OSHA meets with representatives of poultry industry

Eleven Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials and 45 safety and health representatives of the poultry industry met on Dec. 3 to discuss OSHA’s Region 4 and 6 Emphasis Program focused on the poultry industry.
“The meeting provided a rare opportunity for the poultry industry and regional leadership from OSHA to discuss the upcoming emphasis program on poultry processing,” said Paul Pressley, USPOULTRY Executive VP - Industry Programs. “OSHA took the opportunity to discuss some of the trends they see during their inspection process, and the poultry industry was able to share many of the advancements that have been made in workplace safety throughout the industry, leading to the significant reduction in workplace injuries.”
A video message from OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor, Dr. David Michaels, was shared and his remarks can be downloaded here.
OSHA Regional Administrator - Region 4, Kurt Petermeyer along with Region 4 and 6 Assistant Administrators, Billie Kizer, Jeffery Lewis and Josh Flesher, presented a summary of the Regional Emphasis Program, discussing the elements of the program, the process of scheduling and inspection procedures. OSHA Occupational Physician, Dr. Kathleen Fagan, spoke on medical management of musculoskeletal disorders and biological hazard such as campylobacteriosis and histoplasmosis.
While acknowledging that the industry continues to seek new ways to improve workplace safety, Pressley led a discussion of the many advancements in worker safety and health which have resulted in a significant reduction in workplace injuries and illnesses in poultry processing facilities. As evidence of this improvement, twenty years ago the industry’s OSHA recordable injury and illness rate was almost double the rate for the entire manufacturing sector and now it is essentially the same as all manufacturing.
Dr. Doug Britton spoke briefly on the work conducted by the Georgia Tech Research Institute Agriculture Technology Research Program for which he is manager. The program has had great success developing technologies to measure and monitor physical stresses for improved ergonomics as well as developing equipment to replace many manual tasks in poultry plants. Dr. Britton described the next generation of automated de-boning, referenced as intelligent cutting. Cameras and computers will model each carcass and control the automated cutting to maximize quality and yield.
There was extensive discussion and successful dialogue between the OSHA officials and the industry. If you have any questions, please contact Pressley.

Outstanding Safety Performance honors go to 115 poultry facilities

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council recently recognized 115 chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2015 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consist of members from the 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 directly employ more than 350,000 workers.
"The 2015 awards program resulted in the largest number of award recipients ever, despite more rigorous conditions to qualify. This increase further highlights the industry's dedication to workplace safety. We congratulate these facilities and their management teams. The awards recognize their excellent safety performance achievement as a result of successful and advanced programs. The significant and continued decrease in illness and injury rates among poultry's workforce over the last two decades is a direct result of their commitment to worker safety," said the Council.
The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2013 was 4.5 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 4.9 in 2012. This represents an 80 percent decrease from 1994 (the oldest data available on the BLS website), when the recorded rate was 22.7, demonstrating the enormous progress poultry processors have made in improving safety for our workforce.
Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by judges Doug Britton, program manager for Agricultural Technology Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute, and George Nassif of Aon Global Risk Consulting. Sixty-four facilities received the highest level of recognition, "Award of Distinction." The other categories included "Award of Honor" and "Award of Merit."

Poultry company applications being accepted for safety recognition awards

Poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs are invited to apply for recognition under the Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program. The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and U.S. Poultry& Egg Association members with poultry or egg processing plants, further processing facilities, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities that through the implementation of innovative and effective programs have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years. 
The application deadline for the 2015 awards is April 20. The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, August 24-26, at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Poultry groups: OSHA attacks on safety record perplexing

