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Appendix F: Injury Interviews and Data

In late 2003 and early 2004, a team of safety and health specialists from the United Food and Commercial Workers, the union assisting Tar Heel workers’ organizing efforts, interviewed sixty-three Smithfield workers injured at work. Slightly more than half of the workers were identified from OSHA report logs. Others were referred by union organizers based on house visits, and some were referred by interviewed workers themselves.

There is no inherent pro or anti-union bias in these interviews. OSHA logs are neutral in that regard. Union organizers systematically visit workers’ homes based on name and address information they obtain without knowing the workers’ sentiments about the union. Workers referred to injured coworkers without regard to union sympathies. Here are the results of those interviews:

Analysis of Injuries and Workers Compensation from Interviews

Rate of workers who received workers compensation insurance for their injury or illness:

24% of interviewed injured workers received workers compensation.

• 63 workers total in database
• 15 workers got workers compensation

Rate of workers reported on injury log versus not reported on OSHA injury log:

44% of interviewed injured workers did not have their work related physical illnesses or injuries reported to OSHA.

• 35 workers reported on OSHA log
• 28 workers not reported OSHA injury log

The rate of Latino immigrants who received workers compensation insurance for their injury or illness:

95% of interviewed Latino immigrant injured workers did not receive workers compensation.

• 19 Latino immigrant workers in database
• 1 Latino immigrant worker received workers compensation

The rate of English speaking American workers who received workers compensation insurance for their injury or illness:

68% of interviewed English speaking American workers did not receive workers compensation.

• 44 American English speaking workers in database
• 14 American workers received workers compensation

Rate of American English speaking workers to Latino immigrant Spanish speaking workers in terms of injury log reports and unreported:

47% of interviewed Latino immigrant injured workers were not reported on the OSHA log.

• 11 Latino immigrant workers reported on injury log out of 19 injured Latino immigrant workers

45% of interviewed English-speaking American workers were not reported on the OSHA log

• 24 English speaking American workers reported on injury log out of 44 in the database

Rate of termination of workers whom were injured:³⁵⁶

24% of interviewed injured workers were terminated sometime after their injuries.

• 15 injured workers were terminated out of 63 in database.
• 8 of the terminated workers were not reported on injury log.

Accidents:

38 injuries on database were sudden accidents on the job.

• 50% of the accidents were hand and arm injuries resulting in cuts or broken bones: 19
• 26% of interviewed injured workers from sudden accidents were terminated from Smithfield: 10
• 66% of interviewed injured workers from sudden accidents did not receive workers compensation: 26

Pain, Illnesses, or Infections:

30 cited injuries resulted from skin infections, muscle pain, or illnesses stemming from repetitive motion or exposure to unsanitary working conditions.

• 3 of these cited injuries received workers compensation.

• 10 of the injuries were infections and skin related illnesses
• 11 of the injuries were hand swelling, hand pain, or arthritis.