Meat Industry Okay on OSHA Guidelines

June 14, 2002

The American Meat Institute is satisfied with the Bush Administration's move to develop industry-specific ergonomic guidelines for poultry processors and retail grocery stores. However, the institute questions the need for mandatory programs.

Grocery stores and poultry processors will be the focus of two sets of industry-specific ergonomic guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced. Representatives from the two industries will work with OSHA to develop the guidelines.

AMI President J. Patrick Boyle noted that voluntary guidelines cooperatively developed by the meat industry and OSHA had resulted in "tremendous progress." In fact, OSHA has praised those voluntary guidelines, calling them a model for other industries, Boyle said.

Draft guidelines will be available for public comment later this year and the guidelines will be made available on OSHA's web site. A notice will appear in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the guidelines.

The Department of Labor scrapped broad Clinton administration guidelines last year in favor of more industry-targeted guidelines combined with tough enforcement measures, workplace outreach, advanced research and efforts to protect Hispanic and other immigrant workers. The new plan for combating ergonomic injuries in the workplace was announced in April.