | Company | Key To Safety Success | Photo |
| Danny Maldonado | 46 | Mobile Equipment Operator | Four Corners | Mosaic | Always look out for yourself and your co-workers. |
|
| David Albritton | 47 | Crane Operator | Wingate Creek Mine | Mosaic | Always maintain clear communication between you and your co-workers. |
|
| Kenny Ricks | 48 | Dragline Maintenance Superintendent | South Pasture | Mosaic | Working Safely is a team effort from all levels of the organization in order to complete the work and go home safely every day. |
|
| Mike Nelson | 45 | Quality Control Manager | Cumberland River Quarry | Pine Bluff Sand And Gravel | Working together with your co-workers is essential in this industry. Watch out for each other and be willing to lend a hand when someone needs help |
|
| Robin Ray | 44 | Secondary Plant Foreman | Cumberland River Quarry | Pine Bluff Sand And Gravel | Having a lot of patience. Don't get in a hurry. Don't hesitate to take advice from your co-workers |
|
2021 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | Mine | Company | Safety Success | Photo |
| Ken Kary | 41 | Safety Manager | Falkirk Mine North Dakota | NA Coal | Throughout my entire 41 years in the mining industry working for North American Coal I have always been given the Time, Resources, Equipment, Training, and Support from All Levels of Management to perform my job safely. Working Safely and maintaining a Safe Work Environment takes Effort, Engagement, and Commitment in order to complete your work and go home safely to your family every day. |  |
| Frank Sirmons | 42 | Dragline Operator | South Fort Meade Mine | Mosaic | Working Safely is a team effort from all levels of the organization in order to complete the work and go home safely every day. |  |
| Ruby Hudson | 43 | Float Plant Operator | Wingate Creek Mine | Mosaic | Always look out for yourself and your co-workers. |  |
| David "Bones" Turner | 44 | Electrician | Four Corners Mine | Mosaic | Always double check to make sure systems are de-energized before starting work. |  |
| Paul Riddle | 40 | Pit loader operator | Cumberland River Quarry | Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel | Always paying attention to his surroundings and watching out for his fellow employees |  |
| Jeff Harris | 40 | EHS Manager | Alabama Plant | Omaya, Inc | I have always cared about myself and all employees going home safely to their families every day. It is not enough to look after yourself and be safe, but to look after all your co-workers and let them know if they start to do something unsafe. Safety doesn’t stop when you leave work, though – you should carry safety home with you and adopt a safety attitude 24/7/365 |  |
2019 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | Mine | Company | Safety Success |
| Brice Mock | 40 | DFA Technician | Wrens, GA Plant | KaMin | I’ve always tried to keep a positive attitude, use common sense and treat my Coworkers with respect. There are lots of hazards in the workplace that you have to be aware of. Always use the right tool for the job, take your time and ask for help when you need it. You need to also have a good exercise routine and stay fit. Get enough rest before work. It’s important to be mentally and physically prepared. |
| Derek McIntyre | 41 | Maintenance Coordinator | Roberta Plant | Argos | I put my safe working record down to thinking a job through before starting it and if I ever had any doubts would ask for help or advice. I would never start a job if I thought there was a risk of an injury and would never ask anyone else to do anything unsafe either. I want to go home to my family at the end of each day. |
| Donnie Wolfenbarger | 40 | Production Manager | Luttrell Operations | Carmeuse | Paying attention to what you are doing |
| Eddie Lee Edwards | 40 | Mechanic | Ruby Quarry | Martin Marietta | Take the time to look at what you are doing. Be smart with your decisions. Think about what you are working on, taking time to step back and look at the job before you begin |
| James Christmas | 44 | Dragline Operator | Four Corners Mine | Mosaic | Leading by example and not taking shortcuts led to my safety success. |
| Jerry Duncan | 40 | Track Team Leader | Sandersville, GA Plant | KaMin | PAYING ATTENTION, LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, & A LOT OF LUCK! |
