The speed and repetitive motions of the line raise concerns about the safety of the same company’s food as well as the safety of its employees when it comes to processing chicken. That’s why these new reports of on-the-job injuries are good news.
For the first time since the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began recording injury and illness information in 1994, the incidence of work-related injuries and illnesses among slaughter and processing workers in the poultry sector is lower than in general industry manufacturing as a whole. Ta.
The poultry industry’s 2.6 injuries per 100 full-time workers is lower than the 4.7 injuries for the similar agricultural industry, and 3.6 for the food manufacturing sector as a whole (2.8 for manufacturing overall and 2.7 for general industry as a whole). It was lower than that. .
You can access the full report here.
The poultry processing industry incidence rate of 2.6 in 2023 represents an 89% decrease from the recorded rate of 22.7 in 1994, the oldest data available on the BLS website. This represents the industry’s progress in improving employee safety.
“The poultry industry has always prioritized employee safety and continues to focus on preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace, with a particular focus on musculoskeletal conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.Ergonomics By adopting better practices and early medical intervention, and adopting new technology and automation, the industry has made significant strides in worker safety. Nevertheless, the industry remains committed to exploring innovative approaches to further protect the workforce,” said the Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Council in response to the report.
The Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Council is comprised of members from the United States Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the National Chicken Council (NCC), and the National Turkey Federation (NTF). Together, these three organizations represent companies that produce 95 percent of the nation’s poultry products and directly employ more than 350,000 workers.
In response to the report, USPOULTRY, NCC, and NTF said, “Our employees are our most important asset and their safety is our top priority.” “The poultry industry has consistently focused on preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace, and this latest data reflects the excellent safety performance we have achieved. General Industry, Manufacturing, Food Manufacturing We are proud to have a lower accident rate than any other company in the category. We continue to set new standards to ensure the safety and health of our employees. .”
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