The poultry industry is addressing concerns about worker safety with new programs from Tyson Foods Inc. and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Tyson announced a new program Monday that will start at nine plants and is expected to provide the groundwork for a companywide safety initiative.
The program will be led by Greg Spencer, who was recently appointed to the new position of senior vice president of health and safety at Tyson. Spencer has worked for Tyson for 31 years in various roles.
The company employs 500 health and safety professionals at corporate and plant levels. Tyson's health and safety management responsibilities were previously combined with the company's environmental responsibilities.
"We've always listened to what team members tell us about their experiences, but we're learning how to give everyone at Tyson Foods a louder voice by encouraging a culture of communication about health and safety," Spencer said.
OSHA announced a program Monday intended to encourage employers to protect workers and reduce injury and illness rates in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. According to OSHA, poultry workers are twice as likely to suffer serious injuries and six times more likely to get sick on the job than are other private-sector workers.
"Our goal is to reduce crippling injuries, such as musculoskeletal disorders, and to ensure the industry records all occupational injuries and illnesses accurately," said John Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "At the end of the day, all we want is to make sure workers get home safe to their families."
These announcements come around the same time as the release of an Oxfam America study that found that poultry workers suffer high rates of illnesses and injuries, and earn low pay. Oxfam America, an advocacy nonprofit, included interviews with workers at poultry plants in North Carolina, Mississippi and Arkansas -- the country's largest chicken producing states.
"This is happening in U.S. towns to U.S. employees," said Minor Sinclair, director of Oxfam America. "Injuries need to be recorded, reported and dealt with fairly."
Gary Mickelson, Tyson spokesman, said the company's announcement is not directly related to the Oxfam report.
The report focuses on four poultry companies that Oxfam America says control 60 percent of the poultry market: Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms.
Tyson said in a statement that the company already does many of things Oxfam recommends, including providing a confidential, toll-free help line for workers to report concerns without fear of retaliation, and health and safety training in multiple languages.
"While we appreciate the Oxfam America's efforts, we don't agree with everything in its report, which includes comments from former workers as well as union advocates and other interest groups known for their criticism of our industry," the company said in a statement. "We believe we're doing the right thing by our Team Members, however, we always push to do better. That's why we're committed to continually examining ways to improve and will continue our dialogue with Oxfam."
Tyson also said its pay is higher than that of most companies in the poultry business, and it requires all workers who have been employed for at least 59 days to have health care coverage.
Last week Tyson announced that it will increase hourly pay for about 34,000 workers at U.S. chicken plants. The average hourly pay for employees who remain on the job for more than a year will be $12, according to the company.
Sinclair said Tyson's announcement is a step in the right direction.
"While their move is not enough and more needs to be done, it is positive," he said.
Perdue Farms said in a statement that its reported injuries were half of what the industry average was in 2013, and the company also offers a confidential hot line for workers.
Celeste Monforton, a lecturer with the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University and former OSHA legislative analyst, said many workers get cuts from the knives they use, are exposed to toxic chemicals and face the risk of electrocution.
"The hazards that top the list when you talk to them are definitely the fast pace of the work and repetitive nature of the tasks they are asked to do," she said. "It can cause long-term problems that really affect the quality of people's lives."
Oliver Gottfried, senior advocacy adviser of Oxfam America, said companies offer rewards for plants that go for certain lengths of time without any reported injuries. Plants must record injuries that require more treatment than just first aid. He also said companies have retaliated against workers by firing them if they report injuries.
He said some workers have to wait for an hour or more to be allowed time off the lines to go to the restroom, and many workers reported reducing liquid intake or wearing diapers while working on the lines.
"To keep up with increasing demands for production, companies are pushing workers beyond their limits," he said. "We believe that more needs to be done."
Business on 10/27/2015