Ponte Vedra, Fla. – The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council today recognized 68 chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2012 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Ponte Vedra, FL.

“I not only commend these plants and their management teams for their tremendous efforts to protect their workers, but for their ongoing dedication to further progress,” said Mike Brown, National Chicken Council president.  “The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of their strong commitment to worker safety.”

John Starkey, president of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, commented, “The industry recognizes that our people are our most valuable asset, and worker safety efforts have never been stronger. Poultry companies continue to devote people, time, and other resources to actively identify and correct workplace hazards. These awards acknowledge excellent safety performance achievement through effective and innovative programs.”

“The poultry industry has been diligent in reducing recordable injuries and illnesses for nearly 30 years,” said NTF president Joel Brandenberger.  “These awards acknowledge the excellent safety performance achievements the poultry industry has accomplished. We hope by highlighting these facilities we can all learn additional practices and tools to further protect the people that work hard every day in our plants to provide high-quality, safe and nutritious protein for consumers.”

Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by three judges: Gary Pohlmann of Marsh Risk Consulting, Doug Britton, program manager for Agricultural Technology Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute, and George Nassif of Aon Global Risk Consulting. Twenty-five facilities received the highest level of recognition, “Award of Distinction.” The other categories included “Award of Honor” and “Award of Merit.”

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consist of members from U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Collectively, the three organizations represent companies that produce 95 percent of the nation’s poultry products and employ over 350,000 workers.

Award of Distinction

Butterball LLC

Ozark, AR – Processing

Carthage, MO – Processing

Huntsville, AR – Processing

Cargill Turkey Production LLC

Butterfield, MO – Feed Mill

Springdale, AR – Feed Mill

Cargill Value Added Meats

Temple, TX – Feed Mill

Waco, TX – Processing

Keystone Foods

Albany, KY – Processing

Franklin, KY – Hatchery

Camilla, GA – Processing

Perdue Farms Inc.

Perry, GA – Cook Plant

Dillon, SC – Processing

Perry, GA – Fresh Processing

Concord, NC – Further Processing

Salisbury, MD – Processing

Rockingham, NC – Processing

Accomac, VA – Processing

Georgetown, DE – Roaster Complex

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Falkville, AL – Feed Mill

Batesville, AR – Processing

Sara Lee Foods

Storm Lake, IA – Processing

Simmons Foods

Siloam Springs, AR – Further Processing

Wayne Farms LLC

Pendergrass, GA – Processing

Decatur, AL West – Hatchery

Union Springs, AL – Processing

Award of Honor

Butterball LLC.

Mt. Olive, NC – Processing

Cargill Turkey Production LLC

California, MO – Feed Mill

Cargill Value Added Meats

Springdale, AR – Processing

Cobb-Vantress, Inc.

Siloam Springs, AR – Feed Mill

Timpson, TX – Hatchery

Gerber Poultry

Kidron, OH – Processing

Hubbard LLC

Pikeville, TN – Hatchery

Keystone Foods

Gadsden, AL – Processing

Eufaula, AL – Processing

Moroni Feed Company

Moroni, UT – Feed Mill

Perdue Farms Inc.

Cromwell, KY – Hatchery

Forsyth, GA – Hatchery

Bridgewater, VA – Further Processing

Nashville, NC – Feed Mill

Cromwell, KY – Processing

Washington, IN – Turkey Processing

Forsyth, GA – Feed Mill

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Moorefield, WV – Hatchery

Broadway, VA – Processing

Moorefield, WV – Feed Mill

Harrisonburg, VA – Feed Mill

Mayfield, KY – Processing

Pittsburg, TX – Hatchery #1 & #2

Natchitoches, LA –Processing

Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Laurel, MS – Processing

McComb, MS – Processing

River Valley Animal Foods

Robards, KY

Texarkana, AR

Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative

Hinton, VA – Processing

Wayne Farms LLC

Troy, AL – Hatchery

Laurel, MS – Feed Mill

Danville, AR – Hatchery

Decatur, AL East – Further Processing

Decatur, AL – Fresh Plant

Award of Merit

House of Raeford Farms

Arcadia, LA – Processing

Peco Foods, Inc.

Sebastopol, MS – Processing

Perdue Farms Inc.

Dothan, AL – Processing

Salisbury, MD – Hatchery 2

Murfreesboro, NC – Hatchery

Pilgrim’s Corp

Athens, GA – Feed Mill

Broadway, VA – Hatchery

Moorefield, WV – Prepared Foods

Canton, GA – Processing