East Division site reaches a unique safety milestone

Medford Quarry celebrates 47 years without a single lost-time incident.

The number 47 does not usually get much celebration.

It isn’t as memorable as Michael Jordan’s “23.”

It doesn’t receive the same birthday fanfare as a “Sweet 16.”

And it isn’t in any catchy songs like Taylor Swift’s “22.”

But for one Martin Marietta site, it means a great deal.

In June, Medford Quarry celebrated 47 years without a single lost-time incident. Acquired in 2018, the New Windsor, Maryland, site has had many companies oversee its operations, but Plant Manager Roz Werthen says Martin Marietta has provided a stable hand and that the crew members’ dedication throughout the years remains a testament to their teamwork.

“The experienced workers take it on themselves to personally train and coach new employees the right way, and I think that has driven the safety culture here,” she said. “They want to teach others how to remain safe while also being efficient and good at their jobs.”

Out of the crew of 11, six have worked at Medford for 30 years or more. This high level of team experience is just one of the factors that make the site special. Werthen, who just celebrated her first year as Medford’s plant manager, said her first impression of the picturesque Maryland operation was that it was beautiful, but not as impressive as the crew’s dedication.

“When I first saw the site, it seemed like I was going to a national park. You could really take in all the beauty of nature here,” she said. “But even more so, I could tell from the start that this crew was organized, professional and hardworking. It was clear they take pride in what they do.”

Foreman Jake Marble said Medford Quarry’s team is comprised of some of the best communicators he has ever worked with. Starting in 2019 as a water truck operator and steadily growing his skills, Marble is proud to continue the practice of working with newer crew members to ensure their success.

“The crew is constantly talking with each other and making sure we are all on the same page with whatever we do,” he said. “There’s a shared responsibility. On the one hand, it falls on the veterans to explain our Guardian Angel and ONE team cultures. On the other hand, it takes the new generation to carry the torch and continue the tradition.”

To celebrate in what Werthen calls, “true Maryland fashion,” the team recently hosted a crab boil and reveled in the safety achievement. The work for the dedicated Medford Quarry crew continues, however, with Werthen saying she already has her eyes on the future.

“We aren’t slowing down, and we aren’t stopping our safety standards,” she said. “The record is only going to go up from here.”