The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is now accepting applications for the fifth annual Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Awards, a program that honors facilities for outstanding worker safety performance. Applications are due by March 31, 2008.

Award winners will be notified this fall and featured in Dairy Field Reports, which co-sponsors the safety awards program. Applicants will be judged on specific data required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the facility’s “Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses” report (OSHA Form 300A). Employers are required to post their OSHA 300A forms from February 1 through April 30 each year.

Processing facilities will be judged in four product categories: natural and processed cheese; dry, condensed and evaporated products; ice cream and frozen desserts; and fluid milk. Within each product category, there are awards for small, medium and large facilities that achieve the best overall safety performance rates based on the OSHA data. Trucking operations will receive certificates for having no lost days and no cases involving job transfers or restrictions.