NIOSH Mining Program Announces Recipient of Innovation Award

Press Contact: Stephanie Stevens (202) 245-0641

Out-of-the-box thinking improves worker health, company gains alert workforce

PITTSBURGH – The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Program, in conjunction with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), recognized Granite Mountain Quarries and Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Company with the 2017 NIOSH Mine Safety and Health Technology Innovations Award in the stone, sand and gravel sector in a ceremony during NSSGA’s fall board meeting and legislative and policy forum on September 25.

Granite Mountain Quarries and Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Company, a multi-operational company, won the award for its innovative application of a health and wellness program for workers and spouses. The company instituted the program after noting the health of many of their workers was troubling and affecting the workers’ fitness for duty, potentially setting up dangerous conditions on the job.

The holistic, supportive wellness program led many workers to lose weight, quit smoking, and discover numerous underlying health issues through physicals, screenings and health coaching. To encourage its employees to take part in the program, the company rewarded participating workers. The company reports their workers now show up for work energetic, alert and ready to concentrate on their work.

“Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel and Granite Mountain Quarries’ comprehensive, incentivized wellness program is a holistic approach that helps mine workers show up to work feeling well and able to concentrate on their jobs, and also live healthy lives off the clock,” said NIOSH Associate Director for Mining Dr. Jessica Kogel. “This is a wonderful example of tackling a big problem with a smart intervention, and it’s been a win-win for both the company and the employees.”

The NIOSH Mining Program invites nominations throughout the year for its awards series, which offers awards in four different sectors of the mining industry. For more information, visit the awards webpage.

NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about NIOSH, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/.