The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council has awarded 10 of Perdue’s 20 food-producing operations its “Award of Distinction,” the Council’s highest honor for consistently implementing innovative and effective workplace safety health processes and systems. They are among 19 Perdue facilities, including feed mills and hatcheries, in 10 states that received workplace safety awards at the 2019 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla.
“Workplace safety is an imperative at Perdue that includes an uncompromising commitment from our company and an ongoing safety culture that engages all of our associates,” said Randy Day, CEO of Perdue Farms. “These awards reflect company goals that put people first and our associates’ dedication to workplace safety. We’re proud of our teams’ accomplishments and focus on continuous improvement.”
Awards of Distinction
The company’s food-producing facilities that received Awards of Distinction include harvest operations in Accomac, Va.; Cromwell, Ky.; Dillon, S.C.; Georgetown, Del.; Lewiston, N.C.; Milford, Del.; Perry, Ga.; Rockingham, N.C.; and cook operations in Monterey, Tenn.; and Bridgewater, Va. The company’s hatcheries in Vincennes, Ind.; Westover, Md.; Salisbury, Md.; and feed mills in Elkin, N.C.; Petaluma, Calif.; and Hurlock, Md., also received the Award of Distinction.
The Award of Distinction criteria required these facilities to maintain their key Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety metrics — Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART), and Lost Work Day Incident Rate (LWDIR) — at levels at least 50% better than the industry average for three consecutive years. Each facility’s written explanation of its safety programs and processes was also considered in the award selection process.
Awards of Honor
Perdue facilities that were recognized with the “Award of Honor,” the Council’s second highest award, include a cook plant in Perry as well as feed mills in Candor, N.C., and Bridgeville, Del. These facilities maintained their OSHA safety metrics at least 25% better than the industry for at least three straight years.
Award consideration was also based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by an independent panel of judges.
About the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council comprises members from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Combined, the three organizations represent companies that produce 95% of the nation’s poultry products, and their members generate more than 1.3 million total U.S. jobs.
