7 Common Packing House Injuries in the Central Valley

With nearly 20% of jobs being related to agribusiness, the Central Valley is home to many farms and various agricultural processing manufacturers. It is a business sector that provides tens of  thousands of jobs for the people of Fresno on a daily basis with some of the major agricultural companies in the area being Fowler Packing, Foster Farms, Del Monte and Grimmway Farms. 

There are two major components to the agribusiness with one being the work done on the farm itself harvesting the product and the other component being the work done processing that material in a packing house so it's ready to go to consumers. In this article, we’ll focus on the latter component by discussing some common manufacturing injuries related to the Agricultural industry.

Common types of injuries: 

1. Hearing loss due to noise exposure from repetitive high and low frequencies: 

The manufacturing of products from the farm takes many steps each with its own unique set of equipment. Each of those pieces of equipment produces a variable cacophony of sounds and when exposed to such variations in noise on a constant, daily basis, a worker can succumb to varying levels of hearing loss over time from minor loss to becoming completely deaf. 

2. Scalds or burns: 

Many of the means for cleaning, separating and preparing the food to be consumer ready involves some type of heat treatment. Whether it be a high temperature oven, the use of incredibly hot steam, close proximity to scalding oil, or even open flames, workers can get seriously hurt from burns or scalds that lead to permanent damage and scarring. On top of this, a workplace explosion or fire can lead to severe burns and even death. 

3. Severe joint issues or tears from repetitive bending over and carrying large objects: 

Often the work done in a packing house is highly repetitive with a worker doing the same activity for hours on end. This can easily lead to an RSI or repetitive stress injury such as carpal tunnel, chronic knee pain and more. Likewise, lifting heavy objects or equipment over and over can lead to severe back pain or even tears that leaves a worker unable to work for an extended period of time. 

4. Electrocution or shocks: 

The amount of equipment in a packing house ranges from the very small such as a walkie-talkie to the incredibly large such as agitator tanks or conveyors that criss-cross an entire room. Most of this equipment, if not all, is powered by electricity and if equipment gets wet, is not grounded properly or has not been maintained correctly, it can lead to shock or even fatal electrocution.  

5. Exposure to molds, fumes or other toxic materials: 

The risk for respiratory issues in the workplace can also be very high for food manufacturers. They are often repeatedly exposed to chemicals that can be hazardous if inhaled on a regular basis and especially if they come into contact with the skin, eyes or mouth. Other respiratory issues can come from the repeated inhalation of flours, spices and other ground up food. Certain foods can also produce mold at moist conditions leading to respiratory problems as well.

6. Slips, trips and falls: 

A packing house has a lot of moving parts with each focusing on the tasks they need to accomplish. Often, these various parts can overlap in catastrophic ways whether it be someone slipping on a recently hosed down floor, tripping over items that shouldn’t be in their path, or even falling off a tall piece of equipment or scaffolding. Each of these unsafe conditions can lead to significant injuries.  

7. Cuts and amputations: 

Much like working with heat, workers frequently use sharp tools meant to cut and trim various food products. From the various hand-held tools such as slicing knives or cleavers to the large equipment such as band saws or meat grinders, workers can easily get a part of their body cut off. Depending on the severity of the injury, that worker could miss work for an extended time or the injury could result in the worker having a physical disability that affects all aspects of their life. 

Despite these injuries being possible every time someone comes into the manufacturing space, there are steps workers and employers can take to keep everyone on the job safe and healthy.

How to prevent these injuries:

1. Commit to proper safety training: 

Proper training done on a frequent schedule is a key way to prevent injuries from happening in the workplace. If everyone knows how to be safe when working with each piece of equipment they’ll be operating, they’ll be less likely to mishandle it and therefore less likely to cause an accident to occur. The same goes for anyone working in the proximity of said equipment because they need to be aware of how to act when that equipment is in use as well.

2. Safely stretch and stay limber so muscles don’t get too tense:

Stretching can be a great way to keep your body from becoming stiff and rigid. Because of the repetitive nature of a manufacturing job, relieving some of the cumulative tension that might arise over the course of the day with stretching can prevent long term injuries to that part of the body. Always stretch or loosen up in a place that is safe and in a way that will not put you or any other worker in harm's way. 

3. Wear necessary protective equipment at all times: 

Wearing proper safety equipment is essential to limiting the possibility of a workplace injury. Some of the helpful ways you can stay safe are by wearing a bright vest for added visibility, putting on gloves for added finger protection, equipping safety glasses that can either fit comfortably over your existing glasses or have your up-to-date prescription, and by using headphones or a well fitting hard hat when necessary.

4. Be aware of your surroundings at all times: 

One of the biggest aspects of workplace injuries is not being cognizant of the things happening around you. While it is important to focus on your job, it is also important to be aware of what others around you are doing in case something they do leads to an accident of some kind. It is very easy for a distraction to lead to a workplace accident, so keeping your eyes and ears peeled for any potential mishap is crucial to keeping all employees safe.   

5. Properly label and store all chemicals, handheld equipment and machinery: 

If chemicals are not put away in their proper place when not in use or are mislabeled, that miscommunication can cause a severe injury to occur. The same goes for any type of equipment whether big or small and any workplace vehicle. When stored and labeled in the correct fashion, these items can lead to a functional, efficient workplace that is less prone to any accidents that would occur otherwise.  

6. Drink plenty of water and take breaks when necessary:

It is super important to stay hydrated because if you are not, it can lead to a variety of conditions that can exacerbate the chances of a workplace injury. These include dizziness, fatigue, irritability, confusion and many more. If you ever feel any of these conditions coming on, pause what you’re doing and take the necessary steps to feel well again.  

7. Get a good night's sleep so you are alert at all times:

Proper sleep habits can really make the difference between performing at your best and executing your job in a way that may harm others or yourself while in the workplace.The CDC suggests getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep and creating a positive, consistent nightly routine that eliminates caffeine and electronic devices before bedtime. 

8. Do not operate machinery if on medication that may impair your ability to do so: 

Certain medications don’t mix well with certain machinery and because you may be required to take your medication on the advice of a medical professional, it is hugely important to communicate that with your employer. By communicating that to your employer and those around you, you help reduce the risk of injuring those in your workplace.

9. Make sure all electrical equipment is up to date and safe: 

If anything seems unsafe for whatever reason when it comes to the equipment that is being used, let your employer know so they can take the necessary steps to fix the issue. Constantly maintaining and updating the equipment used in the workplace is a vital way of making sure the equipment is not outdated and working in a way that will not add to workplace injuries. 

Keep in mind that even though many states have specific rules when it comes to farms and how safety regulations are carried out, if you are injured in a California packing house, you are afforded the same opportunity for workers comp benefits as any other qualified worker in the state.

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Cole, Fisher, Cole, O’Keefe + Mahoney is Central California’s leading workers’ compensation and social security disability law firm. With over 30 years of successful experience, we are committed to securing maximum benefits for our clients in the Fresno, California area. Schedule a free consultation today.