On April 16, the Portland Cement Association recognized the Lehigh Hanson Bellingham cement grinding plant with a Chairman’s Safety Performance Award for the plant’s outstanding safety record.

The plant received the honor at PCA’s PRIL 16 Spring Meeting in Chicago.

PCA honored plants in three categories, designated by the number of hours employees collectively worked in 2011, for achieving superior safety records. The Bellingham plant was in the “Less than 179,000 employee hours” division.

“Working to continuously improve their workplace, employees at the Lehigh Hanson plant set a standard for safety excellence that promotes safety and health protections throughout the year,” Brian McCarthy, PCA president and CEO, said in an April 20 press release.

This year, the records of 111 portland cement plants in the United States and Canada were reviewed to determine which ones achieved the best safety records.

None of these plants had an accident rate above one and several had no accidents in 2011.

Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement U.S. and Canadian companies. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education and public affairs programs.

It is online at www.cement.org.