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and National Chicken Council (NCC) take exception to the recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation against Wayne Farms for alleged safety violations at its Jack, Alabama, plant involving musculoskeletal disorders and other workplace hazards.
The organizations issued a joint statement concerning OSHA’s investigation into Wayne Farms, which was rooted in a complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an activist group with a long history of animosity toward the poultry industry.
The statement reads:
“OSHA’s accusations of wrongdoing lack evidence and are simply unfounded. OSHA incorrectly portrays an undeserved negative image of the entire poultry industry despite its outstanding record of improvement in employee health and safety, particularly over the past three decades.
“The poultry industry finds it ironic that OSHA, in effect, is attacking the very same safety guidelines that it developed in cooperation with the poultry industry many years ago. In fact, this past summer OSHA and USDA issued a joint communication supporting ‘effective efforts by the poultry industry to protect the safety and health of employees.’
“The poultry industry’s record of outstanding advancements in reducing ergonomic risks is based on fact. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that poultry processing plants have reduced the rate of workplace illness, including musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, by 62 percent in the past decade. BLS data further indicate that ‘Total Recordable Injury and Illness’ in poultry plants has dropped from 22.7 percent of employees in 1994, down to just 4.5 percent in 2013!
“In its recent citation, OSHA references an ambiguous section of federal law enacted in 1970. Commonly known as the General Duty Clause, it states that employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace. The poultry industry believes that imposing the General Duty Clause should require more than simple observation of job tasks. There should also be specific evidence of hazards that are not being addressed, evidence that is lacking in OSHA’s citation against Wayne Farms.
“After reviewing five years of injury and illness records in this case, OSHA identified only a handful of recordkeeping incidents, most of which involved the employer’s provision of exercise-strengthening programs for employees experiencing minor discomfort. Because the employer did not record these proactive measures to head off potential injury, OSHA misconstrued this as proof of underreporting. Historically, as OSHA is aware, these proactive measures have not been recorded as injuries. The poultry industry believes that it properly addresses OSHA’s recordkeeping standard and that OSHA has inexplicably changed its interpretation of the rules by deciding to now classify proactive job conditioning and minor soreness as a recordable injury or illness.
“The poultry industry relies on its workforce of dedicated employees to provide a wholesome and affordable food source for the nation and the rest of the world. This reliance has prompted the industry to heavily invest in processes and procedures to further reduce workplace hazards and ergonomic risks. While the poultry industry respects the government’s oversight role in the joint effort to protect employees, the industry’s workplace advancements and future success are in danger of being hampered by unclear rules and arbitrary actions like those demonstrated by OSHA.”

Poultry industry worker safety record still improving

The incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses within the poultry sector's slaughter and processing workforce has fallen by 80 percent over the last 20 years and continues to decline according to the 2013 Injury and Illness Report recently released by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Poultry processing's 2013 rate of 4.5 represents an outstanding 80.2 percent decrease from 1994 (the oldest data available on the BLS website), when the recorded rate was 22.7. This demonstrates the enormous progress the industry has made in improving safety for its workforce.
The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2013 was 4.5 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 4.9 in 2012. In terms of injuries per 100 full time workers, the poultry industry's rate of 4.5 was below the rate of 5.7 for all animal slaughter and processing and only slightly above the rate of 4.0 for the entire manufacturing sector.
"The poultry industry relies on our workforce of dedicated employees to provide a wholesome and affordable food source for our nation and the rest of the world. That is why we are so heavily invested in processes and procedures to further reduce workplace hazards. The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of the poultry industry's strong commitment to worker safety," said Mike Nations, Harrison Poultry, and committee chairman for the Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council, a group comprised of U.S. Poultry &Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation members. 

Perdue workers at Gainesville, Georgia, reach safety milestone

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.

Saf-T-Gard International acquires Dunn Safety Products

Saf-T-Gard International has closed on the acquisition of certain assets and the continuing business of Dunn Safety Products. Dunn is a family-owned, full-line distributor of industrial safety products, founded in 1939 and based in Chicago. Saf-T-Gard will now serve Dunn customers from its 80,000 square-foot facility in Northbrook, Ill.
"Dunn Safety Products is a natural fit with Saf-T-Gard," said Richard Rivkin, Saf-T-Gard International president and CEO. "Both companies are multi-generational, family-owned and operated businesses celebrating more than 70 years of dedication to quality, value and service excellence. By acquiring the Dunn business, we can protect even more workers. We stand ready to do business the way the customer wants to do business, offering convenient telephone, fax, EDI and online ordering capabilities from a multi-million dollar inventory of thousands of products backed by a superior, experienced customer support and sales team."

Poultry workers' injury, illness rate at all-time low

The incidence of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the poultry sector, which includes slaughter and processing, is at an all-time low, according to the 2012 Injury and Illness Report. The report was recently released by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2012 was 4.9 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 5.8 in 2011.  In terms of injuries per 100 full time workers, the poultry industry's rate of 4.9 was below the rate of 6.3 for all animal slaughter and processing, and lower than the rate of 5.6 for the entire food manufacturing sector.
Poultry processing's 2012 rate of 4.9 represents a 78 percent decrease from 1994 (the oldest data available on the BLS website), when the recorded rate was 22.7, demonstrating the enormous progress the industry has made in improving safety for its workforce.
"The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of the poultry industry's strong commitment to worker safety," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown.  "Our employees are our most important asset.  I commend poultry companies and their management teams for their tremendous efforts to protect them and for their ongoing dedication to further progress."

