As crushed stone, sand and gravel production largely continues across the nation, aggregate producers are taking precautions to keep their employees, customers and vendors safe and healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the last week and a half, a number of the largest producers in the U.S. detailed the measures they’re taking to keep operations running while prioritizing the well-being of those connected to them.
Cemex USA, for example, has a webpage sharing the company’s response to the coronavirus. On the webpage, Cemex USA President Jaime Muguiro notes how employees have been encouraged to follow social distancing and personal hygiene recommendations.
Additionally, employees have been instructed to stay home if they are sick and to avoid non-essential travel. Employees are also being asked to avoid attending business-related events.
“We want to keep our people healthy so you get the cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete you need, when you need it,” Muguiro writes.
Similarly, Rogers Group President and CEO Darin Matson penned a letter March 17 detailing his company’s response to the coronavirus. In the letter, which is housed on Rogers Group’s website, Matson announces that Rogers Group is fully operational, executing construction projects and producing and supplying materials from all aggregate facilities and asphalt plants.
“The current events are fluid and changing daily, if not hourly,” Matson writes. “Our team members will continue to be in contact through a variety of means, including phone, text, email and video conferencing to keep you updated.”
Vulcan Materials is also making adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the company shares on its website that it has temporarily suspended all in-person interviews due to precautions it is taking at all facilities to protect employees and their families. As an alternative, Vulcan says candidates may be asked to participate in virtual interviews to continue the recruiting process for critical positions.
Granite Construction also has a coronavirus update on its website. The company is encouraging employees who can to work from home to do so while donating N-95 respirators to local hospitals and first responders.
“Our infrastructure projects are critical to the communities that they serve, and Granite remains committed to delivering our work to owners to the best of our abilities,” Granite Construction writes online. “As we learn more over the coming hours, days and weeks, we want to reassure you that Granite will continue to take responsible actions for our employees, communities and business partners so that together we can do our part to help contain this virus.”
A number of other top producers also address their handling of the coronavirus online, including Carmeuse, Dolese, Lehigh Hanson, Martin Marietta, MDU Resources and New Enterprise Stone & Lime.
For additional P&Q coverage related to the coronavirus, visit our dedicated webpage.
