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Poultry Industry and OSHA Sign Workplace Safety Agreement
In mid-November, the National Chicken Council (NCC) and National
Turkey Federation (NTF) signed a voluntary agreement with the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to improve safety in the workplace
through worker training, communication outreach, and information sharing.
Under terms of the agreement, companies in the chicken and turkey industries
will work together with OSHA to implement a new alliance on worker
safety, with particular emphasis on machinery hazards.
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On November 15, 2007, OSHA and the poultry industry joined
to sign an agreement to improve worker safety in the workplace.
Pictured (left to right) George Watts, president of the National
Chicken Council; Christy Marr, government affairs coordinator,
National Turkey Federation; Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., OSHA assistant
secretary; Joyce Carroll, Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative;
and Michael Rybolt, director of scientific and regulatory affairs
of the National Turkey Federation.
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“The poultry industry already has an excellent record in worker
safety, and we are pleased to work with OSHA through the Alliance Program
to
further improve our performance,” said George Watts, president
of the National Chicken Council.
“Through this alliance with the government, the industry will
increase its focus on training and use of protective equipment on processing
machinery to reduce potential injuries,” said NTF Director of
Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Michael Rybolt.
According to data
recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, injuries
occurred in the poultry processing industry at a rate of 6.6
per 100 full-time workers during 2006, a rate that is below the 7.4
found in the food manufacturing sector.
On behalf of their organizations,
Watts and Rybolt signed the agreement with Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
OSHA assistant secretary, and Joyce Carroll,
Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative, who will chair the industries’ Joint
Safety and Health Committee next year. “We look forward to working
with OSHA in this creative and positive new alliance to take the industry’s
already strong performance in this area and make it even better,” added
Carroll.
Officials said under the agreement the industries will develop
training and education programs on equipment safety in English and
other languages,
develop and communicate information on the recognition and prevention
of workplace hazards, and convene a dialogue on equipment safety
issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace. The agreement
will remain in effect for two years.
The National Chicken Council represents
integrated chicken producers-processors, the companies that produce,
process, and market chickens. Member companies
of NCC account for approximately 95 percent of the chicken sold in
the United States.
The National Turkey Federation is the advocate for
all segments of the U.S. turkey industry, providing services and
conducting activities
that increase demand for its members’ products. The federation
also protects and enhances its members’ ability to effectively
and profitably provide wholesome, high quality, nutritious turkey products.
The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration assures the safety
and health of America’s working men and women by setting and
enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing
partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace
safety and health.
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