18 SOURCE | Spring 2022
GRAINCO FS and South Central FS Win Best of the System
Kevin Frye , GROWMARK Safety Services Manager kfrye @ growmark . com
The winners of the 2021 Best of the System contest recently celebrated their achievement . For the second year in a row , South Central FS , Inc . won for the large member category , and GRAINCO FS , Inc . won the small member category . FS companies submit applications that are also part of the Safety Reimbursement Program , to illustrate all the wonderful things being done in the FS System to ensure employee , customer , and community safety .
The results of this years Best of the System program are as follows :
Large Members
South Central FS ..... 1st Place Praireland FS ........ 2nd Place Wabash Valley Service Company ..... Most Improved
Small Member
GRAINCO FS ........ 1st Place Three Rivers FS ...... 2nd Place
Although GRAINCO FS has implemented highly successful safety practices over the last several years , this is the first time winning the award . Damon Neiggemann , Human Resource Manager stated , “ We believe the key to a good overall safety program is communication . Not just communication of goals and expectations , but all employees being empowered to speak up when they have suggestions to improve the safety program or culture . We also believe that our emphasis on Behavioral Based Safety and near misses has helped employees focus more diligently on how their actions contribute to outcomes , both positive and negative .”
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“ We have really focused on the concept that safety is everyone ’ s responsibility , not just the safety committee or plant managers ,” adds Executive Assistant Alison Wasmer .
South Central FS employees remain actively engaged with the safety process through a safety observation program and promote safety in their community through student Safety Camps .
According to Stanley Joergens , Safety and Compliance Administrator , “ To make a safety program successful , you need a lot more than a commitment from the safety director , you need full commitment to behavior-based safety from the facility or location manager and the employees to build a safety culture that survives the ups and downs of different department and seasonal events and opportunities .”