Here are a few of the AGG1 Academy educational sessions scheduled for today that we thought looked interesting. If you attend one of these, let us know what you think.

Tuesday, March 19

7:30 – 9 a.m.

T46: Applying Lean Manufacturing Principles in the Aggregates  Business — Scott Dickson, Lehigh Hanson and Ian Firth, HeidelbergCement Group

In the spring of 2010, Lehigh Hanson made a commitment to improve the efficiency of its North American quarry operations. This presentation will examine the general framework for the quarry improvement program, its high level goals, progress against those goals, and key learnings 20 months into the program.

9:30 – 11 a.m.

T51: Conveyor Safety: Training, Guarding, and Best Practices — Jerad Heitzler, Martin Engineering

Belt conveyors move material faster, less expensively, and more effectively than any other bulk material handling process. As important as conveyors are, the opportunity to make improvements to them is often overlooked. Learn how many of these improvements help keep workers safe.

2 – 3:30 p.m.

T61: Planning for the Future Inspections - MSHA’s Rules to Live By — Jason Nutzman, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rolled out its “Rules to Live By” program in February 2010 and has since pushed out two additional initiatives in November 2010 and April 2012. Since 2010, MSHA has focused its attention on 19 metal/non-metal safety standards that have been the cause of, or have contributed to, fatal accidents in the mining industry since 2000. This presentation will discuss the results of this initiative to date and the enforcement tactics MSHA has taken with respect to this program. Understanding MSHA’s focus will enable operators to prepare for future inspections based on MSHA’s past enforcement history.