At our companies, safety is our top concern in every task we perform, from the smallest of jobs to the most complex. Across our hot mix asphalt and ready-mix concrete plants, aggregate facilities, laboratories, shops and offices, our teams meet for safety huddles to identify possible safety risks and talk about ways to avoid or mitigate them so we can work safely.
One common area of focus across our locations in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Beaumontand the Dallas-Fort Worth area is in backing vehicles safely. According to the National Safety Council, backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries each year, not to mention property damage incidents. In our line of business, operating heavy machinery is a daily task and our drivers and operators are experts at what they do. But they know that backing up creates more risk for incidents to occur, and it only takes one mistake to potentially cause a tragic accident.
So here are a few practices and safeguards we follow to help reduce the hazards of backing. These guidelines help keep our personnel safe when doing asphalt, ready-mix, and aggregate operations, but they can also be useful in daily life:
Eliminate backing as much as possible. You’d be surprised that most work areas and tasks can be set up in a way that eliminates the need to back a vehicle at all.
Look for pull-through parking. It’s the safest option and positions you to easily pull forward out of a parking spot rather than backing out into unknown vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Look for back-in parking where pull-through isn’t an option. Back-in parking is a requirement at all our locations, and for good reason! It’s a safe way to park your vehicle that ensures you won’t have to back up into unknown traffic with limited visibility. Back-in parking isn’t always an option depending on where you are, but when possible, it’s an easy change to make that could help prevent an accident in the future.
Complete a walk-around of your vehicle before backing up. This way, you can be aware of what is in your blind spots prior to making a move.
Use a spotter when appropriate. If backing is necessary and there are hazards present, such as ground personnel or fixed objects, it may be appropriate to work with a spotter. Always maintain visual contact with your spotter, and stop the vehicle immediately if you lose sight of him or her.
Marked fixed objects so they are more visible. Using flags or other high-visibility items makes it easier for vehicle operators to remain aware of hazards.
Remember: many accidents occur when we are distracted or in a hurry. When our minds are occupied on anything other than the task at hand, we lose focus and fail to notice safety hazards or take the proper precautions.
Keeping these simple safeguards in mind can help you eliminate the potential for accidents when backing up your vehicle.
Privacy Policy
Texas Materials maintains strict privacy policies, ensuring that personal information and mobile information of our users and members is not sold, shared, rented, released, or traded to third parties for marketing/promotional purposes.
Texas Materials recognizes the importance of protecting the personal privacy of its website visitors. The following Privacy Policy describes the types of information Texas Materials may collect and permissible use of that information.
With over 1,700 locations throughout North and South America and 50,000+ employees, Texas Materials is among the leading building and construction products companies in the world. Texas Materials delivers outstanding performance and growth by acquiring, partnering and investing in companies with strong management teams that demonstrate consistent profitability and exceptional customer service. By using our website, you consent to the collection and use of information in the manner described below.
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Texas Materials does not collect personal information (name, address, Email address, telephone number, etc) through its website unless you provide it to us voluntarily. Texas Materials may ask you for personal information to respond to your questions; to process or fulfill your order, request or employment inquiry; or to register you in contests and sweepstakes. In some instances, Texas Materials may need additional personal information in order to process or fulfill your order, request or employment inquiry. The decision to provide the additional information rests with you; however, if you do not provide some information, you may not be able to take advantage of all of our services or special offers.
Texas Materials will not share your personal information with third parties without your permission, except as otherwise necessary (i) to process or fulfill your order; (ii) to respond to your request or answer your inquiries, including employment inquiries, (iii) to enter you in contests, sweepstakes or other promotional activities that you voluntarily participate in, or (iv) to comply with any applicable law, court order or other judicial process. Texas Materials may occasionally hire other companies to provide certain services on its behalf, including management of contests, sweepstakes and surveys. Texas Materials may provide such companies with the minimum amount of personal information necessary to deliver the service. Texas Materials will take reasonable steps to ensure that any personal information shared under these circumstances will not be used for any other purposes.
Texas Materials does not sell or provide personal information data to non-affiliate third parties for promotional purposes, and you will not receive Emails or mailings concerning Texas Materials or its products, services or promotions unless you specifically elect to receive such information.
Collection and Use of Statistical Information
When you connect to our website, Texas Materials may automatically collect technical, non-personal information. Examples include the type of Internet browser used, your computer operating system and the IP address of the website from which you linked to our website. Texas Materials may share aggregate website statistical information (such as sales, traffic patterns or related information) with third parties to develop ideas for improving its website and the services offered through the site. No such shared statistics will contain any personal information.
Cookies
When viewing our website, information in the form of a cookie or similar file may also be stored on your computer. This information helps Texas Materials tailor its website in a manner to better match your interests and preferences. If you do not wish to receive cookies or want to be notified when they are placed on your computer, many Internet browsers allow you to erase existing cookies, block cookies or warn you before a cookie is stored on your computer. Consult your specific browser’s instructions to learn more about these features.
Access by Children
Texas Materials has no way of distinguishing the age of individuals who access our website. If a child has provided us with personally-identifying information without consent from a parent or guardian, the child’s parent or guardian should contact us, and we will take reasonable steps to remove the information from our files.
Modification or Deletion of Personal Information
If you need to change or correct any personal information provided to us, or wish to have all personal information we have collected removed from our files, please contact us and we will take reasonable steps to comply with your request.
Security
Although no system is currently 100% immune from external attack, Texas Materials has taken commercially reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access to and improper use of your personal information.
Scope of Policy and Third Party Sites
This Policy applies only to this website. The privacy policy of other websites, including those accessible by links from this site, may differ from ours. We encourage you to read the privacy policy for each website you visit, to ensure you understand and agree with the applicable policy.
Changes to Policy
Texas Materials reserves the right to change the Policy at any time without notice. Policy revisions are effective upon posting and apply only to data collected thereafter. You should periodically visit this Texas Materials website to review the current terms.
SMS Terms and Conditions
Customer service communication with Dispatch, and Hours of Operations
You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Simply text “STOP” to the number provided. Upon sending “STOP,” we will confirm your unsubscribe status via SMS. Following this confirmation, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. To rejoin, sign up as you did initially, and we will resume sending SMS messages to you.
If you experience issues with the messaging program, reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance.
Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
As always, message and data rates may apply for messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency varies. For questions about your text plan or data plan, contact your wireless provider.