Meatcutters and Meat Packers

Previous experience in a summer or part-time job, or as an apprentice, at a meat-packing plant will be useful for aspiring meatcutters and meat packers.

Important skills for this occupation are manual dexterity, good depth perception, color discrimination, and good hand-eye coordination. Above-average strength is needed to lift large, heavy sides of meat. Meatcutters who wait on customers need a pleasant personality, a neat appearance, and the ability to communicate effectively.

For meatpacking workers required to use sharp instruments such as knives, cleavers, and other blades, good eyesight and excellent depth perception are exceedingly important in order to avoid injury on the job. Manual dexterity is also important for those whose job is to cut the meat. Physical strength is an asset for those handling carcasses or other heavy materials.

Growing concern about the safety of meats has led employers to offer extensive training in food safety to employees. Meatpacking workers must be careful when handling and processing cuts of meat to avoid possible contamination. In addition, all meat processing workers follow the guidelines established by Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.