Focusing on safety and reducing risks in poultry plants – a long-term investment

Steve Harris speaks at USPOULTRY’s 2013 Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar in Nashville, Tenn.
"Safety comes first. It does not make sense to try to cut corners in your rendering plant and not put extra money toward safety until someone gets injured, when you could have implemented a safety program from the beginning," observed Steve Harris, off-site corporate area safety manager with the Poultry Product Optimization/RVAF Group of Tyson Foods, during USPOULTRY's 2013 Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar in Nashville, Tenn.
In his presentation, "Controlling Industrial Hazards in Rendering Plants," Harris provided managers with background information on the health effects employees may experience when exposed to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). He also discussed best practices to reduce this gas in the workplace, which includes monitoring systems, "hands-on" training programs and proper plant ventilation. "OSHA wants to ensure that we are not being exposed to H2S and that we are doing everything possible when traces of it are found," he remarked to the poultry rendering managers in attendance.
Leah Wilkinson, director of ingredients, pet food and state affairs with the American Feed Industry Association, provided a "Regulatory Update,"  which included key information about the Food Safety Modernization Act. She provided additional information on the feed rules due out soon, reminding managers that the rule will be patterned after HAACP and will establish good manufacturing practices. Wilkinson also discussed rules currently out for comments, including the Hazard Analysis and Preventive Control rule and the Foreign Supplier Verification rule, an international portion of the Preventive Control rule.
Dr. Charles Starkey, director of technical services for American Proteins, gave an update on "Salmonella Interventions in the Rendering Plant." "We all have a role in food safety, whether you are in QA, accounting, or operations, because the FDA audits that are getting ready to occur will be pretty in-depth. One big issue that is going to come up is Salmonella," he warned. He also provided basic tools to help managers control Salmonella in their plants, including proper housekeeping and reducing pests.
Other topics included Poultry Protein & Fat Council Report; Research Funding Update; Pet Food Customer Expectations; Communicating With the Changing Workforce; Financial Impact of Basic Rendering Calculations and Decisions; Rendering Plant Atmosphere Best Practices; Worker Safety; Controlling Industrial Hazards in Rendering Plants; and The Science of Air Scrubbers. 

Civil rights groups petition against higher poultry plant line speeds

A coalition of civil rights groups filed a formal petition urging the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opposing proposed increases in line speeds at poultry plants. The USDA has proposed increasing line speeds from a maximum of 140 birds per minute to 175.
The coalition also takes issue with current OSHA standards, claiming the standards don't address the work speed injuries that are most common in poultry and meatpacking plants. In the petition, the groups urge OSHA to establish a standard that limits work speeds, create standards that address specific, and ensure that existing safety guidelines are enforceable.
Industry groups, including the American Meat Institute, dispute the coalition's claims that the industry is "notoriously dangerous."
"We have a sustained record of improved worker safety during the last two decades. …Our worker safety records are consistent with safety records for 'all manufacturing,'" said J. Dan McCausland, senior director of worker safety for the American Meat Institute.
McCausland said that when examining line speeds, other factors such as how a line is staffed need to be taken into consideration. He added the industry understands it is not in meat companies' best interests to operate at speeds that cannot produce high-quality products.
"Our record, as evidenced by OSHA data, shows an industry that is committed to worker safety and continuously improving in this area.  USDA has the authority it needs today to adjust line speeds as necessary to ensure both food safety and also worker safety," said McCausland.
The coalition, which issued the petition on Sept. 3, includes the Southern Poverty Law Center, Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Coalition of Poultry Workers, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Farmworker Advocacy Network, Heartland Workers Center, Interfaith Worker Justice, Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, North Carolina Justice Center, Northwest Arkansas Worker Justice Center, Refugee Women's Network, Student Action with Farmworkers and Western North Carolina Workers' Center.

OSHA leader praises poultry industry for commitment to safety

Dr. David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary of labor, spoke recently to poultry industry members about workplace safety matters.

Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), lauded the poultry industry on the advancements made in workplace safety during his opening remarks at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry on August 19. However, he challenged the industry to continue to find better solutions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and workplace exposure to chemicals.
"Your participation today in a longstanding, industry specific conference shows your commitment to workplace safety," said Michaels, who also cited incidence rates for workplace illnesses such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome in the poultry industry as higher than industry averages. While recognizing the progress that has been made, Michaels reminded attendees there is still much to do to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
The 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry was a three-day event designed specifically for poultry facility and corporate safety personnel. Over 100 safety professionals attended the Conference, which was sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the Agriculture Technology Research Program at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Poultry Federation, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. This year's conference was held August 19- 21, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.
In addition to hearing from Michaels, attendees learned more about Continuous Improvement Processes, received an overview and discussed safety implications of the proposed Modernization of Poultry Inspection Act, and discussed the financial impact of illegal drug use in the workplace. A session of sharing best practices and a series of informal roundtables covering many current safety and health issues continued to be popular and beneficial for attendees. 

More than 90 poultry facilities in US honored for safety performance

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council honored 92 chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented on August 21 during the 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Amelia Island, Fla.
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consists 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 more than 350,000 workers.
"We would like to congratulate these facilities and their management teams. These awards recognize outstanding safety performance achievement as a result of their effective and innovative programs. The noteworthy and consistent decrease in illness and injury rates among poultry's workforce over the last two decades is a direct result of their compelling dedication to worker safety," the council said in a statement.
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-four facilities received the highest level of recognition, "Award of Distinction." The other categories included "Award of Honor" and "Award of Merit."
Award of Distinction
Butterball
Ozark, Ark. - processing
Ozark, Ark. - feed mill
Carthage, Mo. - processing
Huntsville, Ark. - processing
Jonesboro, Ark. - processing
Turkey, N.C. - feed mill

Cargill Value Added Meats
Temple, Texas - feed mill
Waco, Texas - processing
Elkton, Va. - breeder operation

GNP Company
Arcadia, Wis. - feed mill

Hillshire Brands
Storm Lake, Iowa - processing

Keystone Foods
Albany, Ky. - processing
Franklin, Ky. - hatchery
Camilla, Ga. - processing

Perdue Farms Inc.
Perry, Ga. - cook plant
Dillon, S.C. - processing
Perry, Ga. - fresh processing
Concord, N.C. - further processing
Salisbury, Md. - processing
Rockingham, N.C. - processing
Georgetown, Del. - roaster complex
Monterey, Tenn. - processing

Wayne Farms LLC
Pendergrass, Ga. - processing
Clermont, Ga. - hatchery

Awards of Honor
Butterball
Mt. Olive, N.C. - processing

Cargill Turkey Production LLC
Springdale, Ark. - feed mill

Case Farms
Goldsboro, N.C. - further processing

Cobb-Vantress, Inc.
Siloam Springs, Ark. - feed mill
Timpson, Texas - hatchery
Monticello, Ky. - hatchery

Gerber Poultry
Kidron, Ohio - processing

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Dawson, Minn. - feed mill

Keystone Foods
Gadsden, Ala. - processing
Eufaula, Ala. - processing
Eufaula, Ala. - hatchery
Reidsville, N.C. - processing

Mountaire Farms
Lumber Bridge, N.C. - processing
Statesville, N.C. - breeder operation
Frankford, Del. - feed mill
Millsboro, Del. - feed mill
Millsboro, Del. - processing
Selbyville, Del. - processing

Perdue Farms Inc.
Accomac, Va. - processing
Bridgewater, Va. - further processing
Cromwell, Ky. - processing
Hurlock, Md. - hatchery
Milford, Del. - processing
Murfreesboro, N.C. - hatchery
Washington, Ind. - turkey processing

Petaluma Acquisitions LLC
Petaluma, Calif. - processing
Petaluma, Calif. - hatchery

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Batesville, Ark. - processing
Broadway, Va. - processing
Broadway, Va. - hatchery
Harrisonburg, Va. - feed mill
Moorefield, W.V. - feed mill
Nacogdoches, Texas - processing
Nacogdoches, Texas - hatchery

Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Laurel, Miss. - feed mill

Simmons Foods
Siloam Springs, Ark. - further processing

Tyson River Valley Animal Foods
Robards, Ky.

