Salisbury Shop reaches 1 million hours of safe work

At the end of June, the shop serving sites across Martin Marietta reached 1 million hours without a lost-time incident

Salisbury Shop is celebrating a momentous achievement.

At the end of June, the shop serving sites across Martin Marietta reached 1 million hours without a lost-time incident.

During a celebratory lunch, the team reflected on its collective achievement and discussed how to maintain the momentum.

Austin Shrewsbury, shop manager, started the celebration by emphasizing that the next noteworthy checkpoint will only be reached through an ongoing commitment to safety.

“This is a great milestone, but I’d argue the path to our next milestone starts with the decisions we make today,” Shrewsbury said. “It starts with your first action when you head back to work this afternoon, the first SLAM you do today, your first pick, your first weld. That’s the next milestone – the decision you make today.”

With this honor, and having now gone seven years without a reportable incident, the Salisbury Shop team solidifies its facility as one of Martin Marietta’s safest.

“Words really aren’t adequate enough to say just how impressive this is,” said Vice President of Safety & Health Michael Hunt to the group of about 60. “I truly hope you recognize all the effort you put in every single day to reach this point.”

After noting Salisbury was in the top 2% of safe Martin Marietta operations, Hunt said he and others will look to the team for guidance when needed.

“You face unique challenges every day, and you do it in an exemplary manner. So, we’ll be reaching out for your perspectives,” Hunt said. “Everyone here today must continue to take your time, recalibrate yourself and recommit to our Guardian Angel Creed.”

The Salisbury Shop is particularly special as all of its work is in support of its fellow Martin Marietta operations.

With the company currently operating well over 1,000 crushers, the talented batch of Salisbury welders, mechanics, machinists, truck drivers, and warehouse employees keeps safe while staying busy.

“Our biggest success is that we work together and look out for each other. If we see something that is unsafe, we say something,” said Mechanic Hunter Clodfelter. “Also, we do a lot of SLAMs. They help us see the big picture of what we’re working on and make us discuss and think about what we are doing so we can mitigate hazards.”

Master Mechanic Matt Shumaker agreed. “Since we have so many different machines, every day is extremely dynamic. There is never a routine day,” he said. “Also, since we have so many new teammates, we are constantly teaching and mentoring the less experienced. We have an environment of learning. We are here to help and to support each other.”