Workers Walk Out After Fourth Death At Smithfield Meat Plant
plantbasednews.org
Roughly 100 workers have walked out of a Smithfield meat plant in Monmouth, Illinois, following a colleague’s death

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/53152091

Following an anonymous complaint in February, OSHA inspected the plant and fined Smithfield Foods $9,931.60 after observing workers’ exposure to “amputation hazards.” This was preceded by serious citations in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Working in a slaughterhouse is extremely dangerous. In the US, there are approximately two amputations per week, primarily due to the industry’s poor working conditions and excessively fast pace.

[…]

As reported by KWQC, the leaders also acknowledged “community concerns” over a backlog of rendering material – animal waste, internal organs, and decaying meat – being stored outside the plant, causing a strong, unpleasant smell in the city.

  • Fishnoodle@lemmy.world
    16·
    3 hours ago

    So from reading the article, given that they had to delay start times by 2 hours, and have released no details about the actual incident, the guy probably died in a pretty horrific manner.

    What also stood out is that on average there are 2 AMPUTATIONS A WEEK IN THE US MEAT PACKAGING INDUSTRY.

    • Hawke@lemmy.world
      21·
      2 hours ago

      on average there are 2 AMPUTATIONS A WEEK IN THE US MEAT PACKAGING INDUSTRY.

      That seems low, unless it’s per-state or per-company.