“It is our goal to encourage every MIA member company to conduct these monthly meetings,” said MIA Industry Research & Information Manager Mike Loflin. “By providing every employee of every MIA member access to these valuable tools, companies will have no excuse for failing to educate their employees on safety in the workplace. All of the safety information is the cumulative work of our safety committee. Over the past several years they have delivered the goods and continue to bring new content to their fellow members each month.”

With 14 “Safety Meeting” outlines already on the Web site, the MIA has raised the bar with the rollout of Meetings 15 and 16. Each features video support (in English and Spanish), as well as an exclusive safety-related offer from the MIA bookstore. Meeting 15 addresses moving large heavy loads, which is crucial to today’s natural stone industry. Much technology has been developed for these operations, including careful training and extensive workplace precautions. There are significant safety issues to be considered — both for the operators of the diverse “lifting” devices, and for workers in proximity to them. Meanwhile, Meeting 16 concentrates on how the “Toolbox Talk” is designed to help everyone realize the dangers when consumers are present; identify the special safety procedures needed when consumers are present; and understand there is no place for complacency in the stone business.

“The MIA is constantly searching for new ways to provide value and tangible benefits to our members,” said MIA Vice President Jim Hieb. “Last month the ‘Design Manual’ was added; this month we added the safety meetings; and there are several more enhancements planned through the remainder of the year.”