The Latest Archives - The Tony Mazzocchi Center

BLOG - May 16, 2013
2013 Preventable Deaths: The Tragedy of Workplace Fatalities
BLOG - April 30, 2013
To Be Effective, OSHA Must Be Adequately Funded
BLOG - April 29, 2013
West Blast Obliterates Safety Lie
BLOG - April 22, 2013
Save the Date! 2013 National COSH Conference
National Worker Health and Safety Conference, Dec. 11 & 12, 2013
BLOG - April 16, 2013
RULES ON WORKER HEALTH
BLOG - April 08, 2013
Union Membership and Self-rated Health in the United States
BLOG - February 19, 2013
Prioritizing Real Breast Cancer Prevention
BLOG - January 30, 2013
Industrial Homicide at Upper Big Branch: Union Mines Are Safer
NEWS - January 10, 2013
USW/TMC Deploys SERT's Team to Hurricane Sandy Devastation
BLOG - January 08, 2013
America's Chemical Plants are a Threat to our National Security
BLOG - January 08, 2013
Excess Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Employed in Automobile Plastics Facilities
News
BLOG - December 12, 2012
USW HSE Department & Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) Staff receive NCOSH 2012 Award
USW Health, Safety & Environment and Tony Mazzocchi Center staff are recognized by the National Council for Occupational Safety & Health at their 2012 Conference in Baltimore, MD.
NEWS - November 29, 2012
Employment Opportunities
USW/TMC Opportunities
NEWS - September 14, 2012
ChemHAT: New chemical information tool for workers just launched
Workers wanting safer workplaces now have a new tool to help them thanks to the release of the ChemHAT (Chemical Hazard and Alternatives Toolkit) database.
BLOG - August 06, 2012
Updated DOL Online Enforcement Database
Department of Labor online, searchable enforcement database (2.5) now has additional datasets with unique search capabilities.
BLOG - July 18, 2012
REACH Regulation the Center of ETUC and IndustriAll Campaign
European Unions taking action to insure that companies know that hazardous chemicals need to be registered and accounted for.
BLOG - July 12, 2012
EPA Enhancing Work Plan Under the Toxic Substance Control Act
EPA identifies a work plan of 83 chemicals for further assessment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
BLOG - July 12, 2012
Toxic Substances in My Neighborhood?
Resource links allow you to see what chemicals are being released in your city, town, or destination. Know before you go!
BLOG - June 27, 2012
Pearl McGill - Early Health and Safety Activist
NEWS - June 11, 2012
Silica Exposure Level and use in Fracking
Silica not only and issue in fracking, the regulations regarding exposure warrant attention
BLOG - May 30, 2012
Success Stories-The Impact of Union Safety Training
USW Locals are making a difference in the working conditions at their sites and the lives of their members. View the success from other locals or share your success story!
BLOG - May 24, 2012
Dealing with the Heat
Heat stress
BLOG - May 23, 2012
Shift Work Sleep Disorders
Shift workers are at risk for injury and disease due to disruption in their sleep patterns from working night shifts, rotating shifts, and excessive overtime.
NEWS - May 22, 2012
CSB Releases New Video on Hot Work Hazards
CSB highlights what USW has long proclaimed: Hazards must be analyzed and controlled before, during and after hot work activities.
NEWS - May 18, 2012
Study Finds that OSHA Safety Inspections Don’t Hurt Businesses
Labor Officials support findings while industry leaders claim study fails to ask the right questions
BLOG - May 18, 2012
Air Today, Gone Tomorrow
NEWS - May 17, 2012
Discouraging Workers from Reporting Injuries and Illness
GAO report backs up what USW has long warned and campaigned against
BLOG - May 08, 2012
Making Dollars and Sense
Talking to the Bean Counters
NEWS - May 03, 2012
Delays in OSHA Policy Implementation Process Affect Workers Health & Safety
Ideas galore on ways to speed process for new worker safety protections
BLOG - May 02, 2012
Discussing Labor Safety History with Your Membership
The OSHA release of three censored videos provides your local with a tool that connects the past to the future of labor safety for new and younger members.
BLOG - April 30, 2012
Evaluation Report for Trainers
Review of workbook evaluations
BLOG - April 29, 2012
Workers Rights and Information
OSHA really can help!
BLOG - April 19, 2012
OSHA Program Grant Training Hours
Some common questions associated with Training Hours
NEWS - April 19, 2012
National Labor College
National Labor College to sell campus
BLOG - April 17, 2012
Back to Basics
Lessons learned at the NIEHS Trainers Exchange
BLOG - April 16, 2012
Safety Survey Identifies Local Safety Committee Training Opportunities
A District 2 survey reveals the types of training which could help a Local Union Safety Committee increase the amount of member participation at their facilities.
BLOG - April 11, 2012
Chemical Safety Board Hearing on DuPont Explosion
Hearing Set for April 19, 6 pm in Buffalo, NY
BLOG - April 03, 2012
OSHA 11C, The Whistleblower Act and You
Incentive and Safety - contradictory terms?
BLOG - April 03, 2012
Searching
Searching our site for the issues that you are dealing with.
BLOG - March 29, 2012
OSHA's Hazard Communication Regulations and The Global Harminazation System
The Right To Know - and to understand
BLOG - March 27, 2012
Triangle of Prevention, upcoming changes
Upcoming changes to TOP
BLOG - March 22, 2012
Hazard Mapping Hawaiian Style
Tesoro Refinery's New Approach to Hazard Mapping
BLOG - March 19, 2012
The 2012 USW & CWA Health, Safety & Environment Conference Comes to a Close
USW, CWA, and TMC use opportunity to reach out to over 1,400 members
BLOG - March 01, 2012
2012 United Steelworkers Health, Safety & Environment Conference
The 2012 United Steelworkers Health, Safety & Environment Conference will be held next week
BLOG - February 23, 2012
UBB Mine Superintendent Charged with Conspiracy, Cover-up, Methane Monitor Violations
Upper Big Branch Mine Superintendent Gary May has been accused in a criminal investigation
BLOG - February 15, 2012
USW and Materion Brush Urge OSHA to Set New Safety Standard for Beryllium Exposure
Union and company submit draft standard to agency
BLOG - February 06, 2012
Department of Labor Regulatory Agenda
Some feel language indication of election year
BLOG - January 20, 2012
$250 Billion a Year for Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
Cost of work-related injuries and illnesses comparable to health conditions that receive much more attention and research
BLOG - January 11, 2012
2010 Toxics Release Inventory Analysis not without Limitations
While still valid, limits in representation affect the accuracy of the EPA's 2010 Toxics Release Inventory
BLOG - December 16, 2011
A Fair and Healthy Apple for Everyone
With the holiday season in full swing, the MHSSN Newsletter shines a light on some of the hidden costs behind one of the most popular brands.
BLOG - December 15, 2011
Interactivity a Vital Component to Safety Training
Highly engaging methods of safety training more effective than less engaging methods of training
BLOG - December 13, 2011
MHSSN Newsletter Reports on Overseas Working Conditions
With the holidays just around the corner, individuals may want to consider the hidden costs behind the products they buy.
