Terry Browning, safety and health manager for Vulcan Materials Company’s Midwest region in Naperville, Ill., has been named the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) 2010 James M. Christie Safety & Health Professional by a panel of NSSGA members for his “leadership in helping to dramatically reduce injuries among aggregates workers.”

Created in 1987, the James M. Christie Safety and Health Professional of the Year award recognizes an individual who, through his or her work in the association, has made superior and substantial contributions to his or her company’s — and the industry’s — efforts toward proactive safety and health operating practices.

The award presentation is scheduled as part of NSSGA’s Annual Honors Awards ceremony on March 23, 2011, at NSSGA’s 2011 Annual Convention in Las Vegas. The convention coincides with the ConExpo-Con/Agg.

For more than two decades, Browning has been instrumental in leading efforts to reduce injuries and illnesses, NSSGA says. “These efforts have contributed to consecutive years in reducing the incidence rate in the aggregates industry to a record low,” according to the association.

Since Browning’s 2003 arrival at Vulcan Materials Company, he worked to change company culture so that all workers have a say in efforts to reduce injuries and illnesses. Browning also developed best practices in loss-control systems and audits.

Furthermore, says NSSGA, he has been involved in efforts to implement the industry’s Safety Pledge by which companies commit to helping the broader aggregates industry to reduce injuries and illnesses. Browning has taken a lead role in helping reduce Vulcan’s injury incidence rate by 50 percent.

Browning also was an important NSSGA Safety and Health Committee member in thwarting the 2008 S-Miner legislation believed to be counter to practices that actually improve worker safety. He has presented at numerous U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Spring Thaw meetings and has been honored by four different states as safety man of the year.

“Terry’s diligent work as a long-time active leader of NSSGA’s Safety and Health Committee, to boost safety awareness, is a great example of the aggregates industry’s commitment to worker safety celebrated by the James M. Christie Award,” said NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson in a press statement. “Terry [Browning] embodies all that’s excellent about NSSGA’s member companies’ commitment to the well-being of their employees.”