Eleven Mid-South cotton gins won the Diamond Award of Excellence for outstanding worker safety programs in 2016. It is the highest level in the Southern Cotton Ginners Association’s annual safety awards program. To win the award, a gin must earn a Platinum grade for five consecutive years.

“It’s tough to score that high one year, but to do it five years in a row takes a lot of effort and dedication, beginning at the top with management, and including every gin employee,” says William Lindamood, SCGA safety director.

Additionally, 27 gins earned the Platinum Award, the next highest level. There were 18 Gold Award winners; 16 Silver Award winners; and 8 Bronze Awards. Most Improved Awards were also presented.

Award winners at all levels of the safety program were honored at a luncheon held in conjunction with the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show.

“Those qualifying for the Bronze level have done a commendable job of basic compliance and documentation,” Lindamood says. “All of our award winners are striving to improve their safety programs and are working toward an accident-free culture of safety.

“Safety in ginning operations starts at the top, with owners and managers. When they put safety at the top of their must-do list, it pays dividends all down the line. With everyone working together to keep attention focused on these goals, we can do everything possible to keep our workplaces accident-free.”

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“We will continue striving to eliminate workplace accidents through safety teamwork and promoting a culture of safety at every level of the ginning operation. In 2017, we’ll continue to emphasize effective operational training, documentation, and assisting gins with regulatory compliance.”

SCGA will continue to emphasize guarding of all chain drives, he says. “Equally important is a written lock out/tag out program that emphasizes securing all hazardous energy. Special emphasis should be given to rotating saws and press components after the electrical disconnect has been padlocked. SCGA will continue emphasis on effective operational training, documentation, and assistance to gins on regulatory compliance.”

There were 129 cotton gins operating in the Mid-South for the 2016 ginning season, Lindamood says. “While bales per gin increased, lost time accidents went down, from 11 in 2015 to only six in 2016, and amputations were reduced from four in 2015 to only two in 2016. We congratulate our gins for these outstanding achievements in safety, and we hope to see a continued increase in bales ginned, with fewer accidents.”

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Buddy Cochran, chairman of the SCGA Safety Committee, agrees that “the dedication shown by management and employees of our member gins has resulted in an exceptional record in reducing accidents and injuries, and they are to be commended for their achievements.”

Serving with him on the committee are Kevin Watts, Arkansas; Buddy Tanner, Louisiana; Scottie Morgan, Missouri; and Bubba Burks, Tennessee.

“We congratulate all the award winners on improving compliance, training documentation, and most importantly, for reducing accidents,” said Tri Watkins, SCGA outgoing president. “Our association recognizes the importance of safety in protecting our workers, reducing insurance costs, and improving efficiency, and we appreciate the valuable guidance of the committee and our SCGA safety director, William Lindamood.”

Southern Cotton Ginners Association Excellence in Safety Award Winners 2017
Arkansas
Diamond Award of Excellence
McGehee Producers Gin, McGehee

Platinum Award of Excellence
Black Oak Gin Co., Inc., Black Oak; Childress Gin & Elevator Co., Inc., Monette; Kiech-Shauver-Miller Gin Co., Monette; Lee Wilson and Company Gin, Wilson; McClendon Mann & Felton Gin, Marianna; McClendon Mann & Felton Gin #3, Brickeys; Monette Coop Gin, Monette.

Gold Award of Excellence
Delta Cotton Cooperative, Inc., Marma-
duke; Graves Gin Corporation, Rector; Griffin Gins, Inc., Helena; Portland Gin & Warehouse, Inc., Portland; Senter & Sons Gin LLC, Osceola.

Silver Award of Excellence
Dixie Gin of Poinsett Cty., Inc., Trumann; GPS Gin Co. Inc., Portland; Rabbit Ridge Gin & Whse., Dyess; Taylor Gin Co., Gould.