BLOG - December 08, 2011
Bhopal Disaster Survivors and Activists take Action
Protestors seek additional compensation for affected community
BLOG - December 07, 2011
Obstacles to Participation: The Top 9 Reasons why Workers Don’t Report Near Misses
Why some workers may not be reporting near misses
BLOG - December 06, 2011
MSHA Releases Upper Big Branch Report: Corporate Culture Root Cause
MSHA cites corporate culture as root cause for the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in 40 years
BLOG - December 06, 2011
Right-to-Know Still the Right Choice
Right To Know as important today as it was 25 years ago
BLOG - December 01, 2011
Health and Safety Number One Issue in National Oil Bargaining Talks
5 key areas the oil industry needs to address
BLOG - November 10, 2011
Decision on Keystone XL Pipeline Delayed
The Obama Administration has delayed their decision on the Keystone XL pipeline
BLOG - November 10, 2011
OSHA Battling Healthcare Injuries
OSHA is launching to help prevent workplace injuries within the healthcare industry
BLOG - November 04, 2011
Safe Mines Don't Mean Fewer Profits
Increasing safety in mines does not mean those mines are hindered in their growth
BLOG - November 04, 2011
40 Years of OSHA
OSHA is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the agency has put together a series of features dedicated to the occasion
BLOG - October 28, 2011
Day of Remembrance Set for 10/30
The U.S. Senate has set October 30th as the day of remembrance for workers of America's nuclear industry.
BLOG - October 26, 2011
UMWA Releases Upper Big Branch Report
The report entitled “Industrial Homicide” found that there were numerous violations that led to the initial methane explosion and subsequent dust
BLOG - October 21, 2011
BLS Releases 2010 Workplace Injury and Illness Report
The number of incidents works out to 3.5 workplace injuries or illnesses per every 100 workers.
BLOG - October 19, 2011
Union Only Session at the 2011 HSE Regional Conferences
Feedback indicates strengths and weaknesses
BLOG - October 14, 2011
10 Things to Know About Wall Street's Rapacious Attack on America
Les Leopold provides expert commentary on the Occupy Movement
BLOG - October 11, 2011
7 Regulatory Myths
The Fact and Fiction of Regulation
BLOG - October 07, 2011
Train Derailment Fuels Natural Gas Disaster in Illinois
Town Evacuated for Safety
BLOG - October 03, 2011
Indonesian Youth Call For Green Jobs
The International Conference for Children and Youth work to encourage environmental responsibility within industry
BLOG - September 30, 2011
2011 National Worker Health and Safety Training Conference and Summit Approaching
The USW has endorsed the event and will have several demonstrations throughout the conference
BLOG - September 30, 2011
CSB Files DuPont Report
"Fatal Exposure: Tragedy at DuPont"
BLOG - September 23, 2011
OSHA Publishes Revised Whistleblowers Manual
Manual provides new guidelines for program designed to protect workers who speak up about unsafe work environments
BLOG - September 20, 2011
OSHA Orders Rehiring of Whistleblowers
Victory for workers reporting unsafe conditions
BLOG - September 13, 2011
Upper Big Branch Reports Expected Soon
Nearly a year-and-a-half after an explosion at the Massey Upper Big Branch Mine in W. Va claimed 29 lives, several organizations are preparing to release reports of their findings
BLOG - September 13, 2011
MSHA Cites Mine for Miner Death
MSHA has cited a Louisville mining company for unsafe conditions that led to the death of a worker
BLOG - September 09, 2011
Whistleblower Fights for First-Responder Safety Measures
Ten years after 9/11, former-EPA scientist and well-known whistleblower fights to raise weak standards
BLOG - September 08, 2011
Behavioral Safety Can Have Negative Effects
Hazard Magazine indicates that blaming the worker can have negative effects
BLOG - August 30, 2011
2 Mines May Be Considered Pattern Offenders
MSHA has recently warned two West Virginian Mines that they run the risk of being labeled pattern offenders for failing to report various accidents
BLOG - August 29, 2011
OH&S to Host Web Event on Wed.
Virtual Conference will cover sleep apnea, gas detection problems, crane safety mistakes, and others
BLOG - August 26, 2011
Be Prepared for Hurricane Irene
With Hurricane Irene preparing to batter the east coast and with similar storms a possibility before the end of hurricane season, it's an important time to review the National Hurricane Center's guidelines for hurricane preparedness
BLOG - August 26, 2011
Clean Air Rights For the Poor
Civil rights and environmental concerns are starting to mix, according the NAACP, with poor people and minorities more often subjected to dangerous environmental concerns.
BLOG - August 19, 2011
2011 USW Convention Wraps Up, Full Coverage Online
Check out many highlights from the convention
BLOG - August 16, 2011
OSHA Releases Heat-Related Mobile App
App meant to help workers handle the extreme heat
BLOG - August 12, 2011
MSHA Releases New Tools for Miners
MSHA has put together a list of rules and responsibilities for miners to help them better protect themselves from dangers in the workplace
BLOG - August 11, 2011
OSHA Lists the Most Severe Violators of Safety Regulations
OSHA recently published a 4-page PDF that lists the 147 most serious violators of federal safety violations
BLOG - August 05, 2011
Another Preventable Death as Worker Dies in Steel Structure Collapse
One man is dead and another injured following the collapse of an in-construction steel structure in San Marcos, TX earlier this week.
BLOG - August 04, 2011
OSHA Further Protecting Whistleblowers
OSHA has recently taken measures to increase it's ability to protect whistle-blowers from companies trying to retaliate against them for exposing dangers in the workplace.
BLOG - July 29, 2011
Chemical C8 May Be Linked to Kidney Disease, Panel Says
A three-scientist panel has found that workers exposed to the chemical C8 at a DuPont facility in West Virginia have significantly higher deaths from liver disease
BLOG - July 29, 2011
OSHA Guidelines For New Businesses
An important step for new businesses is to make sure that they are in compliance with OSHA guidelines and doing everything possible to keep workers safe
BLOG - July 27, 2011
MSHA Approves New Emergency Comm. Tech
Lockhead Martin has developed new emergency communication technology for mines that work wirelessly and is intended to increase safety during emergency situations.
BLOG - July 22, 2011
Red Cross Publishes Heat Safety Checklist
Steps to recognize and prevent heat-related illness
BLOG - July 20, 2011
Scandal Among Money Made for BP Cleanup
After the BP oil spill, ProPublica found evidence of exorbitant amounts of money given out for cleanup that may have been used less than honestly.
BLOG - July 15, 2011
MSHA Seeks To Collect Nearly $240,000 in Unpaid Fines
"Mine operators cannot be permitted to violate mine safety laws and simply refuse to pay penalties assessed for those violations"
BLOG - July 14, 2011
PBS Segment Looks at OSHA VPP Sites, USW Staffer Featured
PBS Need to Know series focused this week on safety lapses within presumed-safe OSHA VPP sites. The USW's own Mike Wright was interviewed for the feature.
