Wyffels Hybrids joins the growing National Safety Council MSD Pledge community to reduce workplace injuries.
Musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are the most common workplace injury. They not only cause pain and long-term disability for workers – with over 500,000 days away from work in 2021 and 2022 – but also cost businesses billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and workers’ compensation claims.
Recognizing the urgent need to address this issue, the MSD Solutions Lab – a groundbreaking National Safety Council initiative established in 2021 with funding from Amazon – launched the MSD Pledge in 2022 as a call to action for employers to prioritize MSD prevention. In October 2023, the lab unveiled MSD Pledge 2.0, building on the original initiative. After signing, organizations could set their own MSD risk-reduction goals for the next five years. The movement continues to grow, with the MSD Pledge 2.0 recently reaching nearly 60 member companies. These organizations join an established community of nearly 180 charter MSD Pledge members already dedicated to worker safety.
Wyffels Hybrids, a family-owned seed company, is among the newest MSD Pledge 2.0 members. We recently caught up with Sheri Saskowski, CSP, safety manager at Wyffels Hybrids, to discuss their safety journey, why they joined the pledge and its impact on their organization. Below is what she shared.
Leadership plays a crucial role in driving Wyffels Hybrid’s safety initiatives. As a third-generation, family-owned business, the company’s executives, including members of the Wyffels family, are actively engaged in promoting a culture of safety. For this reason, safety is more than just compliance at Wyffels Hybrids; it’s a deeply ingrained philosophy.
Operating in rural communities across five states, the company recognizes that its employees aren’t just workers – they are neighbors, friends and family. This close-knit culture reflects their commitment to "Giving a Care" for the workforce. That’s what led the company to examine a critical issue – MSDs were the number one cause of work-related injuries and lost time for several consecutive years, making aggressive action necessary.
By signing the MSD Pledge 2.0, Wyffels Hybrids set an ambitious goal: reducing all ergonomic injuries by 50% in 2025 and eliminating ergonomic-related recordable injuries by 2030. The company uses MSD Solutions Lab resources to help them achieve this and build a more robust ergonomics program. This includes establishing written policies, providing ongoing training and prioritizing areas where ergonomic improvements can make the most impact.
Through hazard recognition and worker engagement, Wyffels Hybrids found that nearly all their ergonomic injuries occurred among seasonal employees. With this insight, they turned to technology solutions discovered through the MSD Solutions Lab. The company initially invested in AI-driven software to assess injury risks, identifying manual pallet stacking and unstacking as high-risk tasks. As a result, Wyffels Hybrids decided to invest nearly $80,000 in material handling equipment in 2024 alone to reduce the strain on workers. The effects were significant: a 50% reduction in ergonomic recordable injuries from 2023 to 2024, leading to over $90,000 in annual cost savings.
Wyffels Hybrids understands that safety improvements require active employee participation. Their Wyffels Hybrids Safety Incentive Program rewards workers for identifying hazards and offering actionable safety suggestions. Employees across departments – from production and human resources to sales and marketing – serve on the Safety Committee, ensuring diverse perspectives contribute to ongoing safety improvements. Additionally, near-miss reporting and data analysis help the company track trends, allowing for proactive adjustments before injuries occur. Ultimately, employees know the company is listening and making changes to keep them safe. This trust and engagement are key to successful safety outcomes.
Wyffels Hybrids isn’t stopping with physical safety measures. Recognizing the impact of psychosocial and behavioral risk factors, the company is expanding its focus to include mental fatigue, long hours and sleep deprivation. These challenges are especially common in the agriculture industry. In 2025, the company plans to use MSD Solutions Lab resources, including the Insights on Non-Physical MSD Risk Factors infographic, to educate employees and foster holistic wellbeing.
Wyffels Hybrids’ safety journey underscores the power of the MSD Pledge. By signing the pledge, organizations commit to identifying MSD risks, implementing innovative solutions and fostering cultures of safety. With over 230 companies representing nearly 3 million employees participating in the pledge community, the initiative is achieving measurable improvements in workplace safety.
To learn more about how your organization can join the MSD Pledge and take action against MSDs, visit nsc.org/msd.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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