Dragon Concrete Division Goes More Than Four Years Without a Lost-Time Injury

Record equals nearly 650,000 work hours

The Concrete Division of Dragon Cement and Concrete has successfully completed four years - close to 650,000 work hours - without a lost-time injury among the nearly 100 employees who work in the division.

The new safety record marks the sixth time in eight years that the division, which operates 11 concrete plants statewide, has been recognized for safety achievements.

"Our employees deserve recognition for this achievement, as they have maintained a solid program of safe practices despite working in the field or in other situations that are certainly not risk-free," said Dave Grinnell, vice president and head of the Concrete Division.

The Concrete Division of Dragon Products delivers ready-mix concrete to construction projects throughout the state.

A safety program initiated at Dragon several years ago rewards employees for safety. For example, when employees in each division go a full quarter without a lost-time injury, all employees in that division receive a gift certificate safety reward. In addition, employees fill out forms to report unsafe practices, so the situation can be corrected to prevent mishaps. Each quarter the employees go without a lost-time injury, the higher the amount of the gift certificates.

"Going four years without a lost time injury is an even greater accomplishment when you think of where these employees work," Grinnell added. "Our mixer drivers are out in the field, on the road, delivering product to job sites, and they often work alone so they don't have the support system that others do. For them to stay safe - continuously for four years - is an achievement worthy of recognition."

Grinnell, who joined Dragon in 1991, is a resident of Scarborough.

"Dave Grinnell is clearly a leader in this area. He sets the standards by which the employees follow, and in this case, he has put safe practices at the top of the list, which is commendable," said Joseph M. Koch, III, president of Dragon Cement and Concrete. "Our goal is always to send everyone home as healthy as they were when they arrived, and the Concrete Division is doing just that."

The company plans a recognition dinner for its employees in December.

Headquartered at 38 Preble Street in Portland, Dragon employs 230 statewide and has 11 concrete plants throughout Maine, which are located in Biddeford, Portland, Brunswick, Lewiston, Augusta, Fairfield, Canton, Westbrook, Farmington, Presque Isle and Madawaska. In Thomaston, Dragon also operates New England's only cement manufacturing facility. In addition to the safety awards, the company also has earned a number of environmental awards in recent years.

Dragon has supplied cement or concrete to many major building projects throughout the state, such as the Portland Jetport parking garage, Central Maine Medical Center expansion, University of Southern Maine expansion, Maine Turnpike widening and I-95 bridges in Fairfield. Other projects include the BIW expansion, the Casco Bay Bridge in Portland, the Brunswick/Topsham Bypass, the Portland International Jetport expansion, Hadlock Field, as well as some of the cement for the Big Dig tunnel project in Boston. For additional information on the firm, visit www.dragonproducts.com.

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