BLOG - July 14, 2011
Even OSHA's Safest Worksites Found Wanting
Workplaces that seem to be following regulations can still pose a risk to workers
BLOG - July 08, 2011
Fatal Electrocution Leads to Six-Figure Fines for Miss. Manufacturer
Howard Industries Inc. in Ellisville, Miss., has been issued $169,500 in fines by OSHA for 17 violations after an investigation of the facility following the January electrocution death of a worker
BLOG - July 08, 2011
Improving Risk Assessment
Dan Hartshorn at OHSonline.com has put together an excellent article about the dangers of using data the wrong way when assessing risk.
BLOG - July 06, 2011
OSHA Soliciting Information About Infectious Diseases
OSHA is working to further identify incidents of infectious illness in the workplace and what can be done to prevent the spread of such diseases.
BLOG - July 01, 2011
Local USW Leader Responds to OSHA Penalties Against Honeywell Plant
USW chapter leader responds to safety violations at locked out facility
BLOG - July 01, 2011
OSHA Sues to Protect Whistleblower
OSHA is suing CMM Realty Inc. because they allegedly terminated an employee after that employee reported unsafe working conditions
BLOG - June 29, 2011
OSHA's Recordkeeping Advisor Useful to Local Unions
OSHA's new recordkeeping assistant helps both employers and local unions maintain proper records of workplace accidents and keeps OSHA up to date on incidents
BLOG - June 24, 2011
Honeywell Metropolis Plant Fined $119k
The Honeywell Plant in Metropolis, Illinois just received $119,000 in fines from OSHA following 17 serious violations stemming from a Dec. 22, 2010 release of hydrogen fluoride vapor at the facility
BLOG - June 24, 2011
OSHA Updates Injury Reporting
"These proposed recordkeeping updates will better enable OSHA, employers and workers to identify hazards in high-risk worksites"
BLOG - June 17, 2011
Grants Available for Health and Safety Programs
OSHA is currently soliciting applications for $4.7 Million in grant funds intended to train workers in identifying dangers in the workplace
BLOG - June 16, 2011
Pesticide Drift a Serious Concern
The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety has released a new study that confirms serious risks for agricultural workers who must work near fields where large quantities of pesticides have been sprayed.
BLOG - June 13, 2011
Formaldehyde, Others Added to List of Human Carcinogens
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, raising the total number of substances to 240
BLOG - June 10, 2011
Green Industries Struggling in U.S.
Though the reasons are myriad, foreign energy efficiency companies are finding there is a serious lack of green industry in the US and are therefore rushing to fill that void.
BLOG - June 08, 2011
New OSHA Program To Protect Workers in Primary Metals Industries
OSHA has recently established a National Emphasis Program for the Primary Metal Industries intended to identify and reduce or eliminate chemical and physical hazards in industries that refine metals from rocks containing iron, led, nickel and tin.
BLOG - June 08, 2011
Employer Carelessness, Not Chance, Leads to Worker Deaths
Celeste Monforton of The Pump Handle has just published a piece looking at where blame can be assessed for worker fatalities.
BLOG - June 03, 2011
ASSE Gives Disaster Cleanup Tips
“The inclement weather and devastation caused is the most severe in over half a century,” said ASSE President Darryl C. Hill, Ph.D., CSP.
BLOG - June 02, 2011
OSHA Fines AMD $1.2 Million
OSHA has issued a fine of $1.2 million to AMD Industriest, Inc., for forcing five employees to remove asbestos without proper protection, leaving them vulnerable to the cancer causing agents within the chemical.
BLOG - May 27, 2011
Join the Social Media Revolution!
The social networking revolution is here to stay so join the conversation by becoming part of the United Steelworker’s growing new media community.
BLOG - May 27, 2011
OSHA Releases New Guidelines for Residential Construction
OSHA has released a new presentation to teach residential construction companies how to properly protect their employees from falling and hurting themselves on the job.
BLOG - May 26, 2011
"Massey Hasn't Changed"
Despite the tragedy at the Massey Upper Big Branch mine last year, according to a new report on the tragedy, the company has not changed and has done little to prevent a new disaster.
BLOG - May 20, 2011
Report Finds Massey at Fault
A new report has been released by a top mine regulator citing the Massey Energy in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster in April of last year. From the Wall Street Journal: The 120-page report released Thursday by J. Davitt McAteer, the top mine regulator
BLOG - May 19, 2011
Washington Requires Businesses To Correct Hazards During Appeal
Recent legislation requires companies to fix hazards even if they are appealing the citation
BLOG - May 17, 2011
OSHA Introduces Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Webpage
OSHA recently introduced a webpage dedicated to the injury and illness prevention programs they see saving lives in American workplaces.
BLOG - May 11, 2011
OSHA Updates Shipyard Regulations
OSHA has recently made updates to their shipyard regulations, mostly concerning electrical equipment, to take effect August 1, 2011.
BLOG - May 06, 2011
OSHA Holds Combustible Dust Forum
Forum being held in an effort develop new regulations for preventing combustible dust explosions
BLOG - May 02, 2011
OSHA Releases New Heat Safety Program
OSHA has released a new program meant to battle heat related injuries in the workplace. From OSHA's website: "If you're working outdoors, you're at risk for heat-related illnesses that can cause serious medical problems and even death," said Secretary So
BLOG - April 29, 2011
Fix the Hazards; Do Not Blame the Workers
By Leo W. Gerard, USW International President
BLOG - April 28, 2011
TMC Summer Internship
Please Contact Mike Gill at mgill@uswtmc.org not later than May 13, 2011.
BLOG - April 26, 2011
USW Opens First Day of Safety Conference to All Members
The USW has decided to open the first day of the regional Health, Safety and Environment Conference being held in Pittsburgh Monday May 16 to all union members
BLOG - April 22, 2011
OSHA Roofing Guidelines Upheld in Appeals Court
OSHA's new guidelines requiring fall protection equipment for all construction workers working on residential roofs were upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals last week after a challenge from the National Roofing Contractors Association
BLOG - April 21, 2011
CSB Continues To Investirgate Tesoro Incident
The Chemical Safety Board has put together a video update covering the latest developments in their investigation into the Tesoro Refinery incident of last April. From the CSB site: Marking the one year anniversary of the tragic accident at the Tesoro Re
BLOG - April 15, 2011
OSHA Issues New Program Requirements to Strengthen Outreach Training Program
The program, of which the TMC is a member, teaches workers to avoid workplace hazards by understanding and complying with OSHA standards.
BLOG - April 14, 2011
NCOSH Releases 100 Year Report on Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
The National Council for Occupational Health and Safety, along with the Cry Wolf Project, have released a report commemorating the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire, an important milestone in the history of workplace health and safety
BLOG - April 08, 2011
MSHA Unveils Online Tool for Self-Policing
MSHA has just released a new web-based tool that allows miners and mine operators to track their own facility for patterns of safety violations
BLOG - April 08, 2011
NW Ohio Safety & Health Day
A workplace safety organization in Ohio is holding a free health and safety event on May 18 in Perrysburg, Ohio.
