Senate Panel Wants NIOSH To Study Meat Packing, Poultry Line Worker Safety

The Senate appropriations committee has set aside funds for NIOSH to conduct a study of line speed safety for poultry workers, a move which follows a Department of Agriculture study regarding safety of inspectors. Union officials are indicating that the information, including repetitive stress data, is necessary to determine whether OSHA action is needed. NIOSH noted that it will watch to see whether Congress moves ahead with the proposal. The outcome of the funding proposal, however, remains unclear because of the tied-up appropriations process. “We'd certainly I think take a look to see what