Poultry processing plants are designed for rapid slaughtering, butchering, and packaging of meat. The process combines rapid line speed with distinct divisions of labor on the processing line [Lipscomb et al., 2005]. Musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses are thought to be the principal on-the-job safety problems for workers on the processing line. Other aspects of the work environment— dampness, animal proteins, contamination from poultry excreta, feathers and other organic substances, knives and scissors in crowded conditions—are thought to be respon- sible for other types of injuries and illnesses. Dermatological injuries and illnesses are common (Quandt et al., unpublished data), as are respiratory injuries and illnesses [Campbell, 1999]. Despite the high rates of injury alleged.