BLOG - March 30, 2011
A Brief History of Health Risks in the American Workplace
A brief overview of recent history in workplaces shows some types of occupations that put their employees in danger of health risks
BLOG - March 24, 2011
Health And Safety Apps For Your Smartphone
The folks over at Occupational Health and Safety have put together a great list of smartphone apps to help you in health, safety and environment work
BLOG - March 23, 2011
Analysts Predict Natural Gas Surge in Wake of Japanese Nuclear Crisis
The New York Times is reporting that the nuclear crisis in Japan may have a direct impact on American drilling, as global business analysts predict a surge in natural gas demand in the coming weeks and years
BLOG - March 16, 2011
Stability of U.S. Nuclear Plants in Question in Wake of Japan Disaster
With the nuclear situation in Japan teetering on the edge of disaster, some in the U.S. are examining the vulnerability of domestic reactors during a natural disaster
BLOG - March 15, 2011
Collective Bargaining Rights Must Be Maintained for Public Workers
By Sander Levin U.S. Representative, D-Michigan
BLOG - March 15, 2011
OSHA Releases New Distracted Driving Materials
OSHA has released a new brochure intended to educate workers about the dangers of texting while driving and driving while distracted
BLOG - March 14, 2011
Labor Symposium to Mark Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Centennial
The AFL-CIO is joining with several other unions and labor groups to present a symposium commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
BLOG - March 14, 2011
Michaels Writes WSJ Editorial
OSHA Director David Michaels defended OSHA regulations in an editorial for the Wall Street Journal last week, writing that companies that follow safety guidelines are companies that operate more efficiently
BLOG - March 11, 2011
PA May Limit Environmental Regulations
The PA Governor, Tom Corbett, has released a budget proposal that will cut back on environmental permits and restrictions, potentially putting recent advances in environmental regulations at risk
BLOG - March 10, 2011
Tox21 Robot to Test 10,000 Chemicals
A new phase in the Tox21 collaboration between several federal agencies has arrived as a robot system has been out in place to study over 10,000 chemicals
BLOG - March 10, 2011
OSHA Helps Small Business With Cranes Rules
OSHA has released a guide to help small businesses understand OSHA's new cranes and derricks rules.
BLOG - March 09, 2011
2010 Former Worker Medical Screening Program Annual Report Published
Annual Report posted online for anyone to view
BLOG - March 09, 2011
Steelworkers Help Green Light New Energy-Efficient Bulbs
By Mike Hall AFL-CIO Senior Writer
BLOG - March 08, 2011
Still No Answers on Wy. Blowout as Drillers Apply for Permit
Lack of answers causing residents to be concerned over drilling prospects
BLOG - March 08, 2011
EPA Scrutinizes PA River Pollution
While tests show that the radioactive levels are at or below safe levels for drinking water in Pennsylvania, the EPA has called for further investigations into waste-water processing plants and drinking water samples
BLOG - March 07, 2011
WNYSC Celebrates 75 Years
The Western New York Safety Conference is celebrating 75 years of working to protect the health and safety of workers
BLOG - March 07, 2011
Potential Effect of Oil Spill in Alaska to be Studied
While the merits of Alaskan drilling are being debated as the price of foreign oil rises, the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has ordered a study on what the effects of a large oil spill would be on Alaska's northwest coast.
BLOG - March 04, 2011
NIOSH Conducts Healthcare Worker Survey
NIOSH is conducting a survey of healthcare workers to determine best safety practices for working around dangerous chemicals
BLOG - March 03, 2011
EPA Efforts Often Thwarted by Industry Groups
The practice of ignoring EPA science and recommendations has been going on for decades, according to a recent article by the New York Times
BLOG - March 03, 2011
Dan Rather Talks Green Energy
BLOG - March 02, 2011
Widow Notes Progress Following Worker Death, OSHA Fines Questioned
Fines for violations not as powerful as they should be
BLOG - March 02, 2011
Workers Memorial Day Materials Available Now
The AFL-CIO has posted materials for the Workers Memorial Day this year. The day of mourning is April 28th, and you can head over to the AFL-CIO website to download information packets, posters and sticker images.
BLOG - March 01, 2011
US Issues First Deepwater Drilling Permit Since Gulf Spill
Noble Energy was awarded the first new deepwater drilling permit by the Interior Dept. this week, almost four months after the drilling moratorium was lifted and nearly a year after the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
BLOG - March 01, 2011
Toxic Acid Poses Risk
ConocoPhillips and Hydrofuorice acid
BLOG - February 28, 2011
Honeywell Ordered to Comply with OSHA Investigations
USW Local 7-669 of Metropolis, IL has released a statement after a court ruling ensured that the Honeywell facility involved in a hydrofluoric acid spill must fully comply with OSHA inspections, including union involvement.
BLOG - February 28, 2011
Save The Date: National COSH Conference in October
Just a quick save the date: the National COSH (more information on them here) is planning on holding a national health and safety conference in Washington DC on October 28th and 29th
BLOG - February 25, 2011
CA Company Using Solar Power to Procure Oil
California company GlassPoint has begun using solar power to produce the steam necessary to extract oil from older oil fields.
BLOG - February 25, 2011
NIH and NIEHS Conduct Gulf Cleanup Worker Safety Study
The National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies are currently conducting a study of the health of workers currently cleaning up the gulf oil spill.
BLOG - February 24, 2011
Worker Deaths Belie Politicians Portrayal of Public Employees
By Mike Hall AFL-CIO Senior Writer Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), New Jersey Chris Christie (R) and politicians around the nation are running campaigns to demonize public employees and
BLOG - February 24, 2011
OSHA Celebrates 40 Years
They've put together a fascinating timeline of progress to show how far they've come since 1970.
BLOG - February 23, 2011
EPA Allows Union/Worker Involvement in Inspections
The EPA announced on Feb. 11 that workers and union representatives may now participate fully in EPA Clean Air Act inspections. The move mirrors that of OSHA, which allows the same participation during its facility inspections.
BLOG - February 23, 2011
Unions and Environmentalists Join In Protests For Worker Safety
Union and environmental leaders have joined through the BlueGreen Alliance to support the EPA's Clean Air Act, especially its ability to make worker's safer through pollution controls.
BLOG - February 22, 2011
MSHA Posts Two Videos On Preventing Explosions
The explosions are preventable, and it's important for employers and employees to know the danger if proper precautions aren't taken.
BLOG - February 22, 2011
NIOSH Issues Beryllium Alert for Levels Below OSHA Standards
NIOSH has just issued an alert to workers exposed to beryllium in a variety of industries, calling for more study of its affects on workers
BLOG - February 17, 2011
U.S. Emissions Hit Decade-plus Low
Due both to decreased industrial production and auto travel during the recession and to the spread of green technology and practices, U.S. emissions for 2009 hit their lowest level since 1995.
BLOG - February 17, 2011
Human Life Worth More Than Ever
Federal regulatory agencies are reporting higher numbers than ever when placing a monetary value for human life. This number is important because it dictates how much money is spent to prevent deaths.
BLOG - February 16, 2011
Ca. Imposes Large Fine on Biomass Company for Ozone Pollution
The California EPA has issued a nearly $1 million fine - highly unusual in CA regulatory history - to Global Ampersand of Boston, in relation to Ozone pollution from two of its biomass burning facilities in San Joaquin Valley, CA.
