An OSHA news release about a cell tower inspection gave me reason to visit the White House’s Recovery.gov website.
Workers at an Alabama car seat manufacturer speak out about workplace illnesses; worker death at a Pennsylvania sugar plant could have been prevented; Los Angeles activists join fight for a living wage; and income inequality gets a laugh.
What do these places have in common: Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; Mountain View, California, where Google headquarters are located; Endicott, NY – the birthplace of IBM; and 389 Superfund sites in at least 48 states plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands? All are contaminated by trichloroethylene (TCE), a carcinogenic solvent. TCE’s health hazards are well-documented. So why are Republicans rushing to condemn EPA’s just-completed TCE risk assessment?
Injury Control & Violence
Not an “accident”: Chandler Warren suffers fatal work-related injury at FedEx Hub, Memphis, TN
This week’s snapshot of just one work-related fatality. This one occurred on July 2 at FedEx’s flagship sorting facility in Memphis, Tennessee.
Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting profiles the experience of BNSF railway employees who blow the whistle on safety problems.
Advocates for safer workplaces are looking to advance reforms at the state and local level. A new manual “Winning Safer Workplaces” is designed to enhance the conversation.
Government
Not an “accident”: Jason Nolte, 31, suffers fatal work-related injury at Aurora, Colorado company
This week’s snapshot of just one work-related fatality. This one occurred on June 21 at a window manufacturer in Aurora, Colorado.
The White House is poised to take action on workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers; Washington farmworkers make history with wage settlement; and OSHA investigates Amazon.com fulfillment centers after two worker deaths.
Environmental Health
Preventing chemical disasters: Labor and community groups say action must accompany words
Following the deadly April 17, 2013 explosion at the West, Texas fertilizer plant – and a series of other catastrophic incidents involving hazardous materials – President Obama directed federal agencies to improve chemical facility security and safety. Their report makes recommendations but does not mandate any immediate action. Meanwhile, dangerous chemical releases occur at workplaces around the US almost daily.
Government
Not an “accident”: Chris Williamson suffers fatal work-related injury in Florence, Alabama
This week’s snapshot of just one work-related fatality. This one occurred on June 4 on an electrical pole in Florence, Alabama.