OSHA's commitment is to provide information to help employers and employees in the meat packing industry comply with OSHA standards and increase safety in the workplace.

There are currently no specific standards for the meatpacking industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to the meat packing industry.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart D, Walking-working surfaces
  • 1910.21, Definitions
  • 1910.22, General requirements
  • 1910.23, Guarding floor and wall opening and holes [related topic page]
  • 1910.24, Fixed industrial stairs
  • 1910.25, Portable wood ladders
  • 1910.26, Portable metal ladders
  • 1910.27, Fixed ladders
    
    
• 1910 Subpart E, Means of egress
  • 1910.38, Emergency action plans [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart G, Occupational health and environmental control
  • 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
  • 1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals [related topic page]
  • 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
    
    
• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment
  • 1910.132, General requirements [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
  • 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces [related topic page]
    
  • 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart N, Materials handling and storage
  • 1910.178, Powered industrial trucks [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart O, Machinery and machine guarding
  • 1910.212, General requirements for all machines [related topic page]
    • 1910.212(a)(3)(ii)
      
      
• 1910 Subpart P, Hand and portable powered tools and other hand-held equipment
  • 1910.243, Guarding of portable powered tools [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart S, Electrical
  • 1910.303, General requirements [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
  • 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]

Directives

• New Meat Tenderizing Technology in the Meat Industry. CPL 02-01-015 [CPL 2-1.15A], (1981, December 23). Provides guidelines for inspection of possible electrically hazardous conditions associated with a meat tenderizing technology being introduced into the meat packing industry.
  
  
• Acceptable Guarding for Circular Meat Cutting Saws: 29 CFR Section 1910.212(a)(3)(ii). STD 01-12-005 [STD 1-12.5], (1978, October 30).
  
  
• Application of 29 CFR 1910.132(a) to the Retail Food Industry. STD 01-06-001 [STD 1-6.1], (1978, October 30). Clarifies the application of OSHA's personal protective equipment (PPE) standard, 29 CFR 1910.132(a), to the cutting hazard found in the meat departments of retail food stores.
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Response to concerns about unsafe and unsanitary conditions within the meatpacking industry. (2003, March 20).
  
  
• OSHA has no specific regulations regarding minors. (1999, November 10).
  
  
• Interpretation of the Personal Protective Equipment standard. (1995, July 3).
  
  
• Various questions on OSHA standards. (1992, September 1). Answers questions concerning OSHA's standards, including 29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response; 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens; and 29 CFR 1910.119, Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals.
  
  
• Sharp knives and utensils in the workplace. (1991, December 10).
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Hazard Recognition

The meat slaughtering, processing, and packaging industry has long been associated with a high rate of accidents, injuries, and illnesses. The following references aid in recognizing workplace hazards within the meat packing industry.

• Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 587 KB PDF, 56 pages.
  
  
• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (Revised 2002). Also available as a 499 KB PDF, 51 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.
  
  
• Worker Safety in the Meat and Poultry Industry [129 KB PDF, 4 pages]. American Meat Institute (AMI) Fact Sheet, (2009, February). Describes AMI's purpose, background, voluntary guidelines, and gives injury and illness rates.

Possible Solutions

The unique safety and health hazards found in the meat packing industry can be minimized or eliminated with the proper use of control methods. A preferred way of control is through engineering controls such as guardrails, non-skid floors, correct and safe electrical wiring, equipment and machine guarding, and ventilation. The following references provide possible solutions for meat packing hazards.

• Safety and Health Guide for the Meatpacking Industry. OSHA Publication 3108, (1988). Also available as a 1 MB PDF, 16 pages. Increases employer and employee awareness of hazards within the meat packing industry and highlights the ways in which employers and employees can work together to eliminate workplace hazards.
  
  
• Ergonomics Program Management Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants. OSHA Publication 3123, (1993). Contains advisory information on management commitment and employee involvement including preventive program elements and detailed guidance and examples of program elements.
  
  
• Participatory Ergonomic Interventions in Meatpacking Plants. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-124, (1994). Contains a report on three case studies where ergonomic intervention techniques were employed.
  
  
• Machine Guarding. OSHA eTool. Focuses on recognizing and controlling common amputation hazards associated with the operation and use of certain types of machines.

Safety and Health Programs

An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program, inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions, rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices, stringent prevention and control measures, and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following resources provide information that can help employers develop and implement a safety and health program.

• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (Revised 2002). Also available as a 499 KB PDF, 51 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.
  
  
• Safety & Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. There are four crucial questions you should be asking when it comes to safety and health programs. The detailed answers are found in the four modules of this eTool.
  
  
• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.
  
  
• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. OSHA Federal Register Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). These safety and health program management guidelines are for use by employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
• Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program. OSHA Slide Presentation. Summarizes safety and health program guidelines.
  


• Safety and Health Add Value. OSHA Publication 3180. Also available as a 200 KB PDF, 6 pages. Describes how safety and health add value to your business, your workplace, and your life.
  
  
• For additional information, see OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Safety and Health Topics Page.

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Ammonia Refrigeration
  
  
• Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
  
  
• Confined Spaces
  
  
• Electrical
  
  
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
  
  
• Ergonomics
  
  
• Hazard Communication
  
  
• Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
  
  
• Machine Guarding
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  
  
• Poultry Processing
  
  
• Powered Industrial Trucks
  
  
• Walking/Working Surfaces

Training

• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach-Trainer Presentations. OSHA. Assists trainers conducting 10-hour general industry outreach training for workers. Since workers are the target audience, these materials emphasize hazard identification, avoidance, and control - not standards.
  
  
• 29 CFR Part 1904: Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses [3 MB PPT^*, 73 slides]. OSHA, (Revised March 2006). Provides an in-depth discussion of OSHA's new recordkeeping rule intended for audiences that require a thorough understanding of the regulation.
  • Instructor's Guide. Prior to the training session, it is suggested that instructors review the latest information on the recordkeeping rule.
  • Presentation Script [849 KB PDF^*, 73 pages]. Discusses the provisions of OSHA’s Recordkeeping Rule.
    
    
• OSHA Training Institute Course Catalog Search. OSHA. Provides a keyword search and catalog listing of available courses.

Other Resources

• Small Business. OSHA.
  • On-site Consultation
    • Program Information and Benefits

Hispanic Resources

• Spanish-Language Compliance Assistance Resources. OSHA.
  • OSHA Podemos Ayudar
  • Compliance Assistance Quick Start: Hispanic Outreach

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF and PPT materials.

^*These files are provided for downloading.