BLOG - February 16, 2011
Trans-Alaskan Pipeline Unsafe
The trans-Alaskan pipeline has been deemed unsafe by federal regulators
BLOG - February 15, 2011
Frustration Grows Over Gulf Spill Claims Process
With less than $4 billion of the $20 billion available paid out to claims to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, lawmakers and Gulf Coast residents are starting to point fingers and denounce the so-called 'transparency' of the process.
BLOG - February 15, 2011
Kansas Company Celebrates 10 Years of Safety
Through vigilant safety practices, they have kept their employees safe and are a great example to other companies.
BLOG - February 14, 2011
OSHA Produces Video on Proper Respirator Use
Last week, OSHA released an instructional video on proper respirator use for workers exposed to airborne hazards in the healthcare industry. OSHA estimates that 5 million workers wear respirators every day in the U.S.
BLOG - February 14, 2011
Egyptian Protestors Turn To Labor Revolution
Now that Mubarak has been removed in Egypt, state workers have continued protests, demanding better pay and better working conditions for police officers, ambulance drivers and others.
BLOG - February 11, 2011
CSB Releases Video on Anniversary of Kleen Energy
On the one-year anniversary of the explosion at the Kleen Energy plant in Connecticut that claimed the lives of six workers, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has released a video detailing the dangers of releasing flammable gas in work areas.
BLOG - February 11, 2011
Wind Farms in Gulf Coast Controversial
Wind farms have been popping up around the Gulf Coast lately, but some have concerns, both environmentally and economically.
BLOG - February 10, 2011
OSHA Fines Ga. Company $55k for Combustible Dust Violations
OSHA has fined Georgia's Protech Environmental South Inc. over $55,000 following an inspection that revealed nearly 50 violations
BLOG - February 10, 2011
PA's Former Environmental Chief Talks Gas Drilling
Industry growing faster than the legislation meant to keep it in check
BLOG - February 09, 2011
NLRB Defends Right to Use Facebook to Discuss Workplace Conditions
The National Labor Relations Board has reached a settlement on the case of a Connecticut ambulance worker who was fired for criticizing her superior on Facebook.
BLOG - February 09, 2011
New York May Use Sewage As Renewable Energy
New York City's department of Environmental Protection has suggested recently that it may be possible to turn the city's waste and sewage into a source of renewable energy.
BLOG - February 08, 2011
Issa Regulation Targeting Continues
Rep. Darrel Issa's ongoing campaign to identify regulations that impede job growth has entered a new phase, as he has now released the responses to his inquiry by industry groups.
BLOG - February 08, 2011
MSHA Reaches Settlement With Mining Company
The Department of Labor has announced that it has reached a settlement with Comunidad Agricola Bianchi Inc., a Puerto Rican mining company.
BLOG - February 07, 2011
EPA Designs New Labels For Car Emissions
The new system will make it easier for green cars to be identified and, hopefully, make those environmentally-conscious more attractive to consumers
BLOG - February 07, 2011
Labor Next Gen Moves Forward with Young Worker Advisory Council
By Nora Frederickson AFL-CIO Media fellow
BLOG - February 04, 2011
MSHA Extending Comment Period for Proposed Black Lung Regulations
MSHA has announced the extension of the comment period for their proposed rule to May 2. The proposal was published on October 19, and comes during Phase II of the regulator's campaign called 'End Black Lung: Act Now'.
BLOG - February 04, 2011
Main Demands More Safety For W. Va. Mines
MSHA chief Joe Main charged West Virginian Coal Mining Companies with striving for better safety in the mines, yesterday, saying that more must be done to ensure workers' safety.
BLOG - February 03, 2011
MSHA Proposes New Pattern of Violation Rule
The proposed rule will make it easier to identify companies who repeatedly put their employees at risk and prosecute them adequately
BLOG - February 02, 2011
New OSHA Guidelines for Commercial Home Builders
OSHA has introduced new guidelines to help protect commercial home builders who do work above 6 feet.
BLOG - February 02, 2011
EPA Sets Limit on Chemical in Drinking Water
The EPA announced today that they're setting the first limits on the rocket fuel chemical Perchlorate's presence in drinking water supplies. The chemical has been linked to thyroid conditions when ingested at high levels.
BLOG - February 01, 2011
UMass Lowell Publishes Lessons Learned
UMASS Lowell's Center for Sustainable Production (LCSP) has just released Lessons Learned: Solutions for Workplace Safety and Health, a report focusing on six case studies of workers overcoming and eliminating workplace hazards.
BLOG - February 01, 2011
Government Releases New Diet Suggestions
Drink water instead of soda, eat more fruits and vegetables, and eat less.
BLOG - January 31, 2011
The Role of Labor in Egyptian Unrest
BLOG - January 31, 2011
Michaels Says OSHA Not Killing Jobs
OSHA director David Michaels, in a recent speech, acknowledged that OSHA was under attack for allegedly making it harder for companies to offer jobs, but countered that the agency's only concern is making sure those jobs are safe.
BLOG - January 27, 2011
OSHA Takes Back Musculoskeletal Column
OSHA has announced that it has temporarily removed their proposal to add a column for work-related musculoskeletal disorders on employer injury and illness logs.
BLOG - January 26, 2011
Fortune Mag: BP Spill "Was a Long Time in the Making"
Piece sheds light on the unprecedented magnitude of the disaster
BLOG - January 25, 2011
Noise Exposure Reinterpretation Withdrawn
Inherent cost forces OSHA to look for other ways to address noise exposure hazards.
BLOG - January 24, 2011
Leaky Trans Alaskan Pipeline was Scheduled for Replacement in 2008
Revelation highlights deficiencies in the system
BLOG - January 20, 2011
Bureaucracy Stands in the Way of Green Energy
The taxes and intricacies of individual town bureaucracies has put quite the roadblock in the way of green energy companies.
BLOG - January 19, 2011
California to Study Nanometal Monitoring
California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has asked state nanotech companies to disclose how they track their use of nanometals after fears have risen that these metals may have lasting negative effects on the environment.
BLOG - January 19, 2011
Mining Deaths Double In 2010, MSHA Pledges Change
2010 saw 71 mine related fatalities, up from 34 in 2009. This astounding increase in deaths is one that must be addressed swiftly and aggressively. “While 2010 will be remembered for the explosion that killed 29 men at the Upper Big Branch mine, we are
BLOG - January 18, 2011
Mumbai Housing Demolished For Environmental Reasons
Building bought by political figures and military officials in violation of environmental zoning laws
BLOG - January 17, 2011
Oil and Auto Groups Respond to Issa Inquiry
Fuel economy standards impeding job growth
BLOG - January 17, 2011
Recession Results In Cleaner Air
Besides the fact that both this Congress and the previous one were vehemently opposed to any sort of emissions regulations, it would seem that the recession has forced fewer emissions on its own.
BLOG - January 14, 2011
EPA Finds Dump Not the Cause of CA Birth Defects
EPA officials have released the much-anticipated results of a study examining the carcinogens in the largest waste dump in the western U.S.
