U.S. meat and poultry packers and processors continued to make significant progress in workplace safety in 2016, as the newly released Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) incidence rate for non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses reached an all-time industry low.
In 2016, there were 5.3 cases of occupational injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in the meat and poultry sector. This figure represents an improvement from the previous industry low of 5.4 cases per 100 workers recorded in 2015. Historic BLS data reveal that the meat and poultry industry has continued to make considerable worker safety progress, as the number of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses decreased more than 36 percent since 2007.