Meat and poultry injury and illness rates decline

The American Meat Institute says the data reveal that measures taken by the industry to reduce injuries and illnesses are working.

Total recordable cases declined 7.1 percent from 9.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004 to 9.1 in 2005. Lost workday cases declined 7.6 percent from 6.6 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004 to 6.1 in 2005.

“These data clearly reveal that our training programs, ergonomic guidelines and cooperative alliance with OSHA (the Occupational Safety & Health Administration) are yielding real and meaningful progress in worker safety and health in the meat and poultry industry,” said AMI President and CEO J Patrick Boyle.

Injury and illness rates in meat packing plants declined from a rate of 13.3 per 100 full-time workers in 2004 to 12.6 in 2005 and poultry processing facilities observed a decline from 7.8 in 2004 to 7.4 in 2005.

“There is still room for further improvement and we will maintain our commitment to ensure continued progress,” Boyle said.