Federal workplace safety data show poultry slaughter and processing facilities recorded their lowest injury and illness rates on record in 2024, marking a significant long-term improvement for the sector.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total recordable injury and illness rate for poultry processing workers fell to 2.4 cases per 100 full-time employees in 2024. This is the lowest rate reported for the industry since BLS began tracking occupational injury and illness data in 1994.
The poultry processing injury rate continues to remain below several broader industry benchmarks. In 2024, comparable agricultural industries reported an average of 3.2 injuries per 100 full-time workers, while food manufacturing overall recorded a rate of 3.3. The injury rate across all manufacturing industries was 2.7, and the general industry average stood at 2.6—each higher than the poultry sector’s rate.
The sustained decline reflects decades of changes within poultry slaughter and processing operations, including expanded automation, ergonomic improvements, enhanced employee training, and earlier intervention for musculoskeletal and repetitive-motion risks.
When compared historically, the improvement is substantial. In 1994, poultry processing facilities reported an injury and illness rate of 22.7 cases per 100 workers. The 2024 figure represents a reduction of nearly 90% over the 30-year period.
Industry-wide safety efforts have been supported by collaboration among trade organizations representing the majority of U.S. poultry production. Companies affiliated with these groups employ more than 350,000 workers and account for approximately 95% of domestic poultry output, making the safety trends reflected in the BLS data broadly representative of the industry as a whole.
