SFPA Announces 2024 Safety Award Winners

Southern Forest Products Assn. (SFPA) announced the recipients of the John Edgar Rhodes 2024 Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards, which embody the impact, dedication, and legacy of the association’s founding leader, John Edgar Rhodes.

The seven award recipients represent a record of 1,883,749 total hours worked among 757 employees—achieving safety excellence with zero reported incidents. This is the fourth year in a row where at least seven member mills reported zero incidents.

SFPA lumber manufacturer members are considered for the award based on standardized information submitted using OSHA Form 300A—the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. This form offers a yearly snapshot of workplace safety by reporting the number of work-related injuries and illnesses at each facility. Awards are presented in three divisions, and safety performance is judged by how each mill’s safety record stacks up against facilities with comparable lumber output throughout the year.

In total, 42 SFPA member mills from 12 different companies submitted their 2024 data using OSHA Form 300A. Together, these mills accounted for:

• 5 million hours worked

• An average annual workforce of 6,419 employees

•103 total recordable incidents

“In an industry where worker safety is paramount, achieving a record with no reportable incidents is truly remarkable,” comments Eric Gee, executive director of SFPA. “We’re incredibly proud of these operations and their unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards of safety. This accomplishment reflects a strong safety culture at the sawmill—one where every team member takes personal responsibility for creating a safe work environment and looking out for one another.”

Division One: SFPA member mills that produce 50MMBF or less annually:

—Almond Brothers Lumber Co., Coushatta, La.

—Weyerhaeuser Co., Zwolle, La.

Division Two: SFPA member facilities that produce 51 to 150MMBF annually:

—West Fraser, Blackshear, Ga.

—Lampe & Malphrus Lumber, Smithville, NC

Division Three: SFPA member mills that produce more than 150MMBF annually:

—West Fraser, Angelina, Tex.

—West Fraser, McDavid, Fla.

—Weyerhaeuser, Idabel, Okla.

Since the Sawmill Safety Awards were introduced in 2002, the commitment to worker safety among SFPA members has been clearly demonstrated, with 170 awards presented to date.

Among this year’s recipients, Weyerhaeuser Co. has set a high benchmark, earning 62 awards across 16 of its mills, which reflects an embedded culture of safety throughout its operations. Fellow SFPA member West Fraser has also shown a strong commitment to safe work environments, receiving 17 awards among 10 of its mills.

Lampe & Malphrus’ fifth award and Almond Brothers’ third highlight the continued efforts of SFPA members to prioritize employee well-being and maintain the highest standards of operational safety.