Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2011 10:35 AM PDT

For more information contact: Larry Meyer, Argus Observer

Nyssa Feedlot celebrates
2 years accident free

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By LARRY MEYER

NYSSA — Thousands of cattle, plus horses, trucks and loaders and lots of other equipment around can be a recipe for accidents, but Beef Northwest Feeders, northwest of Nyssa, has shown that is not necessarily the case as owners, managers and staff are celebrating two years without having any time-loss accidents at the local feed yard.

Jim Wilson, who owns Beef Northwest with cousin John Wilson, said he believes that is something rare among feed yards.

To mark the achievement, company officials hosted employees and invited guests to a barbecue Wednesday to talk about the safety emphasis and programs at Beef Northwest and to recognize the efforts of the employees who are making the safety program work.

“Safety, that is what we’ve done here,” Barry Kane, feedlot manager, said during his remarks at the celebration.

When he started in the feedlot industry in 1979, all the focus had been on growth, Kane said.

“We didn’t do a good job of taking care of our people,” he said.

While it is often a matter of common sense, it does not happen, Kane said. Left to their devices, people will take the quickest and shortest route, which may not be the safest route, he said.

During the last several years, Kane said he has seen a lot of improvement.

“We have come a long way. Stuff does not have to happen,” Kane said.

Over the years he has seen a loss of toes, limbs, eyes and lives, he said. They can replace machine parts and machines, he said.

“We can’t replace people,” he said.

Beef Northwest Feeders also has facilities in Boardman, Quincy and North Powder.

The Nyssa yard is the first to make two years without a time-loss accident, Kirk Jacobson, human resources director, said.

“A safe operator is a productive operator,” he said.

There is the initial safety training for new employees, monthly safety training for all employees and there is a safety committee at Beef Northwest, Jacobson said.

“We investigate every accident, even if they didn’t hurt,” he said.

Safety includes the manager making the sure the horses used by the pen riders are broke and safe to ride, and there is a safety program for the riders.

There are 17 employees at the Nyssa yard, 150 company-wide, Jacobson said.