Review of Successful Workplace Interventions to Mitigate Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Poultry Processing Plant Workers: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are prevalent among poultry processing workers due to repetitive motions, forceful exertions, and challenging environmental conditions such as cold temperatures. This narrative review examines the effectiveness of workplace management strategies to reduce WRMSDs in the poultry processing industry. Through a systematic literature search and analysis of 45 key publications, the review evaluates interventions across the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health hierarchy of controls, including personal protective equipment, ergonomic training, job rotation, tool design, automation, and robotics. While industry-wide efforts have led to a significant reduction in overall injury rates, persistent challenges remain. Job rotation often redistributes rather than reduces risk, automation and exoskeletons face technical and acceptance barriers, and training programs yield only temporary benefits. Economic pressures, under-reporting of injuries, and limited research on immigrant workers further complicate progress. The review highlights the need for participatory design, better integration of engineering controls, and expanded longitudinal studies to address persistent WRMSD risks. Effective mitigation will require prioritizing hazard elimination and substitution, fostering worker-management collaboration, and adapting interventions to diverse workforce needs.