A slaughterhouse is a safer place to work than it used to be, according to a government report. But it’s still dangerous work, and not all injuries are being counted
Injury rates in the meatpacking industry got better over the last decade but are probably worse than the data suggests. That’s the conclusion of a study from the Government Accountability Office.
The GAO says incidents at meat and poultry plants are underreported by workers who are afraid to lose their jobs, and by medical staff who send people back to work even when they’re hurt.
Celeste Monforton, who studies worker safety at George Washington University, says when injuries aren’t reported, they get worse.
"It has profound consequences for the workers," Monforton says. "Their injuries are exacerbated, some beyond repair."
The North American Meat Institute, which represents meat companies, said in a statement that the labor department has reviewed industry recordkeeping, and did not find it to be a widespread problem.
