What You Don’t See Can Hurt You
US - “Vehicle-based safety systems should not be considered a replacement for management practices. Instead, they should support your safety processes,” remarked Tommy Pollard, Corporate Food Safety Manager for Perdue Farms. He was speaking to feed mill managers at the 2012 Feed Mill Seminar, sponsored by US Poultry & Egg Association, in Nashville, Tennessee.
10 April 2012
3 minute read
In his presentation on Fleet Safety Camera Systems, Mr Pollard mentioned that a well-balanced venue of three management practices (hiring, safety processes and technologies) is needed to control and maintain driving risks. He reviewed some of the camera systems that are available for vehicles, such as lane departure warning systems, eye alert systems, crash avoidance systems, on-board video event recorders, and electronic vehicle inspection systems. Pollard concluded the presentation by commenting that “what you don’t see can hurt you.”
Richard Sellers, Vice President of Feed Regulation and Nutrition for the American Feed Industry Association, gave a presentation on the Food Safety Modernization Act & Antibiotic Resistance Efforts. Sellers remarked that the Food Safety Modernization Act is the largest change in food regulation in the history of the world. The new laws, which went into effect on January 4, apply to all ingredient processing, all feed manufacturing, pet food, feed and ingredient imports, and transportation. Sellers addressed some of the new facets of the laws for which all companies should be aware. Sellers also discussed FDA’s upcoming issuance of a Veterinary Feed Directive proposed rule that would require growth promotion and feed efficiency drugs to be converted to “prevention” therapeutic drugs by the drug sponsor via data submission.
Richard Obermeyer, Director of Feed Operations for Aviagen, presented on An Effective Biosecurity/HACCP Plan for Feed Mills. Mr Obermeyer remarked that biosecurity/HACCP was developed for a more practical and proactive approach to food safety, with the proactive approach being the key. He commented that biosecurity/HACCP is not a stand-alone program and works in conjunction with other prerequisite programs, such as OSHA, FDA, EPA, and standard operating procedures.
Other sessions included, Economics of Feed Milling... What Is the Industry Facing?; Pellet Quality; OSHA’s Top 50... Be Ready; Boiler Efficiency and Safety; Fleet Safety - GPS; Dust Control Technology - New and Retrofit; New Mill Presentation: A Virtual Tour; and The Future of Tractor Engine Design.