BLOG - January 14, 2011
Making Gasoline From Waste
A new EPA regulation requires that companies who produce gasoline must mix in 6 million gallons of celluosic ethanol in an effort to make gasoline more green.
BLOG - January 13, 2011
U.S. Park Police Chief is Reinstated Seven Years After Whistle-blowing
The NY Times is reporting that Teresa Chambers, the whistleblower who was fired from her position as Chief of the U.S. Park Police for telling reporters that her department was understaffed, is being reinstated into her position following a court ruling.
BLOG - January 13, 2011
2010 Ties 2005 For Hottest Year On Record
NASA and NOAA reported yesterday that 2010 was the wettest year since record-keeping begin in 1880 and tied 2005 for the hottest year on record. The average heat for 2010 was 1.12 degrees hotter than the 20th century average of 57 degree Fahrenheit.
BLOG - January 12, 2011
Oil Leak Prompts 27-Month High in Price
Oil prices have hit a 27-month high this morning, in large part due to an oil leak in an Alaskan pipeline owned partly by BP. US crude now costs $91.65 a b
BLOG - January 11, 2011
Local Union Brings EPA Into Fight Over Ambulance Cleaners
100 paramedics report illness as a result of the chemicals used to clean the inside of ambulances
BLOG - January 11, 2011
Latest Alaska Pipeline Leak Puts Spotlight on Aging System
A leak in the Trans Alaskan Pipeline System (TAPS) discovered over the weekend has halted most oil production on Alaska's North Slope.
BLOG - January 07, 2011
Deepwater Panel Finds Systemic Flaws
According to a study by the Presidential panel, the Deepwater spill was wholly preventable; the result of several companies cutting corners to save money and government agencies not adequately policing them.
BLOG - January 06, 2011
OSHA Holds Webinar on Regulatory Agenda
OSHA head David Michaels hosted an online Q & A session this week to discuss the regulator's agenda for 2011.
BLOG - January 04, 2011
Issa Probes Industry Groups in Look at Regulations
Rep. Darrell Issa, the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has introduced a new way to attack the job crisis: eliminate regulations that hamper industry growth.
BLOG - January 03, 2011
Global Warming Clashes With Peer Reviews
There have been developments in recent weeks as new studies on the warming in Antarctica and the behavior of clouds in relation to greenhouse gases have been called into question.
BLOG - December 23, 2010
Toxic Acid Leaks from Honeywell Plant that Locked Out Steelworkers
Honeywell officials admitted yesterday that toxic hydrofluoric acid leaked for approximately two hours Tuesday from its Metropolis uranium conversion facility, where Honeywell locked out 228 members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7-669 on June 28.
BLOG - December 21, 2010
Mike Wright Brings Comments to CSB Panel
USW Health, Safety & Environment Director comments from the Chemical Safety Board's panel on the gulf oil spill
BLOG - December 17, 2010
CSB Holds Panel on Deepwater Spill
The Chemical Safety Board held a day of panel discussions on Wednesday to determine what could have been done differently to prevent the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
BLOG - December 14, 2010
Oil-Drilling Inspectors Ill-equipped
BLOG - December 13, 2010
'You Can Invest in Safety Now, or You Can Pay for Failure Later'
The headline is a remark to be delivered by William K. Reilly, co-chairman of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, at a Wednesday conference of the lawyers for American oil companies.
BLOG - December 10, 2010
New Report Makes Energy and Environment Predictions
As electricity and energy fluctuate in demand with the economy, the predictions for future energy usage provide interesting insights into the interaction between demand and renewable energy.
BLOG - December 09, 2010
CrisisWiki Gives Public Access to Disaster Data
Following the Haiti earthquake, NPR started CrisisWiki, an online database of emergency preparedness and disaster relief information.
BLOG - December 08, 2010
Protecting health by eliminating hazards: New APHA policy statements take proactive approach to preventing illness and injury
New policy includes proactive strategies to reduce illness and injury caused by overexposure to hazardous chemical
BLOG - December 06, 2010
Study: Safety is Workers' Top Priority
Topping a list that included wages, overtime, and sick pay, a resounding 85% of workers polled answered that safety is their primary concern at their workplace
BLOG - December 02, 2010
Spill Panel Opens Public Forum
The federal panel investigating the BP oil spill opened their deliberations to public discourse today. The discussions continue tomorrow, and can be viewed live here.
BLOG - November 30, 2010
Second Blast Dashes Hopes for New Zealand Mine Rescue
BLOG - November 30, 2010
MSHA Threatens To Close 13 Mines
MSHA has put 13 mines on notice due to their persistent record of violations
BLOG - November 23, 2010
Worker Training & Community Revitalization: A Stimulus Success Story
BLOG - November 23, 2010
CDC Offers Training Modules for Environmental Tracking Network
The CDC's National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network is perhaps the finest tool available for quickly searching comprehensive public health data.
BLOG - November 23, 2010
Oil Spill Commission Releases Reports
The president's oil spill commission released their findings yesterday, and they're far from favorable.
BLOG - November 22, 2010
NHTSA and EPA Propose New Efficiency and Emissions Standards
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have recently proposed new emissions and fuel efficiency standards, set to be in full effect by 2018
BLOG - November 19, 2010
Distressing Video From Bhopal, India
ESPN releases video documenting the lingering effects
BLOG - November 18, 2010
OSHA Invites Public to Discuss Globally Harmonized System for Chemicals
BLOG - November 17, 2010
Life in a Mining Town
International President Leo W. Gerard recalls his life growing up in the mining town of Sudbury, Ontario in this United Steelworker video
BLOG - November 16, 2010
OSHA to Hold Hearing on General Labor PPE Standards
OSHA intends to bring to general labor the same safety standards found in the construction and maritime industries when they update the Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment standards early next year
BLOG - November 12, 2010
MSHA Schedules Black Lung Hearings
Black lung has killed more than 10,000 miners in the last 10 years, and MSHA is hoping to do something further to prevent this number from growing.
BLOG - November 10, 2010
Following Study Results, USW Calls for CT Screens for Lung Cancer
A National Cancer Institute study of 53,000 30-year smokers found that CT scans may succeed in early detection of lung cancer at a rate 20% higher than traditional x-rays
BLOG - November 09, 2010
Massey Mine Closing Points to Hopeful Trend
BLOG - November 08, 2010
BOEMRE Expedition Finds Damaged Coral from BP Spill
The first evidence of long-term environmental damage stemming from the Deepwater Horizon disaster has come in the form of damaged coral, according to an extended study led by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
BLOG - November 04, 2010
Labor Dept. Orders Closing of Massey Mine
The Labor Dept. has ordered the Massey Energy Freedom Mine in Kentucky to close following multiple safety violations that came to national attention after an explosion in the company's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia killed 29 workers this year.
