Poultry Workers
Poultry processing workers in the US experience a disproportionate share of occupational injuries and illnesses compared to workers in other industries. Recent trends in this industry have resulted in a worker population that is poor, minority, and increasingly comprised of immigrants. Occupational injuries among immigrant workers, including poultry processing workers, are one factor driving the health disparities experienced by minority communities. Little research documents the onset of occupational injuries among immigrant workers in the poultry processing industry, the progression of these occupational injuries, or the occupational and personal characteristics associated with these occupational injuries. This information is vital for culturally and educationally appropriate industrial hygiene and occupational safety programs to reduce the number and severity of these occupational injuries among poultry processing workers. Projects we are conducting have documented the prevalence of occupational injuries of poultry processing workers. We have also developed and implemented a program to reduce the occupational health risks experienced by these workers.
JUSTA: Justice and Health for Latino Poultry Workers