| Joe Parler | 40 | Maintenance Lead Mechanic | Harleyville Cement Plant | Argos | I make sure that I am aware of my surroundings before I start my job, looking for hazards that could affect what I’m doing. Being aware and alert is an important part of staying safe |
| Kenneth Wren | 40 | Maintenance Lead | US Silica | US Silica | Safety is a state of mind, not an action you do |
| Larry Bates | 40 | RAL Lab Team Leader | Macon, GA Plant | KaMin | Staying focused on what you are doing. Always pay attention to working conditions and your surroundings. Most of all, always think about your family, what happens to me affects them. |
| LC Mack | 40 | Warehouseman | McIntyre, Georgia | Covia Corporation | LC is certain that making sure one always does the right thing is the key reason he has been safe all of these years. In general, working safe and being careful, whether at work or home, has guaranteed a fulfilling 40 years working in the mining industry |
| Marvin Lutz | 40 | Loader Operator | O'Neal Plant Calera, AL | Martin Marietta | Everyone looking out for each other. Working as a team. |
| Mike Wiggins | 40 | Quality Engineer | Sandersville, GA Plant | KaMin | I would contribute being accident free during my career to two things: • Training and a safety culture above anything else • Commitment from myself to return home to my family as I left each day. I have a personal responsibility to my family to lead them and support them, which I always have in the back of my mind. I would contribute being accident free during my career to two things: • Training and a safety culture above anything else • Commitment from myself to return home to my family as I left each day. I have a personal responsibility to my family to lead them and support them, which I always have in the back of my mind. |
| Neslie Johnson | 45 | Wet Rock Operator | Four Corners Mine | Mosaic | Watching out for not only myself but my co-workers led to my safety success. |
| Ricky Giddens | 40 | Pilot Plant Technologist | Macon, GA Plant | KaMin | I am fortunate to work with a company that is truly concerned for each employee’s safety. I have always tried to listen and learn from my peers in the mining industry. We look out for each other and it pays off. |
| Ronnie Cantrell | 40 | Equipment Operator | Luttrell Operations | Carmeuse | Watching out for yourself and others |
| Sess Maxwell | 40 | Plant Operator | Alexander City Quarry | Midsouth Paving Inc. | Being aware of my surroundings. |
| Timothy Dominy | 40 | Production Manager | Sandersville, GA Plant | KaMin | I believe working with coworkers that look out for one another and will speak up if they see something unsafe AND I keep Safety first. |
| Tom Thach | 40 | Foreman, Market Analyst, and Engineer | Southeast Division (North Georgia) | Martin Marietta | Thankfully the good Lord was looking out for me early in my career when I did some aggressive and not so safe things. As the years progressed, my perception of safety changed for the better. Being safe became the utmost priority and is the cornerstone of an industry that I have been proud to serve for 40 years. On a personal level I have always tried to think in advance about the consequences of my actions while on the job. The support of more experienced miners throughout my career has played an extremely positive role in my safety record. |
| Tom Yarberry | 40 | Maintenance Manager | Luttrell Operations | Carmeuse | Always being cautious and tried to see what kind of hazards were present and mitigate them before doing the work, kind of like the SLAM now. It all about making sure you have the right parts and tools for the job and planning everything out and doing it safe. |
2018 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | Mine | Company | Safety Success |
| David Kemp | 40 | Supervisor | Argos | G & R Mineral Services | |
| Jackie Mayes | 40 | Bull Gang Lead for Hoisting & Shafts | Young, Immel, and Coy Mines; New Market, TN | Nyrstar | Jackie feels that treating people right and giving them support can lead to a clear mind and work. He also believes that miners who make sound fundamental workplace examinations can help avoid injures. Lastly, Jackie feels that it takes miners looking out for each of their brothers to ensure everyone makes it home safe, each and every day…it is just part of what we do. |
