Keeping Smithfield Foods' Employees Safe

Photo of employee

Since our goal is to provide families around the world with high-quality food, it stands to reason that we also feel a great responsibility to our employees and their families. We're continually working to improve processes that protect the health and welfare of our employees.

  • Our Corporate Director of Health and Safety ensures that all independent operating companies uphold our enhanced safety policy and comply with all laws.
  • We've implemented a new Employee Injury Prevention Management System, building a culture where employee health and safety is a core value of our business.
  • We take an active role in supporting our employees. For example, Smithfield Packing Company arranges for a low cost, on-site healthcare facility at Tar Heel for employees and their families. Because there’s a lack of affordable healthcare options in the area, we’ve also opened the facility to the local community. The facility offers primary care, laboratory, X-ray and basic pharmacy services six days a week.

Health & Safety Policy Statement

At Smithfield Foods, Inc. the safety, health and well-being of our employees is more important than our most valued customer. We strive to lead the industry in occupational safety and health just as we strive to be the industry leader in producing wholesome food products, animal welfare practices, and protecting the environment. All Smithfield Foods, Inc. operating companies are expected to implement Employee Injury Prevention Management Systems that foster continual improvement in the management of workplace injury and illness risks.

Smithfield Foods and its subsidiaries will further demonstrate this commitment to health and safety through:

  • Maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements
  • Appointing safety coordinators at each location
  • Providing appropriate training to ensure awareness of potential hazards and competence in performing specific duties or job tasks in a safe manner
  • Conducting risk assessments and identifying control measures as well as developing of processes and procedures for hazard recognition and timely abatement of those hazards identified
  • Promoting active participation in safety efforts by all hourly and management employees
  • Developing measurements and auditing systems to ensure standards of performance are met and opportunities for improvement are identified
  • Defining roles and responsibilities of all members of management towards health and safety to include review of goals and objectives during all annual and subsequent performance evaluations

Maintaining a safe and healthful working environment is the responsibility of all employees. We expect all locations to maintain compliance with company and regulatory health and safety guidelines as well as to implement other recognized good engineering and safe work practices. Smithfield Foods, Inc. will promote safety as a value to be instilled within the hearts and minds of all of its employees. This policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary at least annually and be communicated to every employee as well as other interested parties involved in our operations.

Reviewed and accepted on this date: August 28, 2007