OSHA hazard alert addresses rise in injuries in food processing

Washington — A new hazard alert from OSHA is aimed at increasing awareness and ensuring actions are being taken to reduce the “alarming number” of serious, preventable injuries in poultry, meat and other food processing establishments.

These establishments have “a range of hazards that workers face during all stages of food-processing operations, including normal production operations, machinery inspection, servicing and maintenance, machinery adjustments, clearing jams, cleaning, sanitizing, environmental testing, and/or food safety inspection tasks,” OSHA says.

From 2015 to 2022, around 1,500 injuries involving food/beverage process machinery and butchering machinery were reported to OSHA, as well as about 400 injuries involving food slicers and mixers, blenders, and whippers.

The alert warns that federal regulations prohibit employees younger than 18 “from most jobs in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing, rendering and packing establishments.” These employees shouldn’t use, clean, oil, set up, adjust or repair certain machines in the food processing industry, including power-driven meat slicers, saws and choppers.

The alert includes information on recognizing hazards and implementing corrective measures, such as using machine guards.

“By recognizing hazards associated with machinery and applying these corrective measures,” OSHA says, “employers can significantly reduce the risk of fatalities, amputations (and) other workplace incidents, and foster a safer work environment for all.”