The reported rates of illnesses and injuries in the poultry industry are likely to be the tip of the iceberg [National Research Council, 2003]. Workers often see the hazards as part of the job, or they move on to other jobs as they begin to develop symptoms, especially when those symptoms limit work activity [Human Rights Watch, 2004; Lipscomb et al., 2005]. Among immigrant—particularly undocumented— workers, reporting illnesses and injuries is difficult because of language barriers and brings with it the fear of job loss or deportation [Fink, 1998; Government Accountability Office, 2005]. Because the only sources of occupational health statistics for the poultry industry are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
