Fast Food Nation: chapter 8

1. What kind of injuries do workers in meatpacking plants typically suffer?

- "Lacerations are the most common injuries suffered by meatpackers, who often stab themselves or stab someone working nearby. Tendinitis and cumulative trauma disorders are also quite common." (pg. 239)

2. What's the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants?

- The workers are more likely to get hurt due to the speed. "One of the leading determinants of the injury rate at a slaughterhouse today is the speed of the disassembly line. The faster it runs, the more likely that workers will get hurt." (pg. 240)

3. Why don't more workers complain about safety conditions in the plants?

- The workers are put under pressure not to report injuries. "The annual bonuses of plant foreman and supervisors are often based in part on the injury rate of their workers. Instead of creating a safer workplace, these bonus schemes encourage slaughterhouse managers to make sure that accidents and injuries go unreported." (pg. 242)