| James Bryant | 40 | Maintenance Mechanic | Atlanta Plant | Argos Cement | “Working Forty Years in the mining industry without a medical injury, some might say that’s pure luck. For the beginning part of my career I might have to agree. However, as time moved on changes came that opened my eyes to view not only tasks that needed to be completed, but on what was the most important thing. I realized that both on and off the job the most important thing was the value of human life. It’s not only about looking out for yourself, but looking out for others as well. If you feel it’s unsafe then it probably is. Never be afraid to speak up on the behalf of safety.” |
| Rogers Till | 40 | Sandy Ridge Plant | American Colloid Company | Rogers says, in the early years, I owe my safety success to the advice and guidance of co-workers. They would tell me of “close calls”, this was before Near Misses were regularly documented. Some of these close calls were from earlier years and some I had to experience / witness for myself. After becoming a supervisor I began to feel the full weight of being responsible for the safety of my employees, the warnings of hazards and teachings naturally rubbed off on me. Realizing that not only did I want them to go home un-harmed, but I wanted the same for myself. | |
| Eddie James White | 40 | Excavator Operator | Sandy Ridge Plant | American Colloid Company | Eddie James says that a lot of his success he owes to Jesus Christ, like when he didn’t always have complete control when he was driving the over the road truck. He was blessed that no one ever crossed the center line and hit him. And it was due to constant situational awareness whenever I was operating a piece of equipment. |
| Troy Lee Payne | 40 | Senior Mechanic | Maylene Quarry | Martin Marietta | "Always staying alert and watching out after team-mates cause we are all family” |
| Willie Lutz | 40 | Haul Truck Driver | Maylene Quarry | Martin Marietta | "Communication with employees" |
| Jimmy "Frank" Johnson | 40 | Supervisor | South Pasture Mine | Mosaic | Taking ownership of safety as well as looking out for coworkers |
| Paul Hershey | 42 | Utility Operator | Wingate Creek Mine | Mosaic | Always staying alert |
| Tommy Walker | 40 | Production Supervisor | South Fort Meade Mine | Mosaic | Looking out for myself but also my co-workers |
| Jerry Sutton | 40 | Equuipment Operator | South Fort Meade Mine | Mosaic | Clear communication before moving any piece equipment |
| Kerry Arnold | 40 | EHS Manager | Imerys Ceramics - Gleason Plant | Imerys | Always lead by example |
| Jason Harpe | 41 | Electrician | Clinchfield Cement Plant | Cemex Southeast LLC. | Mr. Harpe believes that being conscious about his work, thinking the job through and obeying all safety rules are just a few factors that has contributed to his safety success over the past 41 years a miner. |
| Thad Barber | 42 | Maintenance Tech | Newberry Cement Plant | Argos Cement | Thad states that hands on training from early supervisors, not taking short cuts and employees always looking out for each other was the key to having a long and injury free career |
| Clinton Durham | 41 | Loader Operator | Junction City Plant | Covia | Always think safety, no short cuts, and wear personal protective equipment. Pay attention to your surroundings. Thorough Pre-use inspection of mobile equipment. Always look for unsafe conditions and actions while on the Job. Always be safe when you come to work, leave work, and go back home to your family safe. |
| Benjamin Carswell | 45 | Process Operator | Edgar Plant | BASF | Observe, Close attention to details of the job will keep you safe |
| Elton Whipple | 45 | Process Operator | Gordon Plant | BASF | If you don’t know the safe way, research and ask |
| James R. Whipple, Jr. | 45 | Truck Driver | Gordon Plant | BASF | Taking the proper steps will get the proper results without injury |
| Elton “Buster” Grubbs | 45 | Electrician/Safety Coordinator | Gordon Plant | BASF | Developing safety procedures for everyone to follow, every time |
| Howard Johnson | 40 | Dredge Forman | Ledbettter Ky | Pine Bluff Materials | Taking the time to identify and eliminate all potential hazards to As low As reasonable possible. |
