Fort Smith Site celebrates safety milestone after seven years without incident

FORT SMITH, Ark., Feb. 27, 2019 — Today, Mars Petcare’s Fort Smith facility is being honored with a Four Million Work Hours Safety Award from the Arkansas Department of Labor for accumulating four million work hours over seven years without a lost day away from work due to a work-related injury or illness. The Fort Smith facility is one of only 55 workplaces in the state of Arkansas to reach this milestone and is a testament to Mars Petcare’s commitment to the community by providing a safe workplace for the 300 Associates who work there.

Mayor George McGill will visit the facility for the presentation ceremony and issue a proclamation congratulating the site on its accomplishment. He will be joined by Tim Allen, President & CEO of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Hansen Jr., Area Director at the Arkansas Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Ralph Hudson, Deputy Director of the Arkansas Department of Labor will present the award to honor the Associates’ achievement and commitment to creating a safe work environment.

“Four million hours without incident is an incredible accomplishment for our Associates, and highlights their commitment to creating a safe workplace,” said Russ Hayes, Mars Petcare Fort Smith Site Director. “At Mars, safety is always our top priority – and we’re proud that, for the past seven years, our Fort Smith Associates have returned home to their families in the same condition as when they came to work.”

Mars Petcare has made many commitments to growing its presence in Fort Smith, and in the past 10 years, the company has invested over $200M, including a $2.4M expansion announced in November to expand and upgrade office and laboratory facilities. As a company that is dedicated to giving back to its communities, Mars Petcare has participated in volunteer projects with local organizations such as Sebastian County Humane Society, Next Step Homeless Services and Antioch Discovery Garden.

“We’re proud to have Mars Petcare, and their commitment to keeping our residents safe, as part of our close-knit Fort Smith community,” said Mayor George McGill. “The Four Million Work Hours Safety Award is an incredible accomplishment, and one the entire city can celebrate.”

Outside of Fort Smith, Mars Petcare continues to be a global leader in food and quality safety, giving back to all of the communities in which it operates and has been listed as one of Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2019, for the seventh year in a row.  

About Mars Petcare US
Mars Petcare is a diverse and growing business with 75,000 Associates across 50+ countries all dedicated to building our vision: A Better World For Pets™, by serving the health and nutrition needs of almost half the world’s pets. With over 75 years of experience, Mars Petcare has developed an enviable portfolio of almost 50 brands, including the leading global pet nutrition brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA®, CESAR®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™. Mars Petcare is also the world’s largest veterinary health provider through a network of over 2,000 pet hospitals including BANFIELD™, BLUE PEARL™, PET PARTNERS™, and VCA™. The company is also at the forefront of emerging innovation and technology for pets, pet owners and veterinarians, with WISDOM HEALTH™, a patented genetic technology testing for dogs and the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, as well as the LEAP VENTURE STUDIO™ accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs to support startup innovation and the next generation of disruptors in the pet care industry. As part of the Mars family of companies, we are privileged with the freedom and the flexibility to fight for what we believe in – and we choose to fight to make our vision a reality.