Slaughterhouse Workers: Unseen employees with one of the most dangerous jobs in America

Employees of slaughter houses have one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Yes. I know, Policemen and Firemen have dangerous jobs too, but there is a silent and often unseen workforce whose bodies pay a high price to put a filet mignon (sorry Serena) on my dinner table.

Employees of slaughter houses often work in a factory like setting where they use physical labor to butcher large carcasses of meat all day long. They use a sharp knife to butcher carcasses for hours on end, which has been said to be extremely difficult and cause massive injuries because of the high margin for error. Sliced finger with your chicken drumstick?

Slaughter house workers have almost 20% more injuries or illnesses than other types of factory workers. The increase in injuries is largely a result of their fast pace work environment. Employees are often pressured to meet quotas and work faster. When workers butcher at a fast pace, they often don’t little or no time to sharpen their knives properly which leads to more injuries.

Dull knives is only one of the problems that slaughterhouse workers face. Workers often have to defend themselves from being brutally pecked by chickens or turkeys, and sometimes, the cows or pigs remain conscious and thrash around even after their throats have been slit. If you were a chicken, wouldn’t you fight to save your life? Sounds like Animal Farm by George Orwell…the sequel.

-Mama