Around CGC
In this issue:
Laurel Reaches Million Hour Milestone
On
October 8, 2001, the Wayne Farms Laurel Complex took a first step
toward becoming an accident-free workplace, reaching one million hours
without a lost-time accident. The next step is reaching two million
safe hours with no lost time. Special recognition goes to everyone at
Laurel, but especially to the Hatchery, which has now worked nearly
three years without a lost-time accident. The Laurel employees have
worked very hard in achieving this goal.
Outside the Laurel Complex, October 2001.
A plant-wide celebration, including a cookout, was held on Friday,
November 30th, at which time employees received jackets with the Wayne
Farms logo and the words "Team work + safety = 1,000,000 safe work
hours."
The Laurel Plant is well on its way to two million safe hours with no lost-time accidents.
--Mike Parker
Albertville: One Million+ Hours and Going Strong
After many years working to prevent lost-time injuries, we have conquered the
mountain! We experienced our last lost-time injury in April 2001 and
since that point have initiated a solid, knowledge-based effort to
reduce and eliminate lost-time injuries. In conjunction with our local
physicians/therapists/clinics, we have tailored a relationship in which
we can assess the needs of our employees following an injury and allow
them to return to modified duty. Through many weeks of monitoring
safety issues, we have also eliminated many of the causes of lost-time
injuries. A new flooring surface has eliminated most slips and falls.
Extra training in tool handling and the re-enforcement of PPE has
improved safety on the job. In addition, a true awareness of safety has
taken hold in the Albertville Processing Plant. Employees are
encouraged to report unsafe conditions and make suggestions for
improvements. A genuine concern and an "ear to bend" are really what
most folks are looking for, and when they see they're important to the
company, they make the company important to them.
Without
the cooperation of our management, supervision and support staff, we
would not have reached this milestone. Our thanks go out to them as
well as to all the hourly employees who made this possible. Keep up the
good work! A thought to help keep us all a little more humble, "Folks
don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
--Cathy Walling
Safety Records at ContiBeef--
Hartley Makes Four Years
Please join with me in congratulating Hartley Feeders on achieving four years
without a lost-time accident. Hartley Feeders employs 42 employees and
gives feed and care to 44,000 head of cattle each day. As of October
1st, 2001, this is the first time any one facility has sustained this
length of time without a lost-time injury. This is an amazing
accomplishment! The dedication of the Hartley Feeders team to an
accident-free environment sets the standard for excellence. Congratulations!
--John Rakestraw
Cimarron Celebrates
Cimarron
Feeders celebrated two years with no lost-time accidents on October 22.
All 58 employees and their families were recognized with a prime rib
dinner and an award of appreciation. General Manager Steve Hays and
Assistant General Manager Matt Buyers note that safety is a key part of
Cimarron's success and credit employees for achieving this record.
Cimarron Feeders strives to create a safe working environment that
enables all employees to return home to their families in good health
every day.
Coronado Mill Reaches Eleven Safe Years
There
is a difference between a job well done and excellence. Please join me
in recognizing "excellence" in employee safety on behalf of the
feedmill crew at Coronado Feeders. ELEVEN YEARS!!. 4,017 work days,
3,300,000 tons of feed; sending people home whole and healthy each day.
The words "outstanding" and "thank you" feel inadequate. However, I am sure
the families of the Coronado mill team are just happy to see Mom and
Dad walk though the door at home each evening. For our families that is
what excellence is about.
--John Rakestraw
As
of November 16, all of Coronado Feeders has also gone ONE YEAR without
a lost-time accident. Congratulations to everyone at Coronado Feeders.
A Prize-Winning Poster--
Ken Walls of Cimarron Feeders took the $400 grand prize in ContiBeef's
safety poster competition earlier this year. In addition to Ken's
winning poster shown above, the contest drew 12 other entries. First
prize went to Duane Loftis and second prize to Justin Morris. The
contest was organized by ContiBeef Safety Committee members Steve
McKitrick, Mike Thoren, Levi Benjamin and Glenn Schryver.
