The President of the Republic of Nicaragua presented
an award to CEMEX this year on behalf of that country’s National Commission of Hygiene and Work Safety. The honor went to 30 Nicaraguan companies judged by the Commission to have demonstrated important advances in safety and occupational hygiene. Both private and public companies are considered for this high honor.

The CEMEX cement plant in Clinchfield, Georgia, received a special Safety Excellence Award given by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) for completing eight consecutive years without a lost-time accident. PCA honored the Balcones Cement Plant in New Braunfels,
Texas, with Safety Commendation Award for having no lost-time accidents in 2002.

Also in 2002, three new driver safety programs were initiated in the United States. These included the Smith Defensive Driving course, the CEMEX/ACE USA Insurance Company ready-mix health and safety training program, and the 1-800 Safety Alert driver-monitoring program.