Packing Safely

Safety standards in the meatpacking industry commands attention these days. Machines and assembly (or de-assembly I suppose) lines move faster and faster, posing ever greater risk to life, limb, or digit. With greater number of immigrant and undocumented workers laboring in the industry, concerns about safety loom larger. Let”s have a look at the issue.
In Nebraska, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is teaming up with Omaha-based Mexican Consul Jose Cuevas on a proposal to educate immigrants on workplace safety, Cuevas said.

OSHA in 2004 pledged to help provide training and oversight to meatpacking cleaning companies. The arrangement was prompted by a World-Herald investigation on the contract cleaning industry”s history of severe injuries and OSHA violations.

Recommendations Human Rights Watch recommendations for protecting workers in the meat and poultry industry include: New federal and state laws to reduce production line speeds. Stronger state regulations to halt under reporting of injuries. Stronger worker compensation laws and enforcement of anti-retaliation laws. U.S. labor law compliance with international standards on workers” freedom of association. New laws ensuring workers” safety regardless of their immigration status.

The above article explains the conclusions and recommendations of the Human Rights Watch with regard to work safety, particular where it concerns immigrant workers.

Do you agree with these recommendations?