Saudi Readymix Raises Workplace Health and Safety Standards

AL KHOBAR, SAUDI ARABIA, July 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) In its commitment to promote the highest standards in workplace safety, Saudi Readymix became the first ready-mixed concrete company in Saudi Arabia to certify all of its factory managers with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) accreditation.

All participating managers took part in an intensive training program, which was conducted over a period of two weeks. Once the training was concluded, the participants had to undertake and pass a comprehensive exam to become OSHA certified. All Saudi Readymix factory managers passed. The same OSHA training and certification program is at the moment being translated into several languages and developed to be made available for all Saudi Readymix employees.

"There are many dangers in the workplace, ranging from machinery and equipment risks to certain chemical hazards, which may raise safety concerns. Moreover, health is another aspect that we at Saudi Readymix give the highest level of priority to when it comes to health and safety management." Mr. Khalid Baghdadi, Saudi Readymix Managing Director, said.

With a workforce of over 2,900 employees spread across 28 ready-mixed concrete factories, 3 aggregate quarries, 3 block plants, a large transportation fleet and working on different projects throughout the country, it is no wonder that Saudi Readymix is keen on the highest standards of workplace health and safety.

"Aside from workplace health and safety being a social responsibility towards our stakeholders, practicing safety helps create a better work environment, aims to keep staff protected from harm, enables projects to finish on time, reduces costs and enhances productivity." Mr. Baghdadi continued.

"Several years ago, we deployed a team of safety officers to all our factories throughout the Kingdom and launched an internal safety awareness campaign. Since then we have managed to reduce Lost Time Injury, specifically in 2010. Our current objective is to reach zero Lost Time Injury." Mr. Baghdadi added.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an American agency established in 1970 with the purpose of preventing work-related injuries, illness, and occupational fatality by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace safety and health.

Saudi Readymix is the leading producer and supplier of ready-mixed concrete and related products in Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1978 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khalid Ali Alturki & Sons group of companies (Alturki Group), a leading industrial conglomerate.

Saudi Readymix employs a workforce of over 2,900 managerial, administrative, technical and operational staff. Its teams of technical experts offer specific advice and assistance to customers throughout the Kingdom. The teams operate local, regional and central laboratories which develop mix designs, perform routine testing and analysis on concrete products and research new under development products. Saudi Readymix also conducts in-house technical training of all its employees.

Since its establishment, Saudi Readymix has worked on an impressive array of prestigious projects for both the public and private sectors. Most of the Company's factories are officially approved as suppliers to major governmental and industrial authorities, such as Saudi Aramco, SEC, SABIC, the Royal Commission, MoDA, to name a few.

The Company's network of factories are strategically located throughout the Kingdom in order to cover all major commercial and industrial areas. These areas include: Dammam, Sihat, Aziziyah, Hofuf, Jubail, Khafji, Khursaniyah, Ras Az Zawr, Riyadh North, Riyadh South, Riyadh West, Al-Kharj, Jeddah North, Jeddah South, Jeddah Briman, Makkah, Medina, Yanbu and Rabigh.

Saudi Readymix boasts the largest fleet of ready-mixed concrete equipment in Saudi Arabia with over 550 truck mixers and 170 mobile and stationary pumps.

Its products include an extensive library of concrete recipes, many of which are unique to the Company, along with hot mix asphalt, aggregates and concrete masonry units.