Grand Island is the heart of central Nebraska's industrial economy — and one of the state's most dangerous places to work. The city's economy revolves around meatpacking, manufacturing, and agriculture, industries with some of the highest injury rates in the country. JBS USA, Grand Island's largest employer with more than 3,000 workers, operates one of the largest beef processing plants in the nation. Hornady Manufacturing produces ammunition. Chief Industries builds grain storage systems and steel buildings. The work is physically demanding, fast-paced, and hazardous.

If you've been injured at JBS, Hornady, Chief Industries, or any other Grand Island employer, you have the right to workers' compensation benefits — regardless of who was at fault. At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, we represent Grand Island workers who have been hurt on the job, and we fight to make sure they receive every dollar they're owed.

Our senior partner spent over 40 years as defense counsel for major insurance carriers. He knows exactly how insurers evaluate workplace injury claims in Grand Island and across Nebraska — and what it takes to win.

Call (402) 506-4444Free Consultation

Key Industries & Workplace Hazards in Grand Island

Grand Island workers face industry-specific risks that require an attorney who understands both the hazards and the insurance tactics used to deny claims. Here are the industries driving workplace injuries in the Grand Island area:

Meatpacking & Food Processing

JBS USA employs over 3,000 workers at its Grand Island beef processing plant — one of the largest in the country, processing over 1.4 million cattle per year. Meatpacking workers face some of the most dangerous conditions in any industry: repetitive knife cuts, musculoskeletal injuries from high-speed production lines, slip and fall injuries on wet floors, chemical exposure, and crush injuries from heavy equipment.

Manufacturing

Grand Island is a manufacturing hub with companies like Hornady Manufacturing (ammunition), Chief Industries (grain storage and steel buildings), and Case New Holland. Machine injuries, amputations, hearing loss, and repetitive stress injuries are common hazards for manufacturing workers here.

Agriculture

Hall County is surrounded by productive farmland, and Grand Island serves as a regional agricultural center. Farm equipment accidents, grain bin entrapments, livestock injuries, and pesticide exposure are significant risks for agricultural workers in the area.

Transportation & Warehousing

Grand Island's position along Interstate 80 makes it a transportation and distribution crossroads. Truck drivers, warehouse workers, and logistics employees face road accidents, loading injuries, and repetitive strain.

 Our Insurance Defense Background Works for You. Our senior partner spent over 40 years defending insurance carriers in cases just like yours. We know how insurers evaluate Grand Island workplace injury claims, what tactics they use to minimize payouts, and how to beat them. That insider knowledge now works for injured workers in Grand Island and Hall County.

Grand Island Workers Deserve Full Benefits

Grand Island's meatpacking industry presents unique challenges for injured workers. Many JBS and food processing employees are immigrants whose first language is not English, which can create barriers when navigating the workers' compensation system. Insurance companies sometimes take advantage of these language barriers to deny or minimize claims. At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, we are committed to making sure every injured worker in Grand Island understands their rights and receives the benefits they deserve — regardless of their background.

Nebraska workers' compensation provides medical benefits, temporary and permanent disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and mileage reimbursement. For a full breakdown of available benefits, visit our Nebraska Workers' Compensation Benefits Explained page. To learn more about the steps to take after an injury, see our What to Do After a Workplace Injury guide.

If your claim has been denied, don't give up — visit our Appeals & Denied Claims page. And if a third party contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party liability claim.

Serving Grand Island and Hall County

Johnson Tabor & Johnson represents injured workers in Grand Island, Hastings, Aurora, St. Paul, Wood River, Doniphan, and surrounding Hall County communities.

No matter where you work in the Grand Island area, our attorneys are ready to fight for your benefits. Workers' compensation cases are filed with the statewide Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court — not a local court — so our Omaha-based firm handles cases across the entire state with the same aggressiveness and attention to detail.

Frequently Asked Questions: Workers' Comp in Grand Island

Absolutely. JBS and all other meatpacking employers in Nebraska are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. If you were injured while working at JBS or any other food processing plant in Grand Island — whether from a single accident or from cumulative repetitive injuries — you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits including medical care, wage replacement, and permanent disability compensation.

The most common meatpacking injuries include repetitive motion injuries from high-speed production work (carpal tunnel, tendinitis, shoulder tears), knife cuts and lacerations, slip and fall injuries on wet or greasy floors, back and spinal injuries from heavy lifting, crush injuries from equipment, and chemical exposure from cleaning agents used in sanitation.

Yes. Cumulative and repetitive stress injuries — such as carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic back pain, tendinitis, and shoulder injuries — are fully covered under Nebraska Workers' Compensation Law. However, insurance companies frequently deny these claims. An experienced attorney can help you build the evidence needed to prove your injury is work-related.

Yes. Language should never be a barrier to receiving workers' compensation benefits. You have the same rights as any other worker. Our firm can help you navigate the process, ensure your medical records accurately reflect your injuries, and communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.

At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, we handle all workers' compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and no fees unless we win. Your initial consultation is completely free.