OAKWOOD, Ga. — Wayne-Sanderson Farms facilities in Adel and Moultrie were among 23 that were recognized at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry.

The company announced the awards in a recent press release.

Nine facilities, including the hatchery in Adel, received Awards of Distinction, the highest level of award presented.

Moultrie’s processing facility was among nine others to receive Awards of Honor, the second highest of the three categories of awards.

The annual awards recognize safety programs implemented by members of the poultry industry’s National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and US Poultry and Egg Association to improve safety performance and recognize high achievers in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses, Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ press release said.

“At Wayne-Sanderson Farms, our commitment to health and safety is a mindset that we have worked hard to instill in our employees as a team effort that everyone has responsibility for,” said Reggie McLee, vice president of health and safety at Wayne-Sanderson Farms. “These awards are a reflection of our collaborative efforts to prioritize our safety program and demonstrate that our approach is making a significant impact on the well-being of our team members.”

In another awards highlight, McLee himself was honored with a special recognition award for his 33+ years of leadership and dedicated service to the safety and health profession.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms said McLee is responsible for retooling the company’s safety program from the ground up, after coming on board 16 years ago. Under his leadership, the program is centered around a theme of “Zero-Accident Culture” that is driven by personal accountability for safe workplace practices.

“Thanks to Reggie’s leadership, we have cultivated a sustainable culture of safety excellence that emphasizes our people as our top priority,” said Clint Rivers, president and CEO of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. “We take great pride in our achievements and celebrate the employees who contributed to this prestigious recognition.”