The Government Accountability Office urged federal regulators, in the words of Harvest Public Media, “to better protect meatpacking workers, who are often exposed to dangerous chemicals, not allowed bathroom breaks and refused medical treatment.” The GAO report said workers sometimes decide not to report problems for fear of retaliation, making it harder for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to get a clear picture of conditions.
“The report also said OSHA is largely unaware of the problem of workers being denied bathroom breaks, an issue identified in a 2016 report by worker-advocacy nonprofit Oxfam America,” said Harvest Media. In a 2016 report, the GAO said meatpacking workers have the highest injury rates of any industry.
The head of the trade group North American Meat Institute said the low U.S. unemployment rate gives meat processors “even stronger incentive to protect our employees and ensure that they are healthy and able to perform their jobs.” NAMI says injury and illness rates have declined in recent decades. “The report was lauded by groups like Oxfam and the National Employment Law Project,” said Harvest Media.