The Southern Forest Products Association has announced the recipients of the John Edgar Rhodes 2024 Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards. The SFPA Safety Awards 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,” said 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 50 million board feet or less annually)
- Almond Brothers Lumber Co. – Coushatta, LA
- Weyerhaeuser Co. – Zwolle, LA
Division Two: (SFPA member facilities that produce 51 to 150 million board feet annually)
- West Fraser – Blackshear, GA
- Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Co. – Smithville, NC
Division Three: (SFPA member mills that produce more than 150 million board feet annually)
- West Fraser – Angelina, TX
- West Fraser – McDavid, FL
- Weyerhaeuser Co. – Idabel, OK
Since the Sawmill Safety Awards were introduced in 2002, the commitment to worker safety among Southern Forest Products Association (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.
A list of previous award recipients may be viewed by clicking here.
About John Edgar Rhodes
Having a successful career in the forest and paper industry, Rhodes was chosen to lead the Southern Pine lumber industry. Before joining the Association, Rhodes was a personal secretary to Frederick Weyerhaeuser and was well-versed in forest management, newsprint production, and lumber manufacturing. A well-respected and celebrated leader of the early forest products industry, Rhodes served as the Association’s founding secretary-manager from 1915 until his untimely death in 1923. Under Rhodes’ leadership, the Association grew into the model trade association in American industry. He was a strong champion for the forest products industry – advocating for proactive forest resource management and standardized grading rule