El pain in the handsthe wrists, arms, shoulders or back It is one of the risks faced by employees of meat and chicken processing plants.

These injuries are so common because much of the work requires repeating the same movements for hours, using force with the hands, lifting weights, or maintaining uncomfortable postures. 

Unlike a cut, a fall, or a machine accident, these injuries can develop gradually. The fact that there isn't a specific moment when the pain started doesn't mean the problem isn't work-related, although proving it can be more complex.

Pain that appears gradually can also be a work-related injury.

The booklet “Know your rights!The report, prepared by the North Carolina Legal Aid Farmworker Division and the North Carolina Justice Center, warns about injuries caused by repetitive motions in processing plants. 

Among the signs that should not be ignored are:

• Persistent pain in hands, arms, shoulders, neck or back.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Loss of strength to hold tools.
• Inflammation.
• Difficulty moving a joint.
• Pain that worsens during the shift and improves with rest.

La law of north carolina It covers certain occupational diseases. For a gradual injury to be recognized, it generally must be demonstrated that it was caused by the specific conditions of the job and that it is not a common illness to which anyone is exposed. 

What should you do if you get injured?

Of course, the first thing is seek medical attentionIt is also important to report the injury to your employer immediately, as this notification can greatly help in obtaining compensation.

The notification must be made both verbally and in writing. For workplace accidents, the general rule establishes a maximum period of 30 days. However, it is advisable to report them as soon as they occur.

The notification should include the worker's name, the date and location of the accident, an explanation of what happened, the body parts affected, and the symptoms presented.

It is also a good idea to keep a copy of the notice and note the name of the person who received it.

What if the ward nurse says it's not serious?

A quick assessment on-site doesn't always solve the problem. If the pain persists, worsens, or interferes with work, the employee should report it again and seek medical attention.

In North Carolina, the employer or their insurance company typically selects and directs medical treatment. The worker can request authorization to change providers, but if they seek treatment independently without approval, insurance coverage is not always guaranteed. The situation may be different in an emergency or when the employer refuses to provide treatment. 

Therefore, if the company rejects the request for medical attention or there is a disagreement about the treatment, it may be advisable consult with a lawyer specialized in workers' compensation.

What can workers' compensation cover?

When a claim is accepted, workers' compensation can cover medical care reasonably necessary to treat the injury. It can also provide payments when the person loses some or all of their ability to work.

If an employee is unable to work for more than seven days, they may qualify for weekly payments equivalent to, generally, two-thirds of their average weekly wage, subject to state limits. If the incapacity exceeds 21 days, they may also receive payment for the first seven days. 

There may also be benefits when the worker can return, but earns less than before, or when the injury leaves a permanent limitation.

How to document an injury

In addition to notifying the employer, it is advisable to keep:

• Medical reports and restrictions.
• Photographs of the injury or the accident scene.
• Names and phone numbers of witnesses.
• Messages exchanged with supervisors.
• Copies of the submitted forms.
• Receipts for medical expenses and transfers.
• A daily record of symptoms and tasks that worsen them.
• Pay stubs before and after the injury.

If the problem developed gradually, this record can help show how the symptoms evolved and what relationship they have to the tasks performed.

Can they fire him for reporting an injury?

North Carolina's Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, known as REDA, prohibits retaliation against an employee for filing a workers' compensation claim in good faith or reporting safety issues.

Retaliation can include dismissal, reduced hours, suspension, involuntary transfer, or demotion. An employer is prohibited from taking any of these actions simply because a worker has suffered an injury.

Know Your Rights

PODCAST

After the storm

A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity. 

🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.

▶️Press play to listen!

Republish This Story

Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.

close window

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

"This article may be republished for free under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Enlace Latino NC authorizes the reproduction of this content in newspapers and digital platforms, provided that the integrity of the text is maintained and that it is cited Enlace Latino NC and the author of the story to be republished as the primary source. If you publish the story in a digital news outlet or website, you must include a link to our website: www.enlacelatinonc.org

If you wish to make edits to the content to be republished, please contact our editorial team at walter@enlacelatinonc.org to obtain the corresponding permit."

