Chapter 8: The Most Dangerous Job

1. How does the injury rate in meatpacking compare with the injury rate in other occupations?

The injury rate in meatpacking is much higher than the rate in any other American industry. It is about 33 times higher than the National average in industry. I couldn't believe this when I read it, i know that meatpacking is a dangerous job but I never would of guessed that it would be 33 times higher.

2. What kinds of injuries do workers in meatpacking plants typically suffer?

Workers in the meatpacking industry suffer numerous injuries that include lacerations, tendinitis and cumulative trauma disorders, back and shoulder problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger (which is when a persons fingers become frozen in a curled position) are developed throughout time. These are the different injuries typically suffered by workers in the meatpacking plant industry.

3. What's the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants?

The leading determinants of injury rate at a slaughterhouses today is the speed of the disassembly line. The faster the line runs, the more likely it is that the workers will get hurt. Because the line moves so fast, workers often have to resharpen their knives which puts more stress on their bodies. Once the pace of the machine increases tempo, so does the risk of accidental cuts and or stabbings.

4. How has the authority of OSHA changed over time?

The authority of OSHA has changed over time because OSHA inspectors were eventually cut by 20% and in 1981 the agency had adopted a new policy of "voluntary compliance." This new policy didn't allow inspections to be unannounced. OSHA employees had to look at a company's injury log before going to the plant. If the records showed that injury rate was lower then the national average for all manufacturers, the inspector had to turn around and leave without inspecting the place.