BLOG - November 02, 2010
EPA Sets News Limits For Truck Emissions
The EPA has announced new standards for truck and bus emissions intended to cut emissions by 20%, limiting pollution even further
BLOG - October 27, 2010
Michaels Shares Plans to Make OSHA Stronger
Letter addresses different strategies OSHA is employing
BLOG - October 24, 2010
A Look at Chemical Exposure
BLOG - October 19, 2010
Euphoria in Chile ought to move US to act on health, safety
I WATCHED with tears running down my face as the first trapped miner in Chile came out of the drilled rescue shaft in a capsule. Later, as psychologists pontificated about effects of trauma and media-savvy consultants clamored to talk about work team dyna
BLOG - October 18, 2010
CSB Seeks Investigator for the Deepwater Horizon
On June 21st the U.S. Chemical Safety Board announced its intention to investigate the root causes of the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout accident and is seeking an investigator to work on this project. Senior Investigator for the project will be Bill Hoyle
BLOG - October 16, 2010
Cancer-Causing Chemicals Found After BP Spill
According to a recent LA Times article, levels of cancer-causing pollutants rose significantly in the gulf following the BP oil spill. "It's an incredibly huge jump in concentration in a natural environment," said Kim Anderson, the study administrator and
BLOG - October 13, 2010
Have you heard of Working America's Job Tracker
Job Tracker is a web-based database that provides information on workplaces that have received OSHA citations. It also provides information about workplaces that have lost lost/exported jobs, had layoffs, and/or have had National Labor Relations Act or O
BLOG - October 07, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Panel of Occupational Injury Experts
The closing plenary of the conference took place this afternoon, to be followed by three remaining workshop sessions. Bud Hudspith, H&S Advisor for the U.K. Unite Union, opened the plenary by reviewing the Buncefield Depot explosion in the U.K., an even
BLOG - October 07, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Panel of Local Union Leaders
This morning's plenary featured a panel of local union leaders. Joe Solomon of USW Local 12-591 opened the session by speaking about the aftermath and consequences of the Tesoro refinery disaster that took the life of five workers in his hometown of Anac
BLOG - October 06, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Panel of Top Four Regulators
This afternoon's plenary marked the first ever panel of the heads of the top four U.S. regulatory agencies for worker safety. The panelists were David Michaels, Director of OSHA, Joe Main, Director of MSHA, Rafael Moure-Eraso, Chairman of the U.S. Chemica
BLOG - October 06, 2010
Workshop Spotlight: Life's Lesson
The next workshop in the spotlight is"Life Lessons Learned from ERT Experiences." USW Emergency Response Team Coordinator Allan McDougal teaches the class, and offers this as his introduction: "Life's Lesson is a workshop that I developed through my exper
BLOG - October 06, 2010
Workshop Spotlight: Occupational Disease Investigation
Today we'll be taking a look at some of the classes making up the workshop portion of conference activities. Beginning today, workshops are attended by both union member and management representatives. First, we take a look at a workshop entitled,"Making
BLOG - October 06, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: President Gerard Takes the Stage
This morning's activities marked the beginning of the joint union-management portion of the conference. The joint plenary opened with a rolling off of the names of every USW member killed on the job this past year. Next was a video featuring USW Internati
BLOG - October 06, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Tuesday Afternoon
This afternoon's activities marked the close of the union-only portion of the conference. The organizers used the time to end on a positive note, presenting several awards to local unions for their exemplary work with health, safety, and the environment.
BLOG - October 05, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Tuesday Morning
This morning’s conference activities again began with a plenary of all union attendees, opening with a speech from Peg Seminario, Director of Occupational Safety and Health for the AFL-CIO. Seminario detailed the work of her organization with OSHA, MSHA
BLOG - October 05, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference: Monday Afternoon
This afternoon’s activities began with the first round of workshops for attendees. The workshops are a series of classes focused on one specific area or issue in the workplace. Led by USW and Tony Mazzochi Center facilitators, the workshops are comprised
BLOG - October 04, 2010
2010 USW HSE Conference Kicks Off
The 2010 USW HSE Conference kicked off this morning at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, with two rounds of morning plenaries. The morning's sessions were open to all USW members in attendance, who will be joined later in the week by
BLOG - September 30, 2010
Michaels Uses Kleen Energy Explosion as Warning to Other Power Plants
We've reported before about the Kleen Energy explosion, and the incident is once again in the headlines, as OSHA head Dr. David Michaels has issued a letter to other power plants in attempt to avoid future, similar explosions. The letter talks of the enti
BLOG - September 22, 2010
USWTMC/CWA BEGIN TRAINING INTEGRATION
The United Steelworkers Tony Mazzocchi Center, USWTMC and the Communication Workers of America conducted its first joint integration training on September 14-17 at the USW Pittsburgh Headquarters. The training consisted of Effective Health and Safety Com
BLOG - September 16, 2010
Even when you win, the march to justice can be a slow process.
In 1994 I started working in health & safety at the United Rubber Workers. There was a rich tradition of health and safety at the URW and much work to be done. One project that I put on my list of things to do that first day was the OSHA case at Da
BLOG - September 14, 2010
Worker Fatigue Cause For Concern
Thanks to the urging of Public Citizen, a labor advocacy group calling for regulation in the area of medical resident hours, Dr. David Michaels, head of OSHA, has issued a statement: We are very concerned about medical residents working extremely long hou
BLOG - September 10, 2010
Green Jobs on the Rise
Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series Database; analysis by Pew Center on the States and Collaborative Economics. Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the
BLOG - September 08, 2010
Explosion Rocks Honeywell Uranium Facility Run by Scab Workers
By Mike Elk, posted September 7, 2010 in The Hunnington Post. Union workers have been locked out at the uranium enrichment facility in Metropolis, Illinois for two months now after contract negotiations broke down over Honeywell's demand that workers give
BLOG - September 03, 2010
BP to Pay $50.6 Million to Resolve US Labor Dept. Litigation
An agreement earlier this month between OSHA and the executives of BP has ensured that the oil giant will pay for the safety violations that led to the 2005 Texas City explosion and continued thereafter. BP will pay the full fine of $50.6 million, after
BLOG - September 02, 2010
23,000 Workers Affected by Gulf Oil Drill Ban
A moratorium on deep-sea oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico will put 9,000 people out of a job and affect an additional 14,000 jobs, according to federal findings published in July. A six-month ban issued in June was struck down in court, but in July a ne
BLOG - September 01, 2010
The 11 Men Who Died on the Deepwater Horizon
We’re linking to work done by Steve Joynt of the Press-Register (Mobile, AL) that was brought to our attention by commenter Les Rausch, who correctly reminded us that: We can never lose sight of the human cost of BP’s and others’ malfeasance. Most im
BLOG - August 31, 2010
BP Establishes Fund for Misplaced Workers
One of the most troubling consequences of BP’s Deepwater Horizon fiasco is the toll it has taken on displaced workers. After the disaster, a moratorium was placed on all deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning those who rely on rig work for th
BLOG - August 27, 2010
OSHA Reports High Volume of Egregious Violation Citations Since 2009
