Poultry Factory Working Conditions Expose Risk of Injuries On The Job

During the holidays, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas, poultry factory working conditions insist workers produce thousands upon thousands of turkeys. These people work long hours and are exposed to potentially dangerous work every day. Many accidents take place, they claim, because the demands on them are too high and the wages are too low.

According to a Nov. 24 news report, advocates for poultry factory working conditions have stated that workers tend to receive low wages matched with poor benefits; to top that off, workers have high rates of injuries. Workers are at a high risk of suffering repetitive strain injuries, which could result in long-term damage to the body. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome can become so severe that it requires surgery.

Some companies have started taking steps to raise wages for their workers, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced that it will be investigating unsafe poultry factory working conditions as they apply to the poultry industry. The initial investigation may only affect 10 southern states, though, even though there are multiple factories throughout the United States.

As someone who works in a poultry plant, it’s important to take care of your health and wellness. It’s not uncommon to suffer injuries, like wounds from cutting the birds’ wings off or repetitive strains from taking down dozens of birds from the line each minute. You can seek medical attention for any injuries you suffer, and you should be offered workers’ compensation in many cases. If you’re denied a claim for your injuries, you attorney can help you take a stand.

Source: Workday Minnesota, “Thanksgiving appeal to poultry CEOs: Raise wages, improve conditions,” Nov. 24, 2015