Industry overview
The meat retail industry includes places such as butcher shops and meat departments in supermarkets.
Common activities at these workplaces include:
- preparing individual cuts from large portions of meat;
- manufacturing value-added products (hamburger patties, sausages, lard, tallow, pet foods, meals);
- packaging and weighing;
- customer service;
- cleaning;
- loading transport vehicles.
The most common injuries experienced by workers in the meat retail industry are sprains and strains (43%) and open wounds (25%).
Other injuries and illnesses include:
- nerve damage (including carpal tunnel syndrome) - 11%
- contusions and crushing - 6%
- fractures - 6%
- muscles and tendons - 4%
- amputation - 1%
- other - 4%
Last updated July 4, 2005
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