OSHA visits Triumph Foods to learn about safety practices in the meat industry
“One area of focus [for the meatpacking industry] has been worker health and safety across the sector. Providing safe and healthy working conditions is a key component to businesses recruiting and retaining workers. We’re working with all stakeholders, workers, employers, unions, worker centers and other community groups, to learn from their experiences in order to provide further assistance and guidance for this industry,” said OSHA Deputy Secretary Jim Frederick, who was part of the team that visited the facility. Speaking of what unknown future challenges may bring, Frederick said the agency wants to understand experiences of workers in the industry to inform and improve policy discussions.
“Triumph’s team members operate in a deep-safety culture, and we strive to set a high safety standard for our industry,” said Triumph Foods President and Chief Executive Officer Matt England. “We were happy to share our story about the success of our practices and the dedicated team who works to make sure Triumph continues as a safety leader.”
Approximately 2,500 employees work at the 800,000-square foot Triumph Foods facility. The plant processes 21,000 hogs daily, providing products to both consumers under its Prairie Fresh label as well as additional pork processors. As the largest private employer in St. Joe, the company recently raised its starting base wage to $20 per hour for all production new hires, in addition to a pay raise for current employees. Production employees are members of the UFCW, which also participated in the tour.
“We recommended Triumph to OSHA because the company consistently prioritizes worker health and safety,” said UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas. “We are proud to share the innovative strategies Triumph and the union have developed for the benefit of the entire industry and to help inform future OSHA programs and policies.
Triumph Foods recently announced that it received the North American Meat Institute 2021 Worker Safety Recognition Award, NAMI’s highest-ranking safety honor. The company previously received NAMI’s Award of Merit, as well as Safety Verified Certification through Matrix Clinical Solutions. That program, which developed with Cleveland Clinic, demonstrates Triumph’s commitment to limit the impact of COVID-19 on its facility.
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About Triumph Foods
Founded in 2006, Triumph Foods is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is one of the only producer-owned pork processors in the United States. A responsible corporate citizen and leading local employer in the Northwest Missouri region, Triumph Foods employs a workforce of more than 2,500 that processes more than 5 million hogs annually. Today, Triumph Foods remains true to its commitments to its team members, customers, shareholders and communities. For more information, visit triumphfoods.com.
