Syngenta Seed in Jefferson recently received a safety award from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council.

Health, Safety and Environmental Manager Steve Pope says they were recognized for demonstrating how safety has improved and the overall safety culture of their site in Jefferson.  He states that they had two programs that were highlighted for the award.  One was for eliminating a manual lift process with a nesting and unnesting station and another was for their “Cash for Knives” program.

“This is designed to remove non-compliant utility knives from the workplace.  For every non-approved utility knife turned in by an employee, we gave them a new compliant utility knife and in addition, we gave them five safety dollars.  With those safety dollars, they can redeem for household safety items, Syngenta apparel and that type of thing.”

Since the facility was built in 1979, Pope says this is the first kind of award that they’ve earned.

Site Manager Chad Wuebker says in 2013, they started a Good Growth Plan that includes six commitments to address global food security and one of those ways is by keeping employees safe.

“Safety is very important of the employees and the core values of Syngenta.  I think the employees just truly appreciate working alongside a co-worker that is also focused on the safety-first approach.”

Syngenta Jefferson has 19 full time employees and during it’s peak season, they will have up to 25 contracted laborers.