An influential North Carolina lawmaker has introduced legislation aimed at better protecting the state's poultry workers by keeping closer tabs on their employers.

The bill would give state health officials the authority to inspect poultry plants and would require large plants to hire or contract with licensed medical workers. It was introduced this week in response to a Charlotte Observer series about working conditions in the poultry industry -- and to Gov. Mike Easley's subsequent call for reform.

The legislation would also provide $350,000 more each year for the state Department of Health and Human Services -- money that Easley had requested to hire two occupational health nurses and two industrial hygienists to regularly inspect plants. Sen. Dan Clodfelter, a Charlotte Democrat and a Senate leader, introduced the bill.

"The governor asked Sen. Clodfelter to introduce this measure because we must ensure that workers are treated with basic dignity," said Alan Hirsch, the governor's policy director.

Under a plan detailed by Easley this month, the new inspectors would review records, conduct interviews and examine workers to determine whether companies are properly treating injured workers and recording all injuries.

The new bill would also require poultry plants to keep records detailing each time a worker complains about injuries, pain or other health concerns -- and showing how the company handled the complaint.

The state health director would use information gathered during inspections to present North Carolina officials with an annual summary of findings, as well as any recommendations for additional legislation, regulation or enforcement.

The Observer series, also published in The News & Observer, detailed the human cost of putting chicken and turkey on America's dinner tables. Many workers told the newspaper that those hurt on the job are routinely ignored, threatened or fired.

The newspaper found that one leading North Carolina poultry company, House of Raeford Farms, has hidden the extent of injuries inside its plants.

The company has compiled misleading injury reports, and employees say it has dismissed some workers' requests to see a doctor, even when they complained of debilitating pain.

House of Raeford says it follows the law, provides good care and strives to protect workers.

In an interview last month, Easley spoke out against the mistreatment of immigrant workers described in the series.

"This cannot be allowed to continue regardless of what budget situations are," he said.

Easley has also asked lawmakers to approve $720,000 more annually for the N.C. Department of Labor so that it can fill workplace inspector jobs and other positions now frozen due to federal funding cutbacks.

Bob Ford, executive director of the N.C. Poultry Federation, said the companies his group represents are "lukewarm to luke cold" about Easley's proposals.

The state's poultry plants are already meticulous about caring for injured workers and recording workplace injuries, he said.

"Our industry doesn't really think they need it," he said.

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