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We Need Health and Safety for Immigrant Workers Essay

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The slaughtering, processing, and packaging of meat has long been associated with a high incidence of accidents, injuries and illnesses. When the Occupational Safety and Health
Act (OSHA) of 1970 became law, the meat and meat products industry was designated by the
Department of Labor as one of the five Standard Industrial Classifications (SICs) to receive priority attention as part of OSHA's efforts to target those industries having the highest rates of occupational injuries. In this paper I will explain why I agrees with the conclusions and recommendations of the Human Rights Watch in regards to worker safety concerning immigrant workers and why new laws need to be written that ensure worker safety regardless of their immigration …show more content…

“The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed at work. The law requires that employers provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The Act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards. OSHA also provides information, training and assistance to workers and employers. Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or there are serious hazards. “OSHA's commitment is to provide information to help employers and employees in the meat-packing industry comply with OSHA standards and increase safety in the workplace. There are currently no specific standards for the meat-packing industry.” (OSHA, N.D). It is indeed shocking that the world’s most industrialized, modern, advanced and powerful country, the United States of America, does not have specific standards when it comes to providing a healthy and safe work environment for workers in the meat and poultry industry. However this should not come as a surprise to anyone as OSHA does indeed have a very sorry history in maintaining, policing

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