The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council awarded 56 chicken and turkey companies for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2011 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Savannah, GA.
Paul Pressley, Executive Vice President of Industry Programs for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, commented, "Over the last 30 years, the rate of improvement in workplace safety throughout the poultry industry has outpaced manufacturing as a whole. Poultry companies have devoted more people, time and other resources to actively identify and correct workplace hazards. These awards acknowledge excellent safety performance achievement through effective and innovative programs."
Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by three judges: Craig Wyvill, retired director of the Agricultural Technology Research Program at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Gary Pohlmann of Marsh Risk Consulting and Doug Britton, program manager for Agricultural Technology Research at GTRI. Awards were presented to 56 facilities with 10 in the highest category, "Award of Distinction." The other categories included "Award of Honor" and "Award of Merit."
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council is made up 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 300,000 workers.
For a full list of the recipients, click here.
Photo Caption: Award winners at the 2011 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Savannah, GA.
