Farm Press Staff

March 25, 2019

22 Slides

Mid-South cotton gins turned in an excellent safety performance record during the 2018 season. Seventeen gins in the five-state area earned Diamond Awards, the highest-level award conferred by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association (SCGA) to those gins who have achieved a fifth consecutive Platinum level. 

Twenty-four gins achieved the next highest award — Platinum; 11 earned Gold; 22 earned Silver and five earned Bronze awards. SCGA encourages all member gins to achieve a minimum of Bronze level excellence in safety. 

David Cochran, Jr., SCGA 2018 president, opened the Safety Awards luncheon welcoming the award-winning gin crews, and acknowledged the work the Safety Committee did directing the Safety Program. Cochran’s father, Buddy Cochran, past president of SCGA, gave the invocation before the lunch began. 

“The SCGA Excellence in Safety Program is authorized by ownership and directed by gin managers with a constant emphasis on training,” explains William Lindamood, SCGA safety director. “This has been a great benefit to all of our member gins. 

Safety Committee members include: President, Buddy Cochran, Miss.; Kevin Watts, Ark.; Buddy Tanner, La.; Jeff Lindsey, Mo.; and Bubba Burks, Tenn.

The 2018 season saw an increase in cotton acreage. “Despite the long and wet harvest, which extended the season into January for many gins, we were extremely thankful there were no OSHA-reportable deaths during the entire year,” adds Lindamood. 

Gin owners and managers recognize safety starts at the top, but there is an across-the-board understanding among all award recipients that it also starts individually, with them. “Our owners and managers don’t want any employee to get hurt, and when they each make safety their number one priority, it pays dividends all down the line,” says Lindamood. “With everyone working together to keep attention focused on this goal, we can do everything possible to make our gins accident-free.”

Lindamood touched briefly on accident patterns in 2018, and how those patterns will be addressed during the 2019 safety seminars. “New hires have suffered lint cleaner amputations during the early parts of the season which demonstrates the necessity for occupational training before all employees begin working in the ginning environment,” reminds Lindamood. “Veteran gin personnel have become victims of lint cleaner and gin saw amputations later in the season when fatigue sets in, but weekly safety meetings helps discipline everyone to be more aware of their proximity to dangerous machinery.”

Machines that cycle automatically, such as module feeders, presses, and bale handling, were involved in three serious accidents in 2018. “These accidents demonstrate clearly the need for ongoing Lock Out/Tag Out training and workplace discipline,” adds Lindamood. “SCGA strives to eliminate workplace accidents through teamwork and promoting a culture of safety.” 

Operational training and documentation will continue to be emphasized by Lindamood in 2019. He will also continue to assist gins with regulatory compliance. “We’re hoping to see a continued increase in cotton acres, bales ginned, and more importantly, a reduction in accidents,” concludes Lindamood. 

Southern Cotton Ginners Association Excellence in Safety Award Winners 2019

Arkansas Awards

Diamond

Black Oak Gin Co. Inc., Black Oak
Kiech-Shauver-Miller Gin Co., Monette

Platinum

GPS Gin Co. Inc., Portland
Lee Wilson and Company Gin, Wilson
McClendon Mann & Felton Gin, Marianna
Monette Coop Gin, Monette
Portland Gin & Warehouse, Inc., Portland
Senter & Sons Gin LLC, Osceola

Gold

Graves Gin Corporation, Rector

Silver

Childress Gin & Elevator Co., Inc., Monette
McClendon Mann & Felton Gin #3, Brickeys
New Peoples Gin Co. Inc., Holly Grove
Rabbit Ridge Gin & Whse., Dyess
Taylor Gin Co., Gould
W.B. deYampert Gin, Wilmot
McGehee Producers Gin, McGehee

Bronze

Crittenden Gin Company, Marion

Most Improved

Farmers First West, Dell

Louisiana Awards

Diamond

Catavoy Cotton Gin, LLC, Jonesville
McNutt Gin Inc., Boyce
Tensas Co-op Gin, Inc., Newellton
Tri-Parish Gin, LLC, Lettsworth

Platinum

Rapides Grant Gin II, Boyce

Silver

Tanner & Co., Frogmore

Bronze

Associated Producers Co-op, Winnsboro
Planters Gin Company, St. Joseph

Most Improved

Hollybrook Enterprises LLC, Lake Providence

Mississippi Awards

Diamond

Bogue Chitto Gin, Macon
Silver Creek Gin Co., Holly Bluff

Platinum

Avon Gin Inc., Avon
Farmers Gin, Inc. of Hamilton, Hamilton
Greenwood Gin Inc., Greenwood
Hi Grade Gin Corp., Winona
Mattson Gin Inc., Lyon
Quito Gin Company, Itta Bena
Yalobusha County Gin Company, Inc., Coffeeville

Gold

Bobo Moseley Gin Company, Lyon
Four County Gin Inc., Calhoun City
Gaddis & McLaurin Gin, Bolton
North Delta Gin LLC, Marks
Tunica Gin Corp., Tunica

Silver

Como Consolidated Gin Co., Inc., Como
Grundfest & Klaus Gin, Cary
Midnight Gin Co. Inc., Midnight
Yazoo Planters Gin Co., Yazoo City

Bronze

Issaquena S. Washington Gin Inc.,
Glen Allan

Most Improved
Linwood Gin, Vaughan

Missouri Awards

Diamond

Bernie Farmers Gin, Malden
Blakemore Cotton & Grain LLC, Campbell
Farmers Union Gin & Warehouse Co. Inc., Senath
Portageville Farmers Gin, Portageville
Sandy Ridge Cotton Co. LLC, Malden
Vanduser Gin Co., Inc., Vanduser

Platinum

A.C. Riley Cotton Co., Inc., New Madrid
Caruthersville Gin, Caruthersville
Dalton Cotton Company, Senath
Graves Kennett Gin, Kennett
McCord Gin Company, Gideon
Stokes-Mayberry Gin Co., Inc., Malden

Gold

GT Cotton Company LLC, Cardwell

Silver

4-Way Gin, Senath
Bootheel Cotton Co., Matthews
Crowder Gin Co., Sikeston
Richardson Gin, Inc., Marston
Mahan Gin Co, Parma

Tennessee Awards

Diamond

Burlison Gin Company, Inc., Burlison
Espey Gin Co., McLemoresville
Longtown Gin, Mason

Platinum

Arp Cotton Gin Co. LLC, Ripley
Cairo Farmers Gin, LLC, Alamo
Halls Gin Company, Halls
Union Gin Co. Inc., Brownsville

Gold

Crockett Mills Gin, LLC, Crockett Mills
Hickory Valley Gin, Hickory Valley
Phoenix Gin Co., Tiptonville
Tennessee Gins & Warehouses, Covington

Silver

Bemis Gin LLC, Jackson
Crockett Gin Co. LLC, Maury City
Farmers Gin of Humboldt, Humboldt
L & H Gin, Alamo
Two Way Gin Co., Inc., Brownsville

Bronze

Oak Grove Gin LLC, Somerville

SCGA Most Improved

Nut Bush Gin Co. Inc., Brownsville

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