“I not only commend these plants and their management teams for their tremendous efforts to protect their workers, but for their ongoing dedication to further progress,” added Mike Brown, National Chicken Council president. “The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of their strong commitment to worker safety.”

"The poultry industry has been diligent in reducing recordable injuries and illnesses for nearly 30 years,” said NTF president, Joel Brandenberger. "These awards acknowledge the excellent safety performance achievements the poultry industry has accomplished. We hope by highlighting these facilities we can all learn additional practices and tools to further protect the people that work hard every day in our plants to provide high-quality, safe and nutritious protein for consumers.”

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

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consist 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 350,000 workers.

Award of Distinction

Butterball LLC
Ozark, AR – Processing
Carthage, MO – Processing
Huntsville, AR – Processing

Cargill Turkey Production LLC
Butterfield, MO – Feed Mill
Springdale, AR – Feed Mill

Cargill Value Added Meats
Temple, TX – Feed Mill
Waco, TX – Processing

Keystone Foods
Albany, KY – Processing
Franklin, KY – Hatchery
Camilla, GA – Processing 

Perdue Farms Inc.
Perry, GA – Cook Plant
Dillon, SC – Processing
Perry, GA – Fresh Processing
Concord, NC – Further Processing
Salisbury, MD – Processing
Rockingham, NC – Processing
Accomac, VA – Processing
Georgetown, DE – Roaster Complex 

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Falkville, AL – Feed Mill
Batesville, AR – Processing

Sara Lee Foods
Storm Lake, IA – Processing 

Simmons Foods
Siloam Springs, AR – Further Processing 

Wayne Farms LLC
Pendergrass, GA – Processing
Decatur, AL West – Hatchery
Union Springs, AL – Processing 

Award of Honor
Butterball LLC
Mt. Olive, NC – Processing 

Cargill Turkey Production LLC
California, MO – Feed Mill

Cargill Value Added Meats
Springdale, AR – Processing

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

Gerber Poultry
Kidron, OH – Processing

Hubbard LLC
Pikeville, TN – Hatchery

Keystone Foods
Gadsden, AL – Processing
Eufaula, AL – Processing 

Moroni Feed Company
Moroni, UT – Feed Mill 

Perdue Farms Inc.
Cromwell, KY – Hatchery
Forsyth, GA – Hatchery
Bridgewater, VA – Further Processing
Nashville, NC – Feed Mill
Cromwell, KY – Processing
Washington, IN – Turkey Processing
Forsyth, GA – Feed Mill

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Moorefield, WV – Hatchery
Broadway, VA – Processing
Moorefield, WV – Feed Mill
Harrisonburg, VA – Feed Mill
Mayfield, KY – Processing
Pittsburg, TX – Hatchery #1 & #2
Natchitoches, LA – Processing

Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Laurel, MS – Processing
McComb, MS – Processing

River Valley Animal Foods
Robards, KY
Texarkana, AR

Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative
Hinton, VA – Processing

Wayne Farms LLC
Troy, AL – Hatchery
Laurel, MS – Feed Mill
Danville, AR – Hatchery
Decatur, AL East – Further Processing
Decatur, AL – Fresh Plant

Award of Merit
House of Raeford Farms
Arcadia, LA – Processing

Peco Foods, Inc.
Sebastopol, MS – Processing

Perdue Farms Inc.
Dothan, AL – Processing
Salisbury, MD – Hatchery 2
Murfreesboro, NC – Hatchery

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Athens, GA – Feed Mill
Broadway, VA - Hatchery
Moorefield, WV – Prepared Foods
Canton, GA – Processing

Source: USPOULTRY