Since Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis took office in 2009, OSHA has issued citations for 17 egregious violations, a number that more than doubles citations issued by the previous administration. The latest citations include BP Products North America, Kl
BLOG - August 26, 2010
Explosion in China Calls Attention to Faulty Safety Standards
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the first half of 2010 has seen an average of 187 people, per month, die in industrial accidents in China. It is a distressing trend as many industrial complexes there sit in the middle of large urban cen
BLOG - August 25, 2010
OSHA Expands National Emphasis Program
OSHA, through a recent directive, has expanded their National Emphasis Program to include facilities with highly toxic or flammable materials and chemicals. The hope is that with this new expansion, inspections will be able to curb the sorts of devastatin
BLOG - August 23, 2010
Lessons Lost
Every day for 30 years I drove past the memorial where the unidentified remains of the victims of the 1947 Texas City explosion are buried. 600 people were killed and thousands were injured. It served as a reminder to me as I headed for work each day how
BLOG - August 19, 2010
Green Jobs Growing Faster Than The Rest
Though it seems it hasn't been easy for green jobs to get the kind of traction and government support that is necessary to foster a booming industry, a recent Pew Foundation study has found that, in recent years, jobs in green industries have grown more t
BLOG - August 18, 2010
OSHA Asks For Your Help In Identifying Hazardous Chemicals
OSHA has recently opened a web forum intended to allow workers to submit hazardous chemicals they think need to be regulated by OSHA. Though the numbers are generally thought to be underestimated, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports some 55,000 illness
BLOG - August 12, 2010
OSHA Fines Imperial Sugar More Than $6 Million for February Explosion
On February 7, 2008, 13 employees of the Imperial Sugar Plant in Port Wentworth, Ga., were killed when combustible sugar dust ignited and exploded. At the time OSHA Administrator Edwin G. Foulke Jr. said he was "outraged that this company would show a com
BLOG - August 11, 2010
UPDATE: OSHA Proposes $16.6 Million Fine for Those to Blame for Kleen Energy Explosion
We've been closely following the developments in the Kleen Energy plant explosion that took place on February 7th of this year. The explosion, which occurred when a gas blow caused a high amount of natural gas to ignite, killed six people and injured 50 m
BLOG - August 09, 2010
House Passes Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act of 2010
We recently featured the efforts of whistleblowers to come forward in the wake of the BP disaster (link: Despite BP’s Best Efforts, Whistleblowers Coming Forward) and the work of OSHA to protect them (link: OSHA Introduces Whistleblower Website). Add to
BLOG - August 04, 2010
Unsettling Connection Between Gulf Coast Oil Rig Explosion and Massey Mine Accident
In recent weeks, it's been widely reported that alarm systems on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig were shut down so that the managers wouldn't be woken up in the middle of the night. As a result, the men on the rig had no warning when methane gas started spr
BLOG - July 30, 2010
USW OSHA Training – Linking OSHA law to events in the real world.
They say the definition of foolishness is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results each time. Hopefully we all learn from our mistakes and even better - from the mistakes of others. This is what safety training is all
BLOG - July 29, 2010
Length of Offshore Cleanup Workers’ Training Doubled
Thanks to much-needed updates by OSHA to its training regimen, offshore Gulf cleanup workers in the Vessels of Opportunity program will spend eight hours on a barge that may save their life. After many had criticized the existing training material for bei
BLOG - July 28, 2010
Are the Gulf Spill Cleanup Workers Being Adequately Protected?
"…heat, falls, drowning, fatigue, sharp objects, bites from insects, snakes and other native species…exposure to crude oil, oil byproducts, dispersants, cleaning products, and other chemicals used in the cleanup. " - David Michaels, Assistant Secretary
BLOG - July 26, 2010
OSHA Introduces Whistleblower Website
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established the right for any U.S. worker to report retaliatory or discriminatory practices taken against them after documenting safety violations or requesting an OSHA inspection. The legislation was a major
BLOG - July 23, 2010
Explosion at Horsehead Corp. Zinc in Pennsylvania Plant Kills 2
At 4:30 last night there was an explosion at the Beaver County Horsehead Corp. zinc smelting plant. Two were killed and another injured, though little more is known as investigations get underway today. The USW Emergency Response Team arrived several hour
BLOG - July 22, 2010
Explosion at Clairton Plant Leaves Questions and Concern
On Wednesday, July 14th, around 9:30 in the morning, the extremely flammable gas in the B Battery of U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works ignited, bending back steel girders and flinging concrete 100 feet outward. As many as 20 workers were injured in the bla
BLOG - July 21, 2010
Is the Current Regulatory Framework for Worker Safety Appropriate and Effective?
With OSHA holding jurisdiction over only land and shore activities, the government’s Mineral Management Service (MMS) conducted safety oversight of offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) prior to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Predictabl
BLOG - July 20, 2010
The Big Question: Is There a Better Way to Oversee the Safety of Oil Workers?
The House Education & Labor Committee held a hearing on June 23 to address the oversight of safety regulations for offshore oil rig workers and the 25,000 Gulf spill cleanup volunteers. The responsibility to ensure compliance with safety regulations
BLOG - July 19, 2010
TMC Training Books Recount the Lives of Several of Our Fallen Workers
“Look at that; he was only 26 years old.” “She had a husband and a child.” “I knew him and I will never forget that he didn’t have to die.” These and similar statements are often heard as workers open their TMC Training Books and st
BLOG - July 16, 2010
Fairless Plant Worker Saves Father's Life With CPR Training
Herb Meyers, an employee at the Fairless US Steel plant in Fairless Hills, Pa, used the CPR training he'd recently received at the plant to save his father's life. The training was not easy to come by, however, and local president Bill Coe had to work har
BLOG - July 15, 2010
Long Overdue Convictions Delivered in Indian Poison Case
On December 3rd, 1984, a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India began to leak methyl isocyanate gas into the air. The company that owned the plant, Union Carbide Corporation, claim that the gas was released after an employee sabotaged the tanks the gas was hel
BLOG - July 14, 2010
How Cleaning Up The Gulf Oil Spill is Affecting Human and Animal Health
The Environmental Protection Agency has recently finished a series of tests meant to determine if the eight major dispersants used in the gulf are safe for the sea life that is being covered in them. There was concern that the dispersants might prove toxi
BLOG - July 13, 2010
New Regulations Drafted To Make Mines Safer
Congress Democrats are putting together legislations meant to make it easier to shut down mines that violate safety standards. After the Massey Energy mine explosion in April killed 29 workers, there has been an outcry for stiffer regulations. The bill w
BLOG - July 09, 2010
Community College in Bristol Launches Green Jobs Academy
Thanks in part to some $600,000 given by the Department of Energy, and an additional $300,000 for Pennsylvania's Department of Labor, Bucks County Community College has created a Green Jobs Academy. Gamesa, a Spanish wind energy company, has partnered wit
BLOG - July 08, 2010
Deadly Natural Gas Explosions Force Reform in Safety Standards
On February 7th of this year, at the Kleen Energy plant in Middleton, CT, two million cubic feet of natural gas were pumped through the natural gas pipes in a procedure meant to clean the pipes. The gas, enough to provide heating and cooking to an America
BLOG - July 06, 2010
US Chemical Safety Board Confirms Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso as New Chairman