US Poultry Industry Improves Ergonomics to Reduce Injuries
US - The US Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY) has announced an updated ergonomics training programme.
5 November 2015
2 minute read
By: The move follows a report by Oxfam America showing high rates of injury in the poultry processing industry.
USPOULTRY said that preventing cumulative trauma injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, is a critical part of every poultry and egg plant safety programme.
An effective ergonomics programme can assist in reducing both the frequency and severity of these types of injuries, by ensuring that the work environment is as comfortable and safe for the worker as possible.
“Since the 1980s the poultry industry has worked diligently to reduce workplace injuries including cumulative trauma cases,” said Paul Pressley, USPOULTRY executive vice president.
“Through workplace redesign, medical intervention and training programmes, the incidence rate for workplace injuries in poultry plants have dropped by 80 percent in the last 20 years. Ergonomics programmes have been a large part of this successful effort.”
In conjunction with industry safety experts, USPOULTRY has updated available supervisor training materials with a narrated PowerPoint slideshow programme that provides basic training for supervisors in four parts: Introduction to Ergonomics, Understanding Musculoskeletal Disorders, Risk Factors and Ergonomic Controls.
