Congress to Investigate Poultry Worker Safety Issues

Congress to investigate poultry worker safety  
By Janie Gabbett on 2/18/2008 for Meatingplace.com  
 
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate plan to investigate worker safety in the poultry industry in the wake of a Charlotte Observer series on safety at poultry giant House of Raeford Farms.

House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Senate Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Chairman Sen. Edward Kennedy (D.-Mass.) both told The News and Observer they plan to investigate charges in a series of stories in the Charlotte Observer that House of Raeford, among other things, underreported worker injuries.

House of Raeford has said it is looking into the allegations. (See House of Raeford responds to workplace safety allegations on Meatingplace.com, February 11, 2008.)

Miller said he plans to hold hearings in the spring. Kennedy said his committee is beginning an investigation.