The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) named Matthew Bunner, safety manager for Mulzer Crushed Stone, its 2015 James M. Christie Safety & Health Professional of the Year. The award recognizes an individual for substantial contributions and commitment to safety and healthy operating practices.
According to NSSGA, Bunner developed an aggressive safety audit program that enabled Mulzer Crushed Stone to reduce hazards, as well as training materials that increased the support for safety training among workers and management.
Bunner is a Certified Mine Safety Professional and a member of NSSGA’s Safety and Health Committee, which develops and implements best practices for safety. He is a two-term chair of the Indiana Mineral Aggregate Association’s (IMAA) Safety Committee and has previously received the IMAA’s President’s Award, reports NSSGA.
“Matt has made a substantial impact on safety and health throughout the entire United States,” says Mike Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO. “Advocacy is job No. 1 for NSSGA, but truly safety is job No. 1 for aggregates operations around the country. Matt’s diligent work and achievements clearly illustrate our industry’s commitment to working to reduce injuries in support of NSSGA’s guiding principles of optimal workplace safety and health.”
The James M. Christie Safety and Health Professional of the Year was created in 1987 by the National Stone Association to recognize Jim Christie, the corporate safety director for Vulcan Materials Co., after his death. The award will be presented as part of NSSGA’s opening general session on March 21 at its annual convention in Nashville, Tenn.
