Meatpacking & Food Manufacturing Work Injuries in Colorado
If you have been injured on the job when working in the meat packing or food manufacturing industries in Colorado, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. An experienced Greeley workers’ compensation attorney at The Frickey Law Firm can help with your claim or any appeal. Get a lawyer to help maximize your physical and financial recovery. Insurance companies do not treat people unrepresented fairly. Hire a Lawyer who understands Colorado workers compensation law to help navigate a very complex system.
Colorado meatpacking and food manufacturers have been known to maintain unsafe workplaces for their employees. There have been numerous documented instances of serious employee injuries. However, these companies also have a reputation for both cutting corners and pressuring employees to maintain unrealistic production targets. The result is that workers in these industries have a much higher injury rate than other employees.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a Greeley workers’ compensation lawyer at The Frickey Law Firm by calling us at 303-237-7373 to get started on your claim. We can explain the legal process and help you deal with any issues relating to your claim as they arise.
Safety issues and employee injuries at Colorado meat packing and food processing plants have been in the news a considerable amount over the past 5 years. Whether it is due to challenges such as a pandemic, or companies placing profits over their workers, employees are in continuous jeopardy when working at these plants.
Meatpacking Plants in Colorado
Colorado is home to several of the nation’s largest meat processors. These companies include:
- JBS USA: This subsidiary of a Brazilian conglomerate is the second-largest meat packer in the United States
- Colorado Premium: Based in Greeley, this company primarily packages meat under labels for other companies, along with maintaining some of its own brands
- Anderson Custom Meats: Although this is a smaller company, Anderson is a large employer in the Denver area
All told, there are over one hundred meatpackers who have plants in Colorado. Some of these plants have been the scene of serious employee injuries. JBS, in particular, has a very poor track record for employee safety. The company has had numerous instances of serious employee injury and death. For example, in 2021, a worker died after they fell into a vat of chemicals that was used in processing animal hides. In another JBS incident, a worker lost an arm when it got caught in a conveyor belt. JBS was fined following an OSHA investigation after the worker fatality. In issuing the fine, the Department of Labor cited repeated safety violations at the Greeley plant.
In addition, meatpacking plants infamously forced their employees to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers were not protected from exposure to the virus, and many became ill, and some even died.
Food Manufacturing Companies in Colorado
Colorado is also home to numerous food manufacturing companies that maintain plants in the state. Included on this list are the following employers:
- Leprino Foods
- Pilgrim’s Pride
- Cargill
- Rocky Mountain Food Factory
- Colorado Quality Foods
Pilgrim’s Pride has been the subject of several OSHA inspections in recent years that have found serious safety violations. For example, the company’s machines were found to have lacked the proper safety guards, and it resulted in finger amputations. Pilgrim’s Pride was also cited for chemical safety violations when workers were exposed to hazardous substances on the job.
OSHA Regulations Affecting Food Processing Work
Meat Packers and food processors are subject to OSHA rules. Regulations that may affect slaughterhouse and food processing workers include:
- Workers must be informed about the risks they face on the job due to exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Each employee must be provided with suitable personal protective equipment for their specific job duties
- Specialized cutting machines, such as meat grinders, must have guards that keep workers from coming into direct contact with sharp and moving parts
- Employers must have procedures that protect employees from repetitive motion and ergonomic Industries
- Back and neck injuries
What to Do if You Have Suffered an Injury at a Meatpacking or Food Processing Plant
If you have suffered an injury at a meatpacking or food processing plant in Colorado, it is essential that you take the following steps to further and preserve your right to workers’ compensation benefits:
- Report your injury to your employer within ten days
- Seek medical help from a doctor on a list provided by your employer
- Speak to a Greeley workers’ compensation attorney about your case and your eligibility for benefits
- File a claim with the insurance company for workers’ compensation benefits
- Hire a Lawyer
Contact a Greeley Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Today
If you have been injured on the job, speak to a Greeley workers’ compensation attorney at The Frickey Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights. It does not cost you anything to speak to a workers’ compensation lawyer. You can schedule a free initial consultation by filling out an online contact form or by calling us today at 303-237-7373.
Adam M. McClure was recently selected for membership in “The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40” organization, making him one of only 40 Colorado lawyers to be awarded this honor. Mr. McClure is an exceptional litigator. He has been a key member of The Frickey Law Firm since 2003. Learn more here.