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Examples and Statistics
In 1996, there were 17.8 injuries and illnesses for every
100 full-time workers in poultry slaughtering and processing (SIC 2015).
In 1996, workers in the poultry slaughtering and processing industry suffered
9.5 injuries and illnesses (for every 100 full-time workers) that caused lost workdays.
U.S. workers as a whole experienced only 3.4 such injuries and illnesses for every 100
full-time workers. [Slides 1-10]
OSHA
Survey:
In 1997, OSHA visited 51 randomly selected poultry
processing plants to determine: [Slides 26-38]
- what are the most common types
of workplace injuries and illnesses in this industry, and
- what hazards and conditions contribute to these injuries and
illnesses.
As a part of this survey, OSHA determined that for the 51
sites visited, the lost workday injury and illness rates averaged:
- 1995: 11.03
- 1996: 10.52
- 1997 (through September only): 10.36
Most
Common Injuries and Illnesses:
More than 75% of the worker injuries and illnesses identified
at these plants for the 3 years covered by this OSHA survey were caused
by:
- back and repetitive motion injuries and illnesses,
- cuts or lacerations,
- struck by or against an object, and
- slips, trips, or falls.
Examples and Statistics:
- 40% of the injuries and illnesses were back injuries
(acute and chronic),
- 10% were cumulative trauma disorders due to
repetitive motion,
- 15% were contusions and fractures, and
- 10% were cuts and lacerations.
Contributory Hazards:
Workplace hazards found by the survey to contribute to
these injuries and illnesses were:
- slippery floors from water
and poultry fat/grease (back injuries, strains, sprains);
- narrow walkways and crowded workspaces hindering movement (strains,
sprains, contusions, back injuries, struck by or against);
- manually moving objects (strains, sprains, back injuries, struck by
or against);
- use of knives in crowded work areas (lacerations and cuts); and
- repetitive motions in the cutting operations that cause cumulative
trauma disorders (tendinitis, carpal tunnel disorders).
View OSHA Poultry Survey Form
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