Sawmill Safety Awards & Summit

While we celebrate the John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Excellence Awards every year, it becomes a party every other year at Forest Products EXPO!

When you step into a sawmill, safety is more than a checklist — it’s what gets you home at the end of the day.

That was the spirit behind the 2024 Sawmill Safety Awards & Summit at the 38th Forest Products EXPO on August 7 in Nashville, where mills from throughout the South came together to celebrate safety achievements and share what’s working on the ground.

The highlight of the morning was recognizing seven mills that hit an incredible milestone: 1.8 million hours worked in 2024 without a single incident. That’s not luck. That’s proof that when safety is part of the culture, zero really is possible.

But the Summit wasn’t just about handing out plaques. The real value came from digging into how these mills achieved it during SFPA's inaugural Safety Summit.

The conversation kept circling back to a few big themes:

  • Ownership on the floor: Crews who run the machines know the risks best. When their voices are heard and their ideas are put into action, safety programs stick.

  • Keeping it fresh: Safety can’t feel stale. Rotating themes, incentives, and new approaches keep people paying attention.

  • Small habits matter: From wearing PPE without being asked to reminding a coworker to do the same, little choices add up to big results.

  • Training and mentorship: With high turnover, older hands often guide new hires, but outside trainers also bring fresh eyes and spot hazards others may miss.

  • Expanding the scope: Safety today isn’t just saws and forklifts. Workplace violence, driving risks, and even technology like RFID hardhats are part of the modern conversation.

What made the Summit powerful was the openness. Safety isn’t competitive — it’s something every mill has a stake in, and sharing ideas helps everyone. Attendees left with reminders that culture is built one action at a time, and that being relentless about safety isn’t optional.

The message was clear: zero incidents isn’t a dream. It’s a commitment. And it’s one the industry is determined to keep.

We can't wait for you to join us at the next Sawmill Safety Awards & Summit at Forest Products EXPO 2027!

Travel Information

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