Trinity Valley Foods
Irving, Texas - processing

Wayne Farms
Danville, Ark. - hatchery
Decatur, Ala. East - further processing
Decatur, Ala. - fresh plant
Decatur, Ala. West - further processing
Dobson, N.C. - feed mill
Elkin, N.C. - hatchery
Troy, Ala. - hatchery
Union Springs, Ala. - processing

Awards of Merit
Cargill Value Added Meats
Springdale, Ark. - processing

House of Raeford Farms
Arcadia, La. - processing

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Barron, Wis. - processing
Willmar, Minn. - Benson Ave. plant
Montevideo, Minn. - processing
Willmar, Minn. - Willmar Ave. plant

Mountaire Farms
Siler City, N.C. - hatchery

Perdue Farms Inc.
Hurlock Md. - feed mill
Lewiston, N.C. - processing

Petaluma Acquisitions LLC
Petaluma, Calif. - feed mill

Pilgrim's
Marshville, N.C. - processing
Mayfield, Ky. - processing
Moorefield, W.V. - fresh foods
Moorefield, W.V. - prepared foods

Sanderson Farms
McComb, Miss. - processing

Tyson Foods
Berryville, Ark. - further processing
Rogers, Ark. - further processing
Monett, Mo. - hatchery
Van Buren, Ark. - further processing

Wayne Farms
Laurel, Miss. - feed mill

Wenger's Feed Mill
Muncy, Pa. - feed mill
Hegins, Pa. - feed mill

Poultry safety conference to feature OSHA assistant secretary of labor

Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will speak at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry on August 19. Michaels will give the opening remarks at the Conference via remote broadcast and address questions from attendees.
Appointed by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate, David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH (Master of Public Health), became the 12th assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health in December 2009. As assistant secretary, he has worked to strengthen the agency's enforcement in high-risk industries, improve OSHA's whistleblower protection program, promote common sense worker protection programs and standards, expand compliance assistance provided to small employers, and increase outreach to the vulnerable populations who are at greatest risk for work-related injury and illness. He has also increased OSHA's focus and capabilities in the areas of data analysis and program evaluation.
The 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry is a three-day event designed specifically for poultry facility and corporate safety personnel. The conference is sponsored by the Agriculture Technology Research Program at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Georgia Poultry Federation, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. This year's conference will be held August 19-21, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.
Topics will include an OSHA update; continuous improvement processes; modernization of poultry inspection: overview and safety implications; contractor safety; Department of Transportation update; workplace violence; hazard recognition; illegal drug use in the workplace; best practices shared by safety award recipients; The David Wylie Insight Lecture Series;  and related roundtable discussions.
Interested people can register online for the conference. 

Poultry safety conference registration available

The 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry is a three-day event designed for poultry facility and corporate safety personnel. The conference is sponsored by the Agriculture Technology Research Program at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, United States Poultry and Egg Association, Georgia Poultry Federation, National Chicken Council, and National Turkey Federation. This year's conference will be held August 19-21, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.
"This year's program will focus on issues pertinent to new and experienced poultry industry safety professionals. Plant and corporate safety and health personnel will have the opportunity to listen to expert speakers from industry, government, and a keynote speaker from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration as they discuss current information related to plant and worker safety," said program committee chairman Reggie McLee, Wayne Farms.
 Topics will include:

• Occupational Health and Safety Administration Update
• Continuous Improvement Processes
• Modernization of Poultry Inspection: Overview and Safety Implications
• Contractor Safety
• Department of Transporation Update
• Workplace Violence
• Hazard Recognition
• Illegal Drug Use in the Workplace: Financial Impact and Effective Testing Strategies and Management
• Best Practices Shared by Safety Award Recipients
• The David Wylie Insight Lecture Series
  and related roundtable discussions.
The agenda was developed by a planning committee of industry safety and health representatives. To register online for the 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, go to the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association website. 

Poultry companies invited to apply for safety recognition awards

Poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs are invited to apply for recognition under the Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program. The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association members with poultry or egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities with injury and illness rates below the industry average. Injury and illness rates must meet the qualifications for three consecutive years, through the implementation of innovative and effective programs.
The poultry processing total recordable illness and injury rate for 2011 was 5.8 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year). Poultry processing's 2011 rate represents an over 74 percent improvement from 1994, the oldest data available on the U.S. 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 can be obtained on the www.uspoultry.org website.  The application deadline for the 2013 awards is May 29. The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, August 19-21 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Florida.

USDA announces steps to improve poultry product safety

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced new steps to protect consumers by improving the food safety plans required for companies that produce poultry products.
Companies producing raw ground chicken and turkey and similar products will be required to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans. The HACCP reassessment, which establishments must conduct in the next 90 days, must account for several Salmonella outbreaks that were associated with those types of products.
"HACCP reassessments improve a company's ability to identify hazards and better prevent foodborne illness," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "Incorporating information obtained from Salmonella outbreaks will enhance food safety efforts, helping to avoid future outbreaks and ensure a safer food supply for consumers."
The FSIS also announced that it will:

• expand the Salmonella verification sampling program to include other raw comminuted poultry products, in addition to ground product;
• increase the sample size for laboratory analysis from 25 grams to 325 grams to provide consistency as the agency moves toward analyzing samples for Salmonella and Campylobacter; and
• conduct sampling to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in not-ready-to-eat comminuted poultry products and use the results to develop new performance standards for those products.

