Chapter 8, "The Most Dangerous Job"

1 How does the injury rate in meat packing compare with the injury rate in other occupations? The injuries in meat packing are nearly 3 times higher than in most factories. Almost 1/3 of the workers in a meat packing industry will suffer an injury or illness beyond basic first aid. (That is insane! Imagine if 1/3 of the teachers in our school had an injury once a year!)

2 What kinds of injuries do workers in meat packing plants typically suffer? The injuries in the meat packing plants are typically lacerations (stabbings of themselves of their fellow workers.) The workers also suffer from back and shoulder problems. (Fun job!)

3 What is the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants? When the lines are sped up, the workers must rush to not fall behind. This means they are more likely to stab themselves, cut off a finger or one of a nearby worker. Some slaughter houses slaughter up to 400 cattle an hour. (... wow.)

4 Why don't more workers complain about safety conditions in the plants? Because most of the workers are not part of a union, (usually because they are illegal immigrants) they would easily be fired if they spoke out. The immigrants make much more money in the meat packing job than anything they could do in their own country. They fear of losing their job.


This chapter was huge shocker. I couldn't believe the story told at the end of the chapter. How some company could do that to somebody is just beyond my understanding. These meat packing industries treat their workers like animals and the OSHA should really go inside the factories and not just look at the injury list (which is a big lie.)