The Company has established a Safety Committee whose membership is representative of the Company’s major work activities. This committee is responsible for establishing procedures regarding safety inspections, accident investigations, safety training programs, and other activities related to the health and safety of our employees. The names of current Safety Committee members are posted on Company bulletin boards. You are encouraged to contact a Safety Committee member with any safety questions or concerns you may have.

Certain areas and/or job functions may require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as non-prescription safety eyewear, gloves, goggles, aprons, and ear plugs. Gerber will provide this equipment at no cost to the employee when such equipment is necessary. Maintaining PPE in good working order and storing appropriately is the responsibility of the employee. Employees should not wear loose clothing and/or loose jewelry when operating or in the proximity of machinery.

Some jobs may require steel-toe shoes and safety glasses. The Company will reimburse full-time employees for ANSI approved steel toe safety shoes up to $100 per year, unless otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, for those that require prescription safety glasses as part of their job function, the Company will reimburse full-time employees up to $100/year, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Reimbursement is available upon submission of the Safety Shoe & Safety Glasses Reimbursement Request including receipt.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) develops regulations to protect the health and safety of the U.S. workforce. Gerber maintains documented procedures to fulfill both OSHA requirements and keep our employees safe on the job.

Safety procedures such as Gerber’s Emergency Action Plan, Lockout/Tagout (the control of hazardous energy sources), Hazard Communication (chemical “Right-to-Know”), and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among others, can be found on Gerber’s Quality, Environmental, Safety Standards (or QuESSt) Portal. Gerber QuESSt is available to all PC users, and kiosks are available on the production floor. In addition to these procedures, such things as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals, a list of Fork Truck Approved Operators, Accident/Incident Reporting Forms, and production line specific documents can be found under Gerber QuESSt as well.

Gerber provides Workers’ Compensation insurance to cover all job-related injuries or illnesses that an employee may incur in the course of carrying out their duties for Gerber. This coverage generally provides reimbursement of medical expenses related to the illness or injury, and may also provide payment of compensation while the employee is unable to work. All Company employees are eligible for Workers' Compensation. This benefit is paid for 100% by Gerber. All employees are covered from the first day on the job.

A job-related illness or injury generally is one that occurs on Company premises or while an employee is on Company business. The injury must be directly caused by the employee's occupation or work environment. Gerber and its insurance carrier will not be liable for the payment of Workers’ Compensation benefits for any injury that arises out of an employee’s voluntary participation in any off-duty recreational, social, or athletic activity that is not part of the employee’s work-related duties.

State laws and the Worker’s Compensation Commission will be the authority determining if the claim qualifies under the Worker’s Compensation provisions. State law determines the average weekly Workers’ Compensation benefit, and a maximum weekly benefit amount may apply. It may take the Workers' Compensation Administration or the insurance carrier some time to make a benefit determination. Therefore, benefits may not be paid immediately.