The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council recognized 115 chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2015 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consist 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 2015 awards program resulted in the largest number of award recipients ever, despite more rigorous conditions to qualify. This increase further highlights the industry’s dedication to workplace safety. We congratulate these facilities and their management teams. The awards recognize their excellent safety performance achievement as a result of successful and advanced programs. The significant and continued decrease in illness and injury rates among poultry’s workforce over the last two decades is a direct result of their commitment to worker safety,” said the Council.

The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2013 was 4.5 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 4.9 in 2012. This represents an 80 percent decrease from 1994 (the oldest data available on the BLS website), when the recorded rate was 22.7, demonstrating the enormous progress poultry processors have made in improving safety for our workforce. 

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

AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Cargill Meat Solutions
Waco, TX – Processing

Cargill Turkey Production LLC
Gentry, AR – Hatchery
Harrisonburg, VA – Feed Mill

Case Farms Inc.
Goldsboro, NC – Further Processing

Foster Poultry Farms Inc.
Demopolis, AL – Corndog Plant
Emmett, AR – Feed Mill
Turlock, CA – Cooked Plant
Turlock, CA – Processing
Delta, CO – Feed Mill
Athens, LA – Hatchery
Farmerville, LA – Cooked Plant
Farmerville, LA – Processing
Cherry Ave – Processing

GNP Company
Arcadia, WI – Feed Mill

House of Raeford
Arcadia, LA – Processing

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

Koch Foods, Inc.
Collinsville, AL – Processing
Gadsden, AL – Processing
Forest, MS – Debone
Morton, MS – Further Processing

Mountaire Farms Inc.
Frankford, DE – Feed Mill
Selbyville, DE – Processing
Lumber Bridge, NC – Processing
Statesville, NC – Hatchery

Peco Foods, Inc.
Sebastopol, MS - Processing

Perdue Farms
Georgetown, DE – Processing
Milford, DE – Processing
Perry, GA – Cook Plant
Perry, GA – Fresh Processing
Cromwell, KY – Processing
Salisbury, MD – Processing
Concord, NC – Further Processing
Halifax, NC – Hatchery
Lewiston, NC – Hatchery 
Rockingham, NC – Processing
Dillon, SC – Hatchery
Dillon, SC – Processing
Monterey, TN – Further Processing
Accomac, VA – Processing
Bridgewater, VA – Further Processing

Pilgrim’s Corp
Cohutta, GA – Hatchery
Gainesville, GA – Hatchery
Natchitoches, LA – Processing
Broadway, VA – Processing
Moorefield, WV – Prepared Foods

Sanderson Farms
Adel, GA – Hatchery

Simmons Foods, Inc.
Decatur, AR – Processing
Siloam Springs, AR – Hatchery

Tyson / River Valley Animal Foods
Robards, KY – Rendering

Tyson Foods, Inc.
Storm Lake, IA – Processing

Wayne Farms LLC
Decatur, AL – East Further Processing
Decatur, AL – West Further Processing
Dothan, AL – Processing
Enterprise, AL – Processing
Troy, AL – Hatchery
Union Springs, AL – Processing
Pendergrass, GA – Processing
Laurel, MS – Hatchery
Elkin, NC – Hatchery

AWARD OF HONOR

Cargill Turkey Production LLC
Springdale, AR – Feed Mill

Case Farms
Goldsboro, NC – Hatchery

Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Siloam Springs, AR – Feed Mill
Wadesboro, NC – Hatchery
Timpson, TX – Hatchery

George’s Inc.
Springdale, AR – Processing

Gerber Poultry
Kidron, OH – Processing

House of Raeford
West Columbia, SC – Complex

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Dawson, MN – Feed Mill
Montevideo, MN – Processing
Willmar, MN – Willmar Ave Plant
Barron, WI – Feed Mill

Koch Foods
Cumming, GA – Debone
Pine Mountain Valley, GA – Processing
Morton, MS – Feed Mill

Mountaire Farms
Millsboro, DE – Feed Mill

Peco Farms Inc.
Gordo, AL – Hatchery
Batesville, AR – Processing
West Fulton St. – Processing

Perdue Farms Inc.
Bridgeville, DE – Feed Mill
Thorntown, IN – Hatchery
Washington, IN – Feed Mill
Hurlock, MD – Feed Mill
Westover, MD – Hatchery
Murfreesboro, NC – Hatchery

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Ft. Payne, AL – Hatchery
Guntersville, AL – Processing
Gainesville, GA – Processing
Marshville, NC – Processing
Center, TX – Hatchery
Nacogdoches, TX – Hatchery
Harrisonburg, VA – Feed Mill

Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Collins, MS – Hatchery

Sanderson Farms, Inc. – Foods Division
Flowood, MS

Simmons Foods
Pineville, MO – Hatchery
Van Buren, AR – Processing
Southwest City, MO – Processing

Tyson Foods  
Nashville, AR – Processing
Dexter, MO – Hatchery

Wayne Farms LLC
Danville, AR – Hatchery

AWARD OF MERIT

George’s Inc.
Springdale, AR – Further Processing

Gerber Farm Division
Kidron, OH – Hatchery

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Melrose, MN – Processing
Barron, WI – Processing
West Central Turkeys

Koch Foods
Montgomery, AL – Feed Mill
Chattanooga, TN – Feed Mill

Peco Farms Inc.
Tuscaloosa, AL – Processing
Feather Lane – Further Processing

Pilgrim’s Corp.
Athens, GA – Processing

Tyson Foods
Dexter, MO – Feed Mill

Source: National Chicken Council