Poultry Companies Invited to Apply for Safety Recognition Awards
US - Poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs are invited to apply for recognition under the Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program.
8 February 2013
3 minute read
The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and US Poultry & Egg Association members with poultry or egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities that have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years, through the implementation of innovative and effective programs.
The poultry processing total recordable illness and injury rate for 2011was 5.8 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year). Poultry processing’s 2011 rate represents an over 74 per cent improvement from 1994 (the oldest data available on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website).
Doug Britton, manager of the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s Agricultural Technology Research Program and one of the award program judges states, "As consumer demand changed over the years, the product mix provided by the poultry industry changed to skinless, boneless, marinated or otherwise further processed, value-added products. Over the last 30 years, the unique worker safety challenges presented by these changes have been proactively tackled by the industry through improved equipment technology, ergonomic solutions and effective employee training and safety programs. The notable reductions in recordable injuries and illnesses are not surprising given the industry’s commitment to providing a safe workplace."
Award program application forms are available by clicking on the following link – application. Application forms can also be obtained on the USPoultry website. The application deadline for the 2013 awards is 29 March. The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, 19-21 August 2013, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Florida.
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council are made up of members from the US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Collectively, the three organizations represent 95 per cent of the nation’s poultry products, and their members generate more than 1.3 million total US jobs.
