AGI Nobleford sets a gold standard in safety

Sunny South News Photo Submitted. GOLD STANDARD: AGI Nobleford is celebrating a safety milestone, after it was recently recognized with the Safety Standout Award for achieving five-years of no lost time incidents (LTI). The AGI Nobleford manufacturing facility is known for grain aeration equipment, storage tanks and fuel tanks for farm and commercial use.

Southern Alberta Newspapers

In the manufacturing world, achieving five years —1,825 consecutive days— without a lost-time injury (LTI) is more than just a number. It is a powerful statement about a company’s safety culture. 

Ag Growth International (“AGI”) is celebrating a five-year LTI safety milestone at its Nobleford, Alta. manufacturing facility, which earned AGI’s prestigious Safety Standout Award. Implemented across its global operations, the award is AGI’s highest recognition for workplace safety and employee well-being.

“This remarkable achievement belongs to every team member at AGI Nobleford. The team’s commitment to safety, day in and day out, has built a culture where looking out for one another is second nature,” said Paul Householder, AGI President & CEO. “Five years without a lost-time injury is a testament to the pride, professionalism and care our people bring to work every single day.” 

A LTI refers to a non-fatal workplace injury that results in an employee missing work. It is a key metric used to assess safety performance and its impact on productivity. The AGI Safety Management System (ASMS), implemented across the company’s global operations, uses both leading and lagging indicators to monitor and improve safety performance. The system emphasizes proactive risk identification, corrective action and continuous improvement.

Chris Pattison, Plant Manager at AGI Nobleford, says the facility’s safety-first culture is rooted in a clear goal to send every team member home unharmed, every single shift.

“What makes me most proud is our team’s ability to spot safety concerns early and take swift action to prevent hazards,” said Pattison. “Our performance tracking shows that consistency, clear communication, and genuine care make all the difference. This milestone is more than avoiding incidents—it reflects a deeply rooted safety culture built on training, awareness and teamwork. Most importantly, it is about creating a workplace where people feel safe, supported and empowered to speak up.”

The Nobleford facility, which employs approximately 150 people, manufactures grain aeration equipment and AGI Westeel above-ground, engineered-to-order storage tanks for a wide range of commercial and industrial uses. The site, also, is nearing completion of a new state-of-the-art fuel tank campus, which will feature robotics and expand production to include single-and double-wall storage tanks for stationary and mobile use.

Henry Palomino, AGI Vice President of Supply Chain and North America Manufacturing, says the safety record is especially significant as the plant prepares to scale up operations later this year.

“Safety is already in this team’s DNA,” said Palomino. “Reaching five years without a lost-time injury is the result of relentless attention to detail, proactive training, and a team that truly cares. It’s not just a record that turns heads—it sets a benchmark of excellence at AGI and across the industry.”

AGI Nobleford is one of three AGI facilities recognized this quarter for safety milestones. AGI Omaha and AGI Falls City, both in Nebraska, were also honoured for reaching three years without a lost-time incident.