Concrete Tech program set for fall 2011 semester in Alpena, July open house

Source: Alpena (Mich.) Community College (ACC)

At the urging of industry and community partners, ACC is reopening the two-year Concrete Technology program, recruiting freshman candidates to fill 35 slots and announcing first-come, first-served availability of 20 $500 ACC Foundation scholarships for first-year students. The program offers an associate’s degree with general curriculum plus courses involving hands-on instruction related to materials technology, mix production and concrete product machinery.

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OSHA conducts national survey on employers’ safety management systems

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration

A recently launched survey of private sector employees under OSHA’s jurisdiction will continue through July, with data collection anticipated in August. The Baseline Survey of Safety and Health Practices will be used to better design future rules, compliance assistance and outreach efforts. As many as 19,000 private sector employers nationwide will receive the survey; participation is voluntary.

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NRMCA calls for entries in Training, Quality Awards

Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.

NRMCA is accepting through August 1 entries from producer member companies demonstrating the most innovative training initiatives of 2010–2011. The Innovation in Training Award winner will be recognized at NRMCA’s 2011 ConcreteWorks on September 26 in San Diego. Furthermore, the winning producer’s program will be featured in a best-practices article in NRMCA’s quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus. Middle Tennessee State University’s Concrete Institute Management faculty will serve as judges.

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Arizona’s Drake Cement consummates Peruvian parent’s U.S. entry

Sources: Drake Cement, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Cementos Lima, S.A., Peru; CP staff

By Don Marsh

Officials of the Southwest’s newest integrated player have scheduled a June 17 grand opening for a $300 million, 600,000-plus tons/year capacity cement plant in northern Arizona. More than 10 years in the making, Drake Cement is located in Yavapai County, near the historic rail town of Paulden and 35 miles north of Prescott.

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Hancock Concrete acquires Hanson Pipe’s S. Dakota plant

Source: Hancock Concrete Products, LLC, Hancock, Minn.; CP staff

A Sioux Falls, S.D., plant has netted Hancock Concrete an eighth site and allowed Hanson Pipe & Precast to exit a market isolated from the core of its two main regions. With a strong local economy, the Sioux Falls area provides an attractive business setting for Hancock Concrete, notes company president Rob Schmigdall, adding, “This purchase aligns well with our growth strategy and long range vision … and will also help us restore some production capacity lost after a fire at our Lake View, Iowa plant.”

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Rolling stock at center of Lafarge Health & Safety Month

Source: Lafarge North America, Reston, Va.

 “Transportation and mobile equipment safety” is the theme of Lafarge NA’s 2011 Health & Safety Month, with events across concrete, aggregate and cement businesses focused on vehicular safety. Throughout June, Lafarge Group plants around the world will acknowledge their health and safety achievements and build program awareness through demonstrations, access to on-site health and wellness professionals, and community events that promote health and safety beyond the workplace.

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