Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Labor and Industry
 
Board
Safety and Health Codes Board
 
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9/25/20  6:41 pm
Commenter: Wayne Teel, James Madison University

Poultry workers protection
 

Poultry processing is a messy, dirty, repetitive and mind numbing job.  Most people won't do it, so we hire those who come here from other places, sometimes legally, sometimes not, to do what we will not.  The we subject them the abuse of speeding lines of birds.  They are already fast, and create various repetitive motion problems, but companies still want to increase line speeds.  For covid we slowed them down.  This has a positive impact on worker health (more distancing) and worker moral (less stress, better pride in work.)  So why would we consider abandoning this slow down?  Shouldn't we care for those who prepare and package our food?  I think the wise course of action is to make the regulations designed to help workers in the time of Covid-19 permanent so these people can enjoy and increased quality of life, such as it is for those who are paid not far above minimum wage.

CommentID: 86473