Workplace Safety and Health:
Additional Data Needed to Address Continued Hazards in the Meat and Poultry Industry
GAO-16-337: Published: Apr 25, 2016. Publicly Released: May 25, 2016.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Version:
- Related WatchBlog Post:
Contact:
(202) 512-7215
brownbarnesc@gao.gov
Steve D. Morris
(202) 512-3841
morriss@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
What GAO Found
Injury and illness rates in the meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry declined from 2004 through 2013, similar to rates in all U.S. manufacturing, according to Department of Labor (DOL) data (see figure), yet hazardous conditions remain. The rates declined from an estimated 9.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004 to 5.7 in 2013. However, these rates continued to be higher than rates for manufacturing overall. Meat workers sustained a higher estimated rate of injuries and illnesses than poultry workers, according to DOL data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluations and academic studies have found that workers continue to face the hazardous conditions GAO cited in 2005, including tasks associated with musculoskeletal disorders, exposure to chemicals and pathogens, and traumatic injuries from machines and tools.
Injury and Illness Rates among Workers in the Meat and Poultry Industry, Compared with Rates in All U.S. Manufacturing, Calendar Years 2004 through 2013
Note: The meat and poultry industry refers to the animal slaughtering and processing industry, North American Industry Classification System code 31161, which includes animal (except poultry) slaughtering, meat processed from carcasses, rendering and meat byproduct processing, and poultry processing including slaughter.
DOL faces challenges gathering data on injury and illness rates for meat and poultry workers because of underreporting and inadequate data collection. For example, workers may underreport injuries and illnesses because they fear losing their jobs, and employers may underreport because of concerns about potential costs. Another data gathering challenge is that DOL only collects detailed data for those injuries and illnesses that result in a worker having to take days away from work. These detailed data do not include injuries and illnesses such as musculoskeletal disorders that result in a worker being placed on work restriction or transferred to another job. Further, DOL does not have complete injury and illness data on meat and poultry sanitation workers because they may not be classified in the meat and poultry industry if they work for contractors. Federal internal control standards require agencies to track data to help them make decisions and meet their goals. These limitations in DOL's data collection raise questions about whether the federal government is doing all it can to collect the data it needs to support worker protection and workplace safety.
Why GAO Did This Study
DOL is responsible for gathering data on workplace injuries and illnesses, including those in the meat and poultry industry, where workers may experience injuries and illnesses such as sprains, cuts, burns, amputations, repetitive motion injuries, and skin disorders. GAO was asked to examine developments since its 2005 report, which found this industry was one of the most hazardous in the United States and that DOL data on worker injuries and illnesses may not be accurate, and recommended that DOL improve its data collection.
This report (1) describes what is known about injuries, illnesses, and hazards in the meat and poultry industry since GAO last reported, and (2) examines DOL's challenges gathering injury and illness data in this industry. GAO analyzed DOL data from 2004 through 2015, including injury and illness data through 2013, the most recent data available, and examined academic and government studies and evaluations on injuries and illnesses. GAO interviewed DOL and other federal officials, worker advocates, industry officials, and workers, and visited six meat and poultry plants selected for a mix of species and states. The information gathered in these visits is not generalizable to all plants or workers.
What GAO Recommends
GAO is making three recommendations, including that DOL improve its data on musculoskeletal disorders and sanitation workers in the meat and poultry industry. DOL, USDA, and CDC concurred with GAO's recommendations.
For more information, contact Cindy Brown Barnes at (202) 512-7215 or brownbarnesc@gao.gov, or Steve Morris at (202) 512-3841 or morriss@gao.gov.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Status: Open
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To strengthen DOL's efforts to ensure employers protect the safety and health of workers at meat and poultry plants, the Secretary of Labor should direct the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, working together with the Commissioner of Labor Statistics as appropriate, to develop and implement a cost-effective method for gathering more complete data on musculoskeletal disorders.
Agency Affected: Department of Labor
Status: Open
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To develop a better understanding of meat and poultry sanitation workers' injuries and illnesses, the Secretary of Labor should direct the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health and the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to study how they could regularly gather data on injury and illness rates among sanitation workers in the meat and poultry industry.
Agency Affected: Department of Labor
Status: Open
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To develop a better understanding of meat and poultry sanitation workers' injuries and illnesses, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to have the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conduct a study of the injuries and illnesses these workers experience, including their causes and how they are reported. Given the challenges to gaining access to this population, NIOSH may want to coordinate with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop ways to initiate this study.
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
»
Sep 22, 2016
-
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Strengthening Oversight Could Improve Federal Contractor Nondiscrimination ComplianceGAO-16-750: Published: Sep 22, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 22, 2016.
Sep 15, 2016
-
Federal Employees' Compensation Act:
DOD Access to DOL Data Is Generally Sufficient, but Monitoring Timelines Could Help Return-to-Work EffortsGAO-16-793: Published: Sep 15, 2016. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 2016.
Aug 15, 2016
-
Federal Workforce:
Opportunities Exist to Improve Data on Selected Groups of Special Government EmployeesGAO-16-548: Published: Jul 15, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 2016.
Aug 1, 2016
-
Federal Telework:
Better Guidance Could Help Agencies Calculate Benefits and CostsGAO-16-551: Published: Jul 15, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 1, 2016.
Jun 20, 2016
-
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
Additional Actions Needed to Support a Fair and Inclusive WorkplaceGAO-16-62: Published: May 19, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2016. -
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
Survey Results from Employees and Executives on Personnel Management and Organizational Culture (GAO-16-138SP, May 2016), an E-supplement to GAO-16-62GAO-16-138SP: Published: May 19, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2016.
Jun 13, 2016
-
Unemployment Insurance:
States' Customer Service Challenges and DOL's Related AssistanceGAO-16-430: Published: May 12, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 13, 2016.
May 25, 2016
-
Workplace Safety and Health:
Additional Data Needed to Address Continued Hazards in the Meat and Poultry IndustryGAO-16-337: Published: Apr 25, 2016. Publicly Released: May 25, 2016.
Apr 14, 2016
-
Workplace Safety and Health:
Additional Efforts Needed to Help Protect Health Care Workers from Workplace ViolenceGAO-16-11: Published: Mar 17, 2016. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2016.
Mar 10, 2016
-
Energy Employees Compensation:
DOL Generally Followed Its Procedures to Process Claims but Could Strengthen Some Internal ControlsGAO-16-74: Published: Mar 10, 2016. Publicly Released: Mar 10, 2016.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here