Associates at Perdue’s operation in Gainesville, Georgia, celebrated a first-time safety milestone after working one million production hours without experiencing an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable lost-time case. Counting toward the milestone began in March 2013.
To celebrate, the operation’s 365 associates were served lunch and each associate received from Perdue a commemorative t-shirt in recognition of their achievement.
“It is very important to recognize that it was our associates who made this milestone possible for the first time here in Gainesville,” said Tommy Waters, Perdue director of operations.“Perdue has a strong safety program, but it takes the cooperation and commitment of all of our associates to make it work, and be successful.”
The Gainesville operation includes associates from two further-processing plants, shipping and receiving, maintenance, refrigeration, wastewater, purchasing, sales, accounting, marketing and information technology.
According to Waters, Perdue has a standard, companywide safety program that encourages active employee participation and input. Associates take part in safety committees, which meet regularly to discuss safety issues, as well as perform safety inspections before the start of each shift. Associates have the authority to stop production or prevent start-up if any unsafe condition exists. In addition, every associate attends safety awareness training, and is encouraged to look for and report any potential hazard.
