Every season, all US Aggregates® locations are required to lead an Emergency Action Drill (EAD) with their team. These drills get better and better every year; our teams are always finding ways to make them more realistic and relevant to the dangers at their specific sites. Safety at US Aggregates is a culture and is embedded in the way we operate.
Being proactive with safety is key and our team accomplishes this by submitting safety submissions through our Safety Rewards Program and participating in annual EADs. The learnings from these are shared across our weekly safety calls so that locations can learn from others and create safer practices at their respective sites.
This year, our Thorntown and Delphi crews used their creativity to create scenarios that have not been explored in previous years. Thorntown utilized our drill team in a staged drill rig medical emergency situation. Delphi simulated a person falling into the pond and worked with local conservation officers.
Thorntown EAD Recap
Thorntown’s EAD simulated a situation in which an onsite drill rig operator suffered an injury. The Thorntown team collaborated with the US Aggregates drill team, aiming to observe the teamwork between both groups. The emergency drill was placed in a secluded area away from the main areas of the plant to add an extra challenge and see how fast the team could locate the victim.
On the morning of the EAD, the drill team arrived to provide task training for two Thorntown team members, focusing on proper use of the drill rig. During the training session, they sent one drill team member and one Thorntown team member away to perform other tasks while the Thorntown team set up the EAD scene. They staged a training mannequin caught in the drill rig auger with major injuries, and the first team member to return to the scene had to take charge.
The Thorntown team reacted quickly and applied appropriate medical treatment for the specific injuries sustained. In the future, the team will educate plant operators on the location of the first aid kit and trauma bags in the drill rig, implement hourly check-ins with the drill rig crew and provide all contractors and visitors with radios when on-site. A big thanks to the drill team for their collaboration in prepping and executing the drill.
Delphi EAD Recap
Delphi’s EAD simulated two teenagers wandering the property and one of them falling into the water. After the Delphi team was notified of someone falling into the water, they quickly called 911 and confirmed the estimated arrival time. Two teammates went to the barn, asking a shop team member to bring life vests while retrieving the boat. Another teammate grabbed a truck with a trailer for the boat. A few minutes later, the team entered the water, pulled the fake victim out and began CPR. They continued CPR at shore until EMTs and water rescue teams arrived.
Conservation officers were brought in afterwards to share valuable information and tips on water safety. They recommended getting a Type IV personal floatation device (PFD) and moving the truck after launching the boat to allow other rescue boats quicker access to the pond. The importance of prompt response times was also stressed considering hypothermia can happen under 75°, and if a victim has hypothermia, there typically is only a 1-hour window for survival.
Delphi is currently working on getting a storage cabinet for the barn to keep boat rescue items: PFD’s, trauma bag, blankets and stretchers. They are also adjusting the boat’s crank on the trailer’s tongue to ensure the boat doesn’t sit too far forward on the trailer.
Major shout-out to our Thorntown and Delphi locations for leading such high-level EAD’s. Also, big thank you to our local emergency personnel who supported our crew during these two emergency action drills. This invaluable training ensures our miners are well prepared for any emergencies that may take place. (Photos by: SLC Photography)
Written by: Anthony Treadaway