US poultry industry continues to improve worker safety record

The incidence of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the US poultry sector, which includes slaughter and processing, continues to decline, according to the 2011 Injury and Illness Report recently released by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2011 was 5.8 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 5.9 in 2011. In terms of injuries per 100 full time workers, the poultry industry's rate of 5.8 was below the rate of 6.4 for all animal slaughter and processing and only slightly above the rate of 5.6 for the entire food manufacturing sector.
Poultry processing's 2011 rate of 5.8 represents a 74 percent decrease from 1994 (the oldest data available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website), when the recorded rate was 22.7, demonstrating the enormous progress the industry has made in improving safety for its workforce.
"The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of the poultry industry's strong commitment to worker safety," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown. "Our employees are our most important asset. I commend poultry companies and their management teams for their tremendous efforts to protect them and for their ongoing dedication to further progress."
A recent economic impact study found that poultry production and processing is directly responsible for 327,400 jobs in the United States.
Ongoing efforts to improve the poultry industry's record in worker safety include:

• Sharing non-competitive practices
• Partnering with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to develop an instrument to assess musculoskeletal disorder risks in poultry tasks.
• Continuing to work with equipment manufacturers and suppliers to improve machine guarding on new equipment and the provision of adequate disconnects to assist and facilitate proper lock out/tag out procedures.
• Collaborating with personal protective equipment suppliers.
• Conducting monthly meetings of the Poultry Industry Safety & Health Committee to share best practices in hazard identification and risk control.
• Holding an annual safety conference for the past 29 years — the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry. 

US poultry industry concerned over release of food safety data

The National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and U.S. Poultry and Egg Association have expressed concerns over the public release of establishment-specific food safety data, including the potential for misinterpretation of the data; adverse effects on international trade; the risk that confidential or proprietary information could be deduced; and adverse effects on inspector performance.
The groups believe that their concerns were not completely addressed in the final report released by the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council, “The Potential Consequences of Public Release of Food Safety and Inspection Service Establishment-Specific Data.”  Without proper context, said the groups in a statement, there is concern that the amount of information will be subject to misinterpretation and confusion that could "needlessly alarm consumers and our trading partners.”
FSIS data may already be obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. Such data includes:

• Microbiological sampling and testing data.
• Residue sampling and testing data.
• Facility-specific noncompliance records identified during routine inspection activities.
• Food-safety assessments, evaluations of the entirety of a facility’s food-safety program, including the nature and source of raw materials, processes, the environment, and all other aspects included under Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.
• Facility-specific HACCP verifications.
• Foodborne-disease outbreak investigation closeout reports.

“A strong food safety system is the number one priority of the poultry industry,” said the groups. “But as the report itself states, ‘It is not possible to make a direct causal link between public data access and specific food-safety improvements.’” 

Air-conditioned poultry houses make inroads in Vietnam

Air-conditioned poultry houses with control systems are gaining popularity in Vietnam, a news report said. According to the Provincial Department of Animal Health of Dong Nai Province, there are more than 100 such farms in the province which, with 1.2 million chickens, make up for 20% of the province's output.
Forecasts are that poultry from such farms could double by the end of the year. Many of the farmers operating air-conditioned houses have also entered into contracts with major livestock companies including Charoen Popkand, Emivet and Jappa.
Tong Van Huong, chairman of the Minh Hoa Commune Farmers Association in Binh Duong Province, said the long-term cost-effectiveness of air-conditioned farms makes up for the high investment. While a conventional poultry shed costs between $11-18,000, a 1,000 square meter air-conditioned chicken house would cost $58,000.

Stimulus funds approved for poultry lab

The U.S.Department of Agriculture announced that the Athens' Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory will get $2.3 million of federal stimulus money to upgrade the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and the rooms used to house animals, according to a news report.
The money will not be used for the expansion of the poultry lab or additional research as directed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Southeast Poultry Lab houses the country's major research program on bird flu. USDA will spend $176 million to upgrade more than three dozen of its research laboratories in 29 states across the country.