Safety
The aggregates industry is one of the most highly regulated and monitored industries in the United States. We are required to meet all U.S. Department of Labor MSHA (Mine Safety Health Administration) standards, as well as all federal EPA regulations and state DEP regulations, as well as all state and town guidelines regulating such operations.
Cape Cod Aggregates is committed to protecting well water, restricting noise, controlling dust, and maintaining the quality of life in the communities we serve. We comply with or exceed the safety standards of every related federal, state and local regulation and statute. The State of Massachusetts has also developed a 527 CMR 13.00 to protect neighboring areas from disturbances during blasting. This law outlines the “allowable limits of air blast and vibration, based upon extensive government, university, and engineering research which has established the amount and character of vibration so as to prevent and insure the safety of the public and the protection of property adjacent to the blast area.” (Excerpted directly from 527 CMR 13.09).
CCA blasting in Freetown, to date, has been independently monitored at 95 percent below allowable levels. Section 527 CMR 13.09 also details the requirements for Pre-Blast Surveys: for example, the blasting company must, by law, offer and pay for, a pre-blast survey to any owner of a structure that falls within 250 feet of the nearest borehole. CCA pays the cost of these surveys, and the information gathered was made available only to the insurance company performing the inspection and to the homeowners themselves.
In previous instances, as a gesture of good will, Cape Cod Aggregates has asked the blasting company to extend the range of the pre-blast survey in an effort to provide greater peace of mind for neighboring areas. We have, in the past, broadened the range far beyond what the state requires. While state law stipulates that the homeowner pay for any pre-blast inspection performed outside the required 250-foot distance, we initially funded the expanded pre-blast surveys as part of our on-going community commitment.
A blast survey provides the homeowner with a baseline condition report of their property. This is an important component in the collection of data used in determining if any damage has been caused to property that lies within measured proximity of the quarry. The program was established by the State for the protection of the homeowner.
On-site state-of-the-art mitigation measures, in addition, neutralize noise and dust with proven sound attenuating technology; noise and dust are regularly monitored to meet all state and local regulations. Quarry site dust mitigations include: a dust suppression system; and the use of water trucks, vegetated berms, water cannons and special “fogging nozzles” that spray a fine mist. A paved road to mitigate dust is also installed on-site, as well as a truck and tire wash.
Regarding concerns about silica dust in area neighborhoods: While there is no allowable threshold in Massachusetts due to the lack of data supporting harmfulness, Cape Cod Aggregates continuously marks at less than 2% of the State of California’s allowable threshold for silica dust during air modeling surveys—considered among the most restrictive in the world.
Employee Safety
CCA regards employee safety among its highest on-site priorities. Our employees are required to attend weekly safety meetings, inspect our equipment, vehicles and plants daily, and are all CPR and First Aid certified. The quarry itself is protected by two separate layers of safety barriers, a perimeter fence, and large boulders to prevent any vehicle from possibly entering. We also have offered to work with schools in our various locations to teach the children about quarry safety and operation.