Injuries in meat and poultry processing plants: what to do to protect your rights

by Nicolas Baintrub, Enlace Latino NC
August 3, 2026

Enlace Latino NCAugust 3, 2026 Pain in the hands , wrists, arms, shoulders or back is one of the risks faced by employees in meat and chicken processing plants. These injuries are so common because much of the work requires repeating the same movements for hours, using force with the hands, lifting weights, or maintaining uncomfortable postures. Unlike a cut, a fall, or a machine accident, these injuries can appear gradually. The fact that there is no exact moment when the pain began does not mean that the problem is not related to work, although proving it may be more complex. Pain that appears gradually can also be a work-related injury. The booklet “ Know Your Rights! ”, produced by the Farmworker Division of Legal Aid of North Carolina and the North Carolina Justice Center, warns about injuries caused by repetitive motions in processing plants. Among the signs that should not be ignored are: Persistent pain in hands, arms, shoulders, neck or back. Tingling or numbness. Loss of strength to hold tools. Inflammation. Difficulty moving a joint. Pain that worsens during the shift and improves with rest. North Carolina law covers certain occupational diseases. For a gradual injury to be recognized, it must generally be shown that it was caused by the working conditions themselves and that it is not a common illness to which any person is exposed. What should you do if you get injured? Of course, the first thing to do is seek medical attention . It is also important to inform your employer of the injury immediately, as this notification can greatly help in obtaining compensation. The notice must be given verbally and also in writing. For work accidents, the general rule establishes a maximum period of 30 days. However, it is advisable to report them as soon as they occur. The notification should include the worker's name, the date and location of the accident, an explanation of what happened, the body parts affected, and the symptoms presented. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of the notice and note the name of the person who received it. Ask the Expert If you suffered a work-related injury, these resources can help you understand what to do immediately and what your rights are in North Carolina: What do I do if I get injured at work? Steps you should take to protect your health and your rights Workers' compensation in North Carolina: what it is, how it works, and who can receive these benefits What if the ward nurse says it's not serious? A quick assessment within the plant does not always solve the problem. If the pain continues, worsens, or makes work difficult, the employee should report it again and seek medical attention. In North Carolina, the employer or their insurance company generally chooses and directs medical treatment. The worker can request authorization to change professionals, but if they consult on their own without obtaining approval, it is not always guaranteed that the insurer will pay for the care. The situation may be different in an emergency or when the employer refuses to provide treatment.   Therefore, if the company rejects the request for medical care or there is a disagreement about the treatment, it may be advisable to consult with a lawyer specializing in workers' compensation. What can workers' compensation cover? When a claim is accepted, workers' compensation may cover medical care reasonably necessary to treat the injury. It can also provide payments when the person loses some or all of their ability to work. If the employee is unable to work for more than seven days, he or she may qualify for weekly payments equivalent, generally, to two-thirds of his or her average weekly wage, subject to limits set by the state. If the incapacity exceeds 21 days, you may also receive payment for the first seven days.   There may also be benefits when the worker can return, but earns less than before, or when the injury leaves a permanent limitation. How to document an injury In addition to notifying the employer, it is advisable to keep: Medical reports and restrictions. Photographs of the injury or the accident scene. Names and phone numbers of witnesses. Messages exchanged with supervisors. Copies of the submitted forms. Receipts for medical expenses and transfers. A daily record of symptoms and tasks that worsen them. Pay stubs before and after the injury. If the problem developed gradually, this record can help show how the symptoms evolved and what relationship they have to the tasks performed. Can they fire him for reporting an injury? North Carolina's Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, known as REDA, prohibits retaliation against an employee for filing a workers' compensation claim in good faith or reporting safety issues. Retaliation may include dismissal, reduced hours, suspension, involuntary transfer, or demotion. It is prohibited for an employer to take any of those measures simply because a worker has suffered an injury. Know your rights This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/lesiones-en-plantas-procesadoras-de-carne-y-pollo-que-hacer-para-proteger-sus-derechos/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/lesiones-en-plantas-procesadoras-de-carne-y-pollo-que-hacer-para-proteger-sus-derechos/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

Copy to clipboard