The incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses within the poultry sector’s slaughter and processing workforce has fallen sharply. The number of injury and illness occurrences is below all general industry, manufacturing, and food manufacturing levels for the first time since the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics began recording the information in 1994. The 2023 incident rate of 2.6 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers represents an 89 percent decrease from 1994, the oldest data available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, when the recorded rate was 22.7. “The poultry industry has always prioritized employee safety and remains dedicated to preventing workplace injuries and illnesses, with a particular focus on disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome,” says the Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Council. “By embracing ergonomic practices and early medical intervention, and by adopting new technology and automation, the industry has made significant strides in worker safety.”