The Iowa-Illinois Safety Council (IISC) recognized Seaboard Triumph Foods with its President’s Award, one of five honors presented this year for outstanding contributions to hazard control and workplace safety.

The award highlights safety innovation at the company’s Sioux City pork processing plant through its Powerhive Project, which redefined how forklift batteries are managed onsite. Seaboard Triumph Foods accepted the honor during the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council’s annual awards program on April 23, 2026. The project introduced a robotic battery-changing system and transitioned the plant from traditional lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion technology.

The improvements removed several longstanding safety risks, including employee exposure to battery chemicals and hydrogen off-gassing, and the need for manual battery handling. The updated process also reduces the potential for struck-by incidents related to battery “dumps” during equipment movement.

The automated system includes integrated safety features, such as physical guarding and light curtains that immediately halt operation if a person enters the area. This approach minimizes human interaction with the battery-changing process and significantly lowers the risk of injury.

The IISC President’s Award recognizes organizations that go beyond regulatory compliance by implementing engineered solutions that deliver measurable safety improvements. This year’s recipients were selected practical, results-driven approaches to hazard reduction and employee protection.

Source: Seaboard Triumph Foods