At the 2017 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla., 147 chicken and turkey facilities received safety awards by the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council. The companies were honored in recognition of their outstanding performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs.

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consists of members from the 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 directly employ more than 350,000 workers.

“The poultry industry continues to make great progress when it comes to workplace safety. Today our industry’s safety record is comparable with other manufacturing industries and lower than the rate for the entire food manufacturing sector. Although significant advances have been made, industry safety professionals are always looking for ways to improve. No matter their role, safety is a responsibility expected of all employees in the industry,” said Joint Industry Safety and Health Council Chair Scott Rushing, Sanderson Farms. 

Based on the latest data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the poultry processing’s total recordable illness and injury rate for 2015 was 4.3 cases per 100 full-time workers. The 2015 rate represents an outstanding 81 percent improvement from 1994.

Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by judges Doug Britton of the Agricultural Technology Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute, Jill James of Vivid Learning Systems and Nancy Bendickson of Aon Global Risk Consulting.  Thirty-five facilities received the highest level of recognition, "Award of Distinction." The other categories included "Award of Honor" and "Award of Merit."

Award of Distinction

Butterball LLC
Turkey, NC – Feed Mill
Huntsville, AR – Processing
Carthage, MO – Processing
Raeford, NC – Hatchery

Cobb-Vantress Inc.
Siloam Springs, AR – Feed Mill
Rose, OK – Hatchery

Fieldale Farms
Mt. Airy, GA – Hatchery
Eastanollee, GA – Rendering
Cornelia, GA – Processing

Foster Farms Inc.
Farmerville, LA – Rendering

Koch Foods Inc.
Pine Mountain Valley, GA – Processing

Mountaire Farms Inc.
Princess Anne, MD – Hatchery
Lumber Bridge, NC – Processing

Perdue Foods LLC
Petaluma, CA – Feed Mill
Accomac, VA – Processing    
Dillion, SC – Hatchery
Trion, GA – Hatchery 
Monterey, TN – Further Processing
Perry, GA (Cook Plant) – Processing
Perry, GA (Harvest) – Processing
Rockingham, NC – Processing
Hurlock, MD – Hatchery
Santa Rosa, CA – Hatchery
Live Oak, FL – Hatchery

Simmons Prepared Foods
Jane, MO – Hatchery
Siloam Springs, AR – Hatchery          

Tyson / River Valley Animal Foods
Texarkana, AR – Rendering
Robards, KY – Rendering       
Hope, AR – Feed Mill 

Wayne Farms
Ozark, AL – Feed Mill
Troy, AL – Hatchery
Samson, AL – Hatchery
Union Springs, AL – Processing
Thurmond, NC – Hatchery
Decatur, AL (East) – Processing

Award of Honor

American Proteins
Cuthbert, GA – Rendering

Butterball LLC
Ozark, AR – Processing
Goldsboro, NC – Hatchery
Mt. Olive, NC – Processing
Jonesboro, AR – Processing

Case Farms
Dudley, NC – Processing
Shelby, NC – Feed Mill

Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Timpson, TX – Hatchery
Pocomoke MD – Hatchery
Wadesboro NC – Hatchery

Foster Farms
Demopolis, AL – Processing
Turlock, CA – Processing
Fresno, CA – Processing
Farmerville, LA – Processing

Gerber’s Poultry
Kidron, OH – Processing

House of Raeford Farms
Arcadia, LA – Processing

Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc.
Barron, WI – Feed Mill
Faribault, MN – Feed Mill       

Keystone Foods LLC
Albany, KY – Processing
Camilla, GA – Processing
Gadsden, AL – Processing
Eufaula, AL – Processing

Koch Foods, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN – Feed Mill
Crossville, AL – Hatchery
Anniston, AL – Hatchery
Ashland, AL – Processing       
Gadsden, AL – Processing      

Mountaire Farms, Inc.
Siler City, NC – Hatchery       
Statesville, NC – Breeder        
Millsboro, DE – Feed Mill      
Millsboro, DE – Processing     
Millsboro, DE – Rendering
Selbyville, DE – Processing

Peco Foods
Canton, MS – Processing

Perdue Foods LLC
Bridgewater, VA – Further Processing
Dillon, SC –Processing
Beaver Dam, KY – Processing
Concord, NC – Processing
Lewiston, NC – Processing     
Nashville, NC – Feed Mill      
Bridgeville, DE – Feed Mill    
Milford, DE – Processing
Vincennes, IN – Hatchery
Murfreesboro, NC – Hatchery
Westover, MD – Hatchery
Forsyth, GA – Feed Mill
Lynden, WA – Hatchery

Pilgrim’s Corporation
Chattanooga, TN – Further Processing
Live Oak, FL – Feed Mill
Live Oak, FL – Processing
Canton, GA – Processing

Sanderson Farms
Fernwood, MS – Feed Mill

Tyson Foods
Storm Lake, IA – Processing
Cumming, GA – Further Processing
Springdale, AR – Processing
Rogers, AR – Processing
Union City, TN – Hatchery
Forest, MS – Processing
Dardanelle, AR – Processing
Van Buren, AR – Further Processing
Dawson, GA – Further Processing      

Valley Proteins
Ward, SC – Rendering
Fayetteville, NC – Rendering
Wadesboro, NC – Rendering

Wayne Farms
Dothan, AL – Processing
Decatur, AL West – Processing
Jack, AL – Processing 
Danville, AR – Hatchery

Award of Merit

American Proteins
Hanceville, AL – Rendering

Cobb-Vantress
Cleveland, GA – Hatchery
Cleveland, GA (Southeast Farms) – Hatchery
Wadesboro, NC – Hatchery

George’s Inc.
Springdale, AR – Further Processing

House of Raeford Farms
Greenville, SC – Processing

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Swanville, MN – Feed Mill
Montevideo, MN – Further Processing
Pelican Rapids, MN - Processing

Koch Foods
Forest, MS – Further Processing

Peco Farms Inc.
Tuscaloosa, AL – Processing
Canton, MS – Further Processing
Bay Springs, MS – Processing
Batesville, AR – Processing
Sebastopol, MS – Processing
Brooksville, MS – Further Processing

Perdue Foods
Washington, IN – Feed Mill
Elkin, NC – Feed Mill

Pilgrim’s Corp.
Guntersville, AL – Processing
DeQueen, AR – Processing
Elberton, GA – Processing
Gainesville, GA – Processing
Natchitoches, LA – Processing
Concord, NC – Hatchery
Marshville, NC – Processing
Wingate, NC – Feed Mill
Moorefield, WV – Processing
Chattanooga, TN – Processing
Chattanooga, TN – Further Processing
Lufkin, TX – Processing
Mt. Pleasant, TX – Processing
Mt. Pleasant, TX (East Plant) – Processing
Moorefield, WV – Processing

Sanderson Farms
Flowood, MS – Processing

Simmons Prepared Foods
Siloam Springs, AR – Further Processing

Tyson Foods Inc. River Valley Animal Foods
Scranton, AR – Rendering

Tyson Foods Inc.
Berryville, AR – Further Processing
Green Forest, AR – Processing
Hope, AR – Processing
Russellville, AR – Processing
Waldon, AR – Feed Mill
Waldon, AR – Hatchery
Dexter, MO – Hatchery
Dexter, MO – Processing
Union, MS – Feed Mill
Walnut Grove, MS – Hatchery
Decherd, TN – Hatchery
Shelbyville, TN – Processing

Source: National Chicken Council