Workers Walk Out After Fourth Death At Smithfield Meat Plant
plantbasednews.org
Roughly 100 workers have walked out of a Smithfield meat plant in Monmouth, Illinois, following a colleague’s death

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/53152091

Following an anonymous complaint in February, OSHA inspected the plant and fined Smithfield Foods $9,931.60 after observing workers’ exposure to “amputation hazards.” This was preceded by serious citations in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Working in a slaughterhouse is extremely dangerous. In the US, there are approximately two amputations per week, primarily due to the industry’s poor working conditions and excessively fast pace.

[…]

As reported by KWQC, the leaders also acknowledged “community concerns” over a backlog of rendering material – animal waste, internal organs, and decaying meat – being stored outside the plant, causing a strong, unpleasant smell in the city.

  • daanniiEnglish
    56·
    14 days ago

    Fines $9,000. For amputation hazards.

    Yeah that’s why these companies aren’t going to comply.

    Cheaper to just pay the fines.

    Fines should be way way higher. Especially for repeat offenders.

    • HasturInYellow
      4·
      13 days ago

      The fine should be one bone from the CEO. Any bone. You pick. One whole bone. Better not make the same mistake a lot.

      • leadore
        2·
        13 days ago

        He’ll probably pick an ear bone. They’re small and he’s not using them.

        • HasturInYellow
          2·
          13 days ago

          Well they can only get away with that so many times. That’s kind of the idea. First one or two is manageable. Shit happens. It keeps happening, you start noticing. One finger. One forearm.