| Barry St Clair | 44 | Electrical Supervisor | Roanoke Cement Co | Titan America | Keeping safety top priority. Supporting safety programs that are in place. Caring for others and looking out for your fellow employees at all times. |
| Mike Hogan | 42 | Maintenance Repair | Roanoke Cement Co | Titan America | Following safety rules. Try to plan for what you have to do before working on a job in the safest way possible. Watching out for my coworkers. |
| Jesus G Socarras | 41 | Production Supervisor | Pennsuco Cement Plant | Titan America | |
| Tomas Burgos | 41 | Production Supervisor | Pennsuco Cement Plant | Titan America | |
| Danny Housewright | 43 | Maintenance | Chesney Mine , Luttrell, TN | Carmeuse | Always slammed the task, just didn’t know the name. Planned ahead what would be involved. |
| Tom Hunter | 42 | Mobile Equipment Operator | Chesney Mine , Luttrell, TN | Carmeuse | Know and understand the task. God overlooked and took care of me. |
| Mark D Yeary | 40 | Cntroller | Chesney Mine , Luttrell, TN | Carmeuse | Attention to detail |
| Steve Pennington | 43 | Mechanic | McIntyre, Georgia | Covia | Steve believes that always being aware of his surroundings and thinking the job through prior to starting work allowed him to work safely all these years. He notes that his coworkers contribute a lot to his safety success, as well. Without communication with other plant members, Steve believes he may not have been able to hit this milestone of 43 years without injury. |
| Helen Cribbs | 43 | Shop Supervisor | Norcross Central Services | Vulcan Materials | "My supervisors have instilled safety from day 1 and I want to see everyone including myself be able to go home to their families the same way they left home that morning. I just pay more attention to the little things that can always lead into bigger things. It does not take that much time or effort to make sure things are done the right way." |
| Arlie Lewis Jr | 41 | Loader Operator | Cave Run Stone | Hinkle Contracting Company LLC | Stay aware of your surroundings while you’re working. Use good judgement and good common sense. |
| Curtis Martin | 40 | Foreman | Basset Stone & Lake Cumberland Stone | Hinkle Contracting Company LLC | Look for the safest way to do the job, just don’t take unnecessary risks and use common sense. |
| Robert Free | 41 | Fines Recovery and Belt Press Operator | Columbia Quarry | Vulcan Materials | He has always and continues to be aware of his surroundings and keep close eyes on the his fellow workers. He believes in being safe at work allows you to go home to your family which needs you the most |
2017 Awards
40 Year Safe Miners
| Name | Yrs | Job Title | Mine | Company | Safety Success |
| Albert “Zeek” O’Neal | 44 | Plant Foreman | Knightdale Quarry | Wake Stone Corporation | Mr. O’Neal believes that thinking through a task before doing it has made the biggest impact on his ability to stay safe. Proper planning allows you to ensure you have gathered the right equipment, identified all potential hazards, and ensures everyone understands the course of action. |
| Johnnie D. Ritchie | 40 | Career Team Member | Contractor ID# AP6 | Process Machinery, Inc. | Johnnie (J.D.) Ritchie has completed 40 years of service working for contractors. When discussing his success in remaining free of injury, he attributes it to “thinking the job through” and eliminating the “what ifs.” The resources we have today to help protect miners and contractors were non-existent 40 years ago. |
| Michael Ferguson | 40 | Career Team Member | Contractor ID# AP7 | Process Machinery, Inc. | Mike Ferguson has completed 40 years without injury working in one of the more dangerous occupations in mining. When discussing his 40 years of success, he attributes it to “watching out for each other, knowing where everyone is and effective communication.” |
| Timothy R. Ross | 40 | Plant Operator | Maylene Quarry | Martin Marietta | Tim said what has led to his Safety success is working with a crew that's just like Family everyone is always looking out for one another every day and not being afraid to stop any unsafe work practices when someone sees something. |