"Our
goal was to get safety posters that would be specific to the cattle
feeding industry and that would get everyone at all levels thinking
about safety," explains Safety Committee Chair Troy Sander. "It was a
great program and we look forward to doing it again in the future."
Foundation Update--
Support for Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia
Last year's $3,000 ContiGroup Foundation grant has provided girls in
Northeast Georgia with opportunities they would otherwise have never
received. Some of the funds went to support leadership development
skill building at the Girl Scouts' Young Women's conference, which has
increased older girls' interest in becoming community leaders. Other
funds were used to support outreach efforts in our STOMP (Strong Troops
Obtaining Maximum Potential) program. This group serves over 200 girls
in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia. Girls in STOMP are served through
programs conducted at local housing authority neighborhoods in
conjunction with the Hall County Boys and Girls Club and a
church-affilated English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
I
want to thank ContiGroup personally for the great help in further
developing leadership skills in our young women of Northeast Georgia.
--Gwen Darby
Animal Agriculture Alliance: Promoting Consumer Education
The CGC Foundation has provided a $10,000 grant to the Animal Agriculture Alliance,
a new trade group that seeks to improve public understanding of animal
agriculture practices. Begun this year as the successor to the Animal
Industry Foundation, the Alliance provides educational resources for
consumers, teachers, and the media, and monitors emerging issues. The
group also works with animal producers to develop third-party
verification programs and to promote compliance with the Alliance's
"Principles of Animal Care."
New York Cares!
These past three months, CGC New York has participated in a variety of activities for very special causes.
In
addition to joining in the company-wide post September 11 fundraising,
CGC New York collected clothing and supplies for the relief effort
workers down at Ground Zero.
In
October, in what has become a New York tradition, we celebrated Lee
National Denim Day and raised $1820 (with a match from ContiGroup
Foundation) for the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation to help them
continue their work in breast cancer research and education. Those who
contributed wore jeans to work and were invited to a celebratory
breakfast.
For
the second consecutive year, we have been collecting canned and
non-perishable foods for the Harvest Season Food Drive for City
Harvest. This is the nation's oldest and largest food rescue program,
helping to feed over 150,000 people living in poverty every week. Once
again, CGC New York has demonstrated its overwhelming generosity for
those in need.
--Robin Derin
This
year, fifty of our New York and Connecticut employees participated in
the Supportive Children's Advocacy Network (SCAN) Holiday Toy Drive.
Each employee that volunteered to participate received a "Dear Santa"
letter and purchased gifts for one of the SCAN children. The SCAN
Organization in New York provides safe, quality recreational and
educational counseling to families residing primarily in the South
Bronx and East Harlem communities of New York. Each year, the SCAN
organization collects over 1500 gifts for children and 600 gifts for
the parents. A special thank you to those that participated in this
special event.
--Celeste Schubert
Branding the Hide at XIT
XIT
Feeders recently became the first winner of "The Hide," a new award
recognizing the ContiBeef feedyard with the lowest cattle death loss.
The trophy will be branded and displayed by the feedyard with the best
record in each six-month period. "If we win next time, we keep the hide
and brand it again. If we lose, we'll hand deliver it to the new
winner," explains XIT Animal Health Manager Ryan Moorhouse. "It brings
out the competitive fire in everyone and gives us a good incentive to
do well."
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| The XIT Animal Health team with the newly won hide, front row, from left, Scotty Campbell, Daniel Cancino, Ray Dunlap, Jed Ummel, Terry Newman, Brad Holt, Ryan Moorhouse, Chris Lewis, Ed Baca. Back row, Jeremy Seay, Sonny Combs, Shawn Whatley, Donnie Messick. Not pictured: Kerry Wyatt, Jerry Romero, Dan Walter. |