As part of preparations for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, Turkey's amateur butchers seek ways to avoid maiming themselves, an incredibly common phenomenon in the country every year. Steel gloves, a compulsory accessory for professional butchers, has gained popularity ahead of the festival that will be observed this weekend. Gloves made of stainless steel and in the shape of chain mail are resistant to unintended knife and cleaver blows. They are sold at TL 300 ($131), available at most stores and provide protection for butchers whose profession was categorized as hazardous by the Ministry of Labor and are required to wear those gloves. Gloves also prevent infection of animal meat by bacteria on butcher's hands and vice versa.
Every year, hundreds of people fill emergency wards across Turkey during Eid al-Adha for slaughter-related injuries. These "amateur butchers," as they are dubbed by local media, suffer cuts to their hands and legs, especially when animals sensing their impending doom get out of control and kick and butt their cleaver-wielding owners.
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