| Phillip Taylor | 40 | Production Supervisor | Atlanta Plant | Argos Cement | “For me it was learning the potential hazards and risk and try to prevent accidents.” |
| Jackie Driver | 40 | Maintenance Supervisor | Atlanta Plant | Argos Cement | One is I had some good people training and looking after me in my early years. I was the youngest person in the plant for about 7 years and everyone seemed to care about my safety. I was also lucky, at times because we have a very old plant and have seen a lot of near misses. |
| Gary L. Lewis | 41 | Operations Manager | Maysville Underground | Dravo/Carmeuse | I would watch and listen to the older miners work in the beginning to know the difference between right and wrong. Get involved in mine rescue training which helped a lot as well. I worked on doing it right and getting other miners involved. |
| Joe Weber | 41 | Health and Safety Manager, Trainer | Maysville Kiln Plant | Dravo/Carmeuse | Getting the task completed in a safe manner so I could go home every day the same way I came in to work. I always tried to work with the miners to inspire them to work safe. |
| Sammy Linville | 40 | Kiln Operator | Black River Operation | Carmeuse | I’ve always believed in Safety first then production. I work hard to encourage my fellow coworkers to follow the work procedures that our company has put in place. There will always be a need to improve procedures but following the procedures are valuable. Everyone needs to make sure when you come to work that you go home the same way you came and to go home to your family. I teach Safety now so it’s even more important because my standard for safety is my top priority on the job and off the job. |
| Ernie Meyer | 44 | Production Supervisor | Black River Operation | Carmeuse | Work area exams are #1. Report anything you believe to be unsafe- if I’m not able to make it safe. Safety audits on my own or with others routinely done. Slams—they do work. PPE. Observations. |
| Tom Boyd | 41 | Chief Flotation Operator | Wingate Creek Mine | Mosaic | |
| John Shirley | 42 | Electrical Planner | Four Corners Mine | Mosaic | Take your time to plan the job, follow the procedures. Never take short cuts |
| Tim Edmonds | 41 | Supervisor | Cumberland River Quarry | Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel | In 1987 his best friend drowned at 3 River Quarry. He said he never wanted to experience something like that again. He said he always makes sure his employees that work under him know the importance of working safe and the importance of going home to their family and friends every day. |
| Chapman Oneal Howard | 40 | Leadperson, equipment operator and performs maintenance | Tuscumbia | Vulcan Materials Company | paying attention, doing the right thing, following the rules and never taking short cuts |
| Kenneth Johnson | 40 | Plant Manager | Appling Quarry, Morgan County Quarry, Newton County Quarry | Martin Marietta | Martin Marietta has taught safety since my employment. I contribute a lot of my safety success to discussing safety topics that affect our well-being |
| Mike Dobbs | 44 | Area Production Manager | Forsyth Quarry, Jefferson Quarry, Auburn GA Quarry, Lithonia Quarry | Martin Marietta | 1. “Always looking for ways to do things safer and easier. 2. If you find a near miss, look at the root cause and make sure changes are made to prevent it from happening again. 3. Look for unsafe conditions and either fix the problem or share with your supervisor to have them addressed. 4. Always wear your PPE when in the plant area. 5. Always use your tools and machinery safely and as designed by the manufacturer. 6. Be aware of your surroundings as you work and drive. 7. Watch out for other employees or coworkers to ensure they out of harm’s way. 8. Never take risks or short cuts that could lead to an injury. 9. Learn from your mistakes.” |
| Grady Smith | 40 | Senior Mechanic | Lithonia Quarry | Martin Marietta | “Family to make sure that I was there for them. I care about my life and want to be there for my family. To make sure I was there for my kids. My dad was not in my life as much so I wanted to be there for my kids and knowing if I was hurt or died it would have cut them short of having a dad in their |
