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Work Site Safety
Around the world, Monsanto is committed to establishing and maintaining work site safety for its employees, including its seasonal staff. In 2007, we achieved the best injury and illness performance in our history, a total recordable rate (TRR) of 0.77. The TRR is a standard safety measurement used by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA).
After several years of steady improvements in safety, Monsanto did experience some challenges in 2006. That year our TRR increased from 0.93 to 1.13, because of vehicular and on-the-job injuries at rural international sites. Because every injury and fatality affects Monsanto, its employees, and their families, the company’s Environment, Safety, and Health team quickly identified areas where training could be improved. In 2007, these changes resulted in a better safety performance: The injury rate among employee groups targeted for improvement dropped by half. The companywide TRR of 0.77 for 2007 is well below the U.S. industry average of 4.4.12
Over the past several years, all Monsanto seed production sites have undertaken the goal of achieving the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status or equivalent certification for international sites. More than 70 percent of our seed sites have attained this goal. The VPP Participants’ Association also recognized Monsanto’s Luling, Louisiana, manufacturing plant for outstanding safety performance in 2005. Luling received the highest regional VPP recognition, the Star of Excellence. The recognition is for maintaining injury and illness rates lower than 90 percent of U.S. sites.
In addition to bolstering work site safety, we have also taken steps to improve conditions for seasonal workers. In many countries, the company transports seasonal workers to the work site in school buses. We prefer this safety-conscious step to the common industry practice of using cargo trucks to transport workers. Many sites also work diligently to provide better housing and safe drinking water for their seasonal workers.
