NAICS sector 3116—Federal OSHA Severe Injury Reports

Meatpacking & Poultry Processing

2,177 severe-injury reports to federal OSHA between 2015-01-02 and 2025-10-31, including 1,375 hospitalizations and 1,019 amputations.

Animal slaughtering and processing (NAICS 3116) is among the most dangerous corners of US manufacturing. Amputations and lacerations from powered saws, grinders, and conveyor lines dominate the severe injuries reported here — the toll behind the industry's finger-injury reputation. Counts are federal-OSHA-reported only.

2,177Severe injuries

1,375Hospitalizations

1,019Amputations

1Eye losses

Employers with the most severe injuries in this sector

# Employer Severe-injury reports

1 Tyson Foods, Inc. 135 2 Wayne Farms, LLC. 47 3 Swift Beef Company 46 4 Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. 43 5 Pilgrim?s Pride Corporation 42 6 Tyson Poultry, Inc. 40 7 Smithfield Foods 32 8 Peco Foods, Inc. 25 9 Cargill Meat Solutions 22 10 Sanderson Farms, Inc. 21

Example incidents

T G Meat Center LLC EAST BERNARD, TEXAS · 2025-10-31 · Struck by running powered equipment n.e.c.
After cutting a slab of beef short ribs, an employee turned to grab the pieces he had cut and his right hand contacted the saw blade. The employee sustained an amputation to his right index finger.
Pilgrims ROGERSVILLE, ALABAMA · 2025-10-24 · Other fall to lower level unspecified
An employee was unloading a forklift from a trailer to the ground. The employee was climbing down the ladder of the trailer when their foot slipped through one of the rungs, causing them to fall backward onto the forklift forks. The employee was hospitalized for fractured ribs.
Lakeside Foods MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN · 2025-10-23 · Caught, entangled in running powered equipment normal operation
An employee was using a de-clipping machine to cut the metal clips off of sausage sticks. As the employee put a link of sausages into the machine, their hand slipped into the point of operation. A piston pinched the employee's left index finger, causing a partial amputation.
Lincoln Premium Poultry, LLC FREMONT, NEBRASKA · 2025-10-20 · Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing
An employee was troubleshooting a thigh deboner on a poultry processing line. As he worked to dislodge a thigh bone caught in the blade mechanism, the machine amputated the first and second digits on his left hand. He was hospitalized.
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. AMARILLO, TEXAS · 2025-10-19 · Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee was scraping dried glue from the top lid of a hot glue pot. His left hand slipped and came into contact with the hot glue. He then suffered burns to his hands and fingers as he tried to remove the glue. He was hospitalized.
Intermountain Packing, LLC IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO · 2025-10-17 · Other fall to lower level 6 to 30 feet
An employee was in a scissor lift approximately 20 feet above the ground to place a plastic tarp on a catwalk in order to catch condensation. They positioned the lift opposite the work area and stepped out of the scissor lift onto an I-beam. The employee fell from the I-beam to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a skull fracture on the right side of their head and injuries to the chest and both eyes.

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Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports, federal jurisdiction, 2015-01-02 – 2025-10-31. State-plan states are not included.