The Impact of Physical and Ergonomic Hazards on Poultry Abattoir Processing Workers: A Review.

Johannes Harmse,Jacobus Engelbrecht,Johan Bekker

doi:10.3390/ijerph13020197

Abstract

The poultry abattoir industry continues to grow and contribute significantly to the gross domestic product in many countries. The industry expects working shifts of eight to eleven hours, during which workers are exposed to occupational hazards which include physical hazards ranging from noise, vibration, exposure to cold and ergonomic stress from manual, repetitive tasks that require force. A PubMed, Medline and Science Direct online database search, using specific keywords was conducted and the results confirmed that physical and ergonomic hazards impact on abattoir processing workers health, with harm not only to workers’ health but also as an economic burden due to the loss of their livelihoods and the need for treatment and compensation in the industry. This review endeavours to highlight the contribution poultry processing plays in the development of physical agents and ergonomic stress related occupational diseases in poultry abattoir processing workers. The impact includes noise-induced hearing loss, increased blood pressure, menstrual and work related upper limb disorders. These are summarised as a quick reference guide for poultry abattoir owners, abattoir workers, poultry associations, occupational hygienists and medical practitioners to assist in the safer management of occupational health in poultry abattoirs.

Highlights

The poultry sector continues to grow in terms of production, as well as number of employers, due to the increasing human population, an increased demand for animal protein, its healthy label, affordability, greater consumer purchasing power, product variation and urbanisation [1].The major broiler producers manage integrated broiler meat supply chains which include the production of day-old chicks, broiler farms, feed milling, meat processing and distribution to customers [2,3]
The objective of this review is to present the extensive role that poultry abattoir processing plays in the development of physical and ergonomic related health impacts on workers’ health
Literature relating to physical and ergonomic impact on poultry processing were found dating back to the 1970s, which highlights the fact that studies related to physical and ergonomic risks in poultry abattoir processing have been conducted over the decades

Summary

Introduction

The poultry sector continues to grow in terms of production, as well as number of employers, due to the increasing human population, an increased demand for animal protein, its healthy label, affordability, greater consumer purchasing power, product variation and urbanisation [1].The major broiler producers manage integrated broiler meat supply chains which include the production of day-old chicks, broiler farms, feed milling, meat processing and distribution to customers [2,3]. The poultry sector continues to grow in terms of production, as well as number of employers, due to the increasing human population, an increased demand for animal protein, its healthy label, affordability, greater consumer purchasing power, product variation and urbanisation [1]. The industry is a major contributor to the gross domestic product and to society at large. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN) estimates an annual growth of 1.6% in the industry globally to produce some 108.7 million tonnes of poultry meat [4]. Africa (SA), the poultry industry is the country’s largest individual agricultural industry contributing. 17% to the gross value of agricultural products with an annual growth of 1.3% in 2013 [2]. The food sector employs around 22 million workers worldwide in food and drink manufacturing, a figure which may increase significantly if jobs throughout the entire food production system are counted [5,6]

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