Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus Receives WorkSafe Award for Third Consecutive Year

Despite its challenges, 2020 proved to be a year worth celebrating for Accident Fund policyholder Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus, as the company received a WorkSafe Award for the third consecutive year. The award is given to Accident Fund policyholders across the country who demonstrate a commitment to workplace safety.

Mike Breeden, environmental health & safety manager, and Teresa Eaton, EMT/occupational health specialist for Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus, receive a 2020 WorkSafe Award in a virtual award presentation.)

Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus, based in Harrisonburg, VA, partners with over 60 family farms to process 100 percent organic and humanely raised chickens. The company became an Accident Fund policyholder in January of 2017, and by October of 2020, achieved three million manhours without a lost work day injury.

During this three-year period, the company’s experience modification rating decreased from 1.07 to 0.95 (representing a 11 percent cost savings), achieving an injury rate of .90, compared to the industry standard of 3.5. In 2020, Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus also reported only four OSHA recordable injuries – the company’s lowest ever – even after increasing production and its workforce.

According to Richard McLaughlin, senior loss control consultant for Accident Fund, the policyholder’s positive performance is largely a result of enhancements to its safety program, including engineering controls with automation and slip resistant flooring, and administrative controls such as employee rotation and enhanced safety culture throughout the plant. A greater emphasis is also placed on employee training using multi-language training software, and supervisors are more involved in overall safety by overseeing daily procedures with their crews.

For the team at Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus, the commitment to ensuring to a safer workplace is a personal priority.

“It means everything to us that Accident Fund recognizes our achievements,” said Michael Breeden, environmental health & safety manager for Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus. “Safety is more than a program to our family, it’s a way of life and a culture all our employees share in.”​​​​​​​

Congratulations to Shenandoah Valley Organic-Farmer Focus for their continued success and to Accident Fund’s Loss Control team for their commitment to improving workplace safety for our customers!