It was April 2013 when the most recent lost-time injury took place at Cargill’s pork processing facility in Beardstown, Ill., a large plant in southern part of the state. More than 2,000 employees work at the plant and produce over 1 billion pounds of pork annually from 19,000-20,000 hogs harvested there daily. Given the number and variety of tasks performed in the plant, the equipment used, and the complexity of the pork production that takes place there, going a year-and-a-half without a lost time injury is a feat requiring a sustained focus and commitment to workplace safely.
Yet, plant general manager Steve Pirkle is not surprised about the Beardstown team’s attainment of such a lofty safety achievement. “We confront injury risk by acknowledging its potential and weaving prevention into our cultural fabric. Going so many months without a lost time injury occurs because people care about each other and the important work they are doing to produce food. They are attentive and nobody is shy about pointing out potential risks so we can address them before an injury takes place. Our daily goal is to return home in the same physical condition as when we arrive at the plant for work.”