Meatpacking

Standards

Meatpacking is addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to the meatpacking industry.

OSHA Standards

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". This section may be used to address hazards for which there are no specific standards.

Frequently Cited Standards

OSHA maintains a listing of the most frequently cited standards for specified 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Please refer to OSHA's Frequently Cited OSHA Standards page for additional information. For Meat Packing, use NAICS code 311611 (animal slaughtering, except poultry), 311612 (meat processed from carcasses), and/or 311613 (rendering and meat byproduct processing) in the NAICS search box.

Other Highlighted Standards

Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (29 CFR 1904)
Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (29 CFR 1904)		Related Information
1904 Subpart C - Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria		Related Information
	1904.7, General recording criteria.	Related Information
	1904.29, Forms.	Related Information
1904 Subpart D
1904 Subpart D	1904.33, Retention and updating.	Related Information

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)		Related Information
1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces		Related Information
	1910.22, General requirements.	Related Information
	1910.27, Scaffolds and rope descent systems.	Related Information
	1910.28, Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection.	Related Information
1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning
1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning	1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes.	Related Information
1910 Subpart G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control
	1910.94, Ventilation.	Related Information
	1910.95, Occupational noise exposure.	Related Information
1910 Subpart H - Hazardous Materials
1910 Subpart H - Hazardous Materials	1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals.	Related Information
1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment
	1910.132, General requirements.	Related Information
	1910.133, Eye and face protection.	Related Information
	1910.134, Respiratory protection.	Related Information
	1910.138, Hand Protection.	Related Information
1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls
	1910.141, Sanitation.	Related Information
	1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces.	Related Information
	1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).	Related Information
1910 Subpart K - Medical and First Aid
1910 Subpart K - Medical and First Aid	1910.151, Medical services and first aid.	Related Information
1910 Subpart N - Materials Handling and Storage
1910 Subpart N - Materials Handling and Storage	1910.178, Powered Industrial Trucks	Related Information
1910 Subpart O - Machinery and Machine Guarding
	1910.212, General requirements for all machines.	Related Information
	1910.215, Abrasive wheel machinery.	Related Information
	1910.219, Mechanical power-transmission apparatus.	Related Information
1910 Subpart S - Electrical
	1910.303, General.	Related Information
	1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use.	Related Information
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances
	1910.1000, Air contaminants.	Related Information
	1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens.	Related Information
	1910.1200, Hazard Communication.	Related Information

State Plan Standards

There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.

Additional Directives

Note: The directives in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.

New Meat Tenderizing Technology in the Meat Industry. CPL 02-01-015, (December 23, 1981).
Acceptable Guarding for Circular Meat Cutting Saws: 29 CFR Section 1910.212(a)(3)(ii). STD 01-12-005, (October 30, 1978).
Application of 29 CFR 1910.132(a) to the Retail Food Industry. STD 01-06-001, (October 30, 1978).

Additional Letters of Interpretation

Note: The letters in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.

Inspection Guidance for Animal Slaughtering and Processing Establishments (October 15, 2024).
OSHA has no specific regulations regarding minors (November 10, 1999).
Interpretation of the Personal Protective Equipment standard (July 03, 1995).
Various questions on OSHA standards (September 01, 1992).
Sharp knives and utensils in the workplace (December 10, 1991).