The Organization of Work: Implications for Injury and Illness Among Immigrant Latinos in Poultry Processing
Author: Grzywacz Ph.D. Joseph G; Arcury, Ph.D., Thomas A.; Marin, M.A., Antonio; Carrillo, B.S., Lourdes
Date Published: 2006
Poultry processing has among the highest occupational illness rates of any private industry. A large number of poultry processing workers are immigrants. The National Occupational Research Agenda argues that worker health is influenced by the “organization of work,” the organizational practices related to management methods and the way jobs are designed and performed. Previous research has not studied the potential health effects of how poultry processing work is organized. Using a representative sample of immigrant Latino workers in six counties of western North Carolina, face-to-face survey interviews were conducted with 200 poultry workers. Data were collected on worker health, characteristics of poultry processing jobs, and the management practices related to safety and supervision. This reports looks at recommended policy changes and research that will help ensure that poultry processing jobs are organized in a way that protects worker health in this vulnerable population.
Date Published: 2006
Poultry processing has among the highest occupational illness rates of any private industry. A large number of poultry processing workers are immigrants. The National Occupational Research Agenda argues that worker health is influenced by the “organization of work,” the organizational practices related to management methods and the way jobs are designed and performed. Previous research has not studied the potential health effects of how poultry processing work is organized. Using a representative sample of immigrant Latino workers in six counties of western North Carolina, face-to-face survey interviews were conducted with 200 poultry workers. Data were collected on worker health, characteristics of poultry processing jobs, and the management practices related to safety and supervision. This reports looks at recommended policy changes and research that will help ensure that poultry processing jobs are organized in a way that protects worker health in this vulnerable population.