| Freddy Davis | 40 | Director of Maintenance | KaMin Performance Minerals | KaMin LLC | I had an accident at 11 years old that caused the loss of part of my left index finger. I guess from that point on I realized how quick something bad can happen if you don’t keep your mind on the task you are performing. |
| Ralph Graham | 40 | Maintenance Superintendent | Hephzibah Plant | Unimin | Ralph credits his success to close observation and not taking short-cuts |
| Mark Davis | 41 | Area Operations Manager | Black River Operations | Carmeuse Lime & Stone | Keys to safety success include training, experience, education, practice, working with others and the support of God. |
| Wiley Longworth III (Donnie) | 43 | Production Supervisor | Luttrell Operation | Carmeuse Lime & Stone | What inspired him to work safe to be able to enjoy his wife, children and Grandchildren in his golden years |
| Ralph Wiggins | 42 | Mechanic | South Fort Meade | Mosaic | Lead by example and never take short cuts |
| Danny Garner | 45 | Loader Operator | Bennett’s Lake Quarry | Signal Mountain Cement | Danny says that he has remained safe all these years because he not only respects himself and those around him, but also the machinery that he deals with. |
| Lloyd Hurley | 41 | Bulk Loader | Sylacauga | Imerys Carbonates | Back when I started, safety wasn't as important as it is today. I always paid attention to what was going on around me to keep safe. |
| Kelly Stroud | 40 | Administrator/Control Systems | Sylacauga | Imerys Carbonates | I guess just a little bit of luck and always following safety rules have kept me safe. |
| Daniel King | 40 | Supervisor/Bulk Loading | Sylacauga | Imerys Carbonates | Ask him at the conference. |
2017 Hero Award
Barry Williams
2017 Southeast Mine Safety and Health Conference
Cemex, Demopolis, AL Cement Plant
When Barry Williams, an owner operator driver for New Line Transport, got into his truck and set out to pick up a load of cement at the CEMEX Demopolis, Alabama Cement Plant on August 1, 2017, he had no idea he’d return home a hero.
But, thanks to his quick actions and commitment to safety, that’s exactly what happened.
Williams was headed down Highway 80 just a few miles outside of Demopolis when he witnessed a harrowing accident.
The collision caused a car to spin out and careen over a bridge barricade into a creek.
Alarmed, Williams pulled over and ran to the bridge.
“At that point, I was trying to see if the driver was going to get out, but she wasn’t,” Williams said. “The only thing going through my mind was, ‘This woman is drowning. I could literally stand there and see her take her last breath.’”
He knew he didn’t have a lot of time. He threw his phone and wallet to the ground and climbed down the embankment into the creek.
“With the help and strength of God, I was able to climb down into the water. I had to pry the door open using my feet to push off the car,” he said. “Me and another passerby were trying to pull her out, but I realized she still had her seatbelt on. I had to go under the water to take it off, and then we were able to drag her to the bank and stay there with her until the rescuers got there.”
Demopolis emergency officials who responded to the scene took the woman to the hospital. Williams said he went to visit her on the following Saturday, and that she was on the road to recovery.
“When you drive for a living, you are putting your life and the lives of others in your hands every day. That’s why driver safety training like the Smith System is so important,” Williams said. “That can be the difference between a safe day on the job and a potential tragedy. I’m just happy that I was able to help this time, and this woman can go on and live her life. I truly believe that God put me there that day.”
“We at CEMEX are duly impressed by the heroic and selfless actions Williams took,” said Matt Wild, CEMEX USA’s executive vice president of logistics.
On August 17, the Demopolis, AL, City Council and the Demopolis Police Department recognized Williams’ heroic actions, gifting him a Key to the City and Medal of Valor.
2016 Awards
Click here to view 2016 40 Year Safe Miner Awards
2016 Hero Award
From KaMin Performance Minerals – Wrens Plant
Recipients names:
Barrett Samuels
Marvin Shelton
Kenneth Joiner
Anthony Riddle
John Avery
Tim Williams
Madison Earl
Kyle Downs
Mike Chance
Lisa Adams
Charles Newsome
Jordan Delaney