Bronze Award of Excellence
New Peoples Gin Co., Inc., Holly Grove

Most Improved
Lindsey Brothers Gin, Caldwell

Louisiana
Diamond Award of Excellence
Tri-Parish Gin LLC, Lettsworth
Platinum Award of Excellence
Catavoy Cotton Gin LLC, Jonesville; McNutt Gin, Inc., Boyce; Tensas Co-op Gin, Inc., Newellton.

Silver Award of Excellence
Rapides Grant Gin, Boyce; Tanner & Co., Frogmore.

Bronze Award of Excellence
Gilliam Gin Co., Inc., Gilliam; Lagniappe Cotton Gin  LLC, Hamburg; Planters Gin Company, St. Joseph; Valley Gin Inc., Shreveport.

Most Improved SCGA
Caddo Farmers Gin, Belcher

Mississippi
Diamond Award of Excellence
Silver Creek Gin Co., Holly Bluff; Vance Gin Co., Inc., Clarksdale.

Platinum Award of Excellence
Avon Gin, Inc., Avon; Bogue Chitto Gin, Macon; Four County Gin, Inc., Calhoun City; Greenwood Gin, Inc., Greenwood; Quito Gin Company, Itta Bena; Yazoo Planters Gin Co., Yazoo City.

Gold Award of Excellence
Farmers Gin, Inc. of Hamilton, Hamilton; Gaddis & McLaurin Gin, Bolton; Mattson Gin, Inc., Lyon; Tunica Gin Corp., Tunica; Vaiden Farmers Gin LLP, Vaiden; Yalobusha County Gin Company, Inc., Coffeeville.

Silver Award of Excellence
Como Consolidated Gin Co., Inc., Como; Grundfest & Klaus Gin, Cary; Hi Grade Gin Corp., Winona; Issaquena S. Washington Gin, Inc., Glen Allan.

Bronze Award of Excellence
Bobo Moseley Gin Company, Lyon

Most Improved
North Delta Gin LLC, Marks

Missouri
Diamond Award of Excellence
Bernie Farmers Gin, Malden; Farmers Union Gin & Warehouse Co., Inc., Senath; Portageville Farmers Gin, Portageville; Sandy Ridge Cotton Co. LLC, Malden; Vanduser Gin Co., Inc., Vanduser.

Platinum Award of Excellence
A.C. Riley Cotton Co., Inc., New Madrid; Blakemore Cotton & Grain LLC, Campbell; Caruthersville Gin, Caruthersville; Dalton Cotton Company, Senath; McCord Gin Company, Gideon; Stokes-Mayberry Gin Co., Inc., Malden.

Gold Award of Excellence
4-Way Gin, Senath; D.G.& G., Parma; Graves Kennett Gin, Kennett.

Silver Award of Excellence
Bootheel Cotton Co., Matthews; Crowder Gin Co., Sikeston; Peach Orchard Gin Co., Inc., Gideon.

Most Improved
Dalton Cotton Company, Senath

Tennessee
Diamond Award of Excellence
Burlison Gin Company, Inc., Burlison; Longtown Gin, Mason.

Platinum Award of Excellence
Arp Cotton Gin Co. LLC, Ripley; Cairo Farmers Gin LLC, Alamo; Crockett Gin Co. LLC, Maury City; Espey Gin Co., McLe-
moresville; Union Gn Co., Inc., Brownsville.

Gold Award of Excellence
Crockett Mills Gin LLC, Crockett Mills; Farmers Gin of Humboldt, Humboldt; Halls Gin Company, Halls; Phoenix Gin Co., Tiptonville.

Silver Award of Excellence
Bemis Gin LLC, Jackson; Farmers Friendship Gin, Inc., Friendship; Oak Grove Gin LLC, Somerville.

Bronze Award of Excellence
Hickory Valley Gin, Hickory Valley; Yorkville Gin Company, Yorkville.

Most Improved
Two Way Gin Co., Inc., Brownsville