Fast Food Nation Chapter 8

o How does the injury rate in meat packing compare with the injury rate in other occupations?
The injury rate in meat packing is a lot more dangerous than most occupations. There are a lot of safety procedures that they have chainmail on. The last time I've hard about someone using chainmail was in the middle ages. All workers are making about 2-3 cuts a second.
o What kinds of injuries do workers in meatpacking plants typically suffer?
There are many kinds of injuries that the workers recieved during their work hours. They make about 2-3 cuts a second inside a slaughterhouse. After about 10,000 cuts, the knife would feel dull, and can cause pain from the hand down to the spine. It can also place pressure on the tendons, joints, and nerves. Lacerations are also common, since their working with knives. They routinely get stabbed, stab themselves, or acidntally cutting themselves.
o What the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants?
The impact of workers speeding up the live is meatpacking plants is that they are making a higher profit when they speed out the line. Because of market pressures, the companies need to make profits. The faster the line, the more profits that the company are making.
o Why don't more workers complain about safety conditions in the plants?
Most workers don't complain about their jobs because they need the money to support their families. Most of the employees are immigrants that make a ton more than what they would be making. They might earn as much as 30,000 dollars a year, plus benefits.
o What role do supervisors play in the reporting of workplace injuries in meat processing plants?
Supervisors play a role in reporting workplace injuries in meat processing plants. Their role is by not playing a role. The supervisors have relationships with many of the female workers. For the female workers, they are gaining a secure spot in American society, a husband, or an easier jobs at the plant. Supervisors are known for having multiple affairs, and using drugs.
o What does the author describe as the most dangerous type of work in these plants and what kinds of injuries do these workers risk?
The author describes as the worst job in the plant is the late-night cleaning crews. They throw up, and you can use all the soap you want, your not getting rid of the smell. Someone lost an arm, and is now folding towels in the break room.
o What has been the impact of allowing plants to maintain their own injury logs?
The impact of allowing plants to maintain their own injury logs is that they can cover up accidents. If someone lost an arm, they wouldn't write it write it down. In 1985, the OSHA log recorded only 160 incedents, which was off by abot 1,000 percent. They later found out that the IBP lied about their incedents report.
o How has the authority of OSHA changed over time?
When Regan was elected, the OSHA was understaffed and underfunded. Later on, the OSHA had power to close an IBP plant.
o What does the author think about claims that meatpacking plants have a great deal of concern about the health and well being of their workers?
The author thinks that meatpacking plants is a bunch of garbage. The IBP would make the workers who just had surgery or an amputation go to work. The IBP nurses would write down fake logs. They said that the people were cry-babies.
o From a worker's point of view, what are some of the problems with Colorado's workers' compensation law?
The problem of the Colorado's worker' compensation law was that workplace safety hasn't grown serious. If you got a workers compensation, Monfort fired him, even if a worker was with a company for 16 years. He did all the company asked of him. SO, the company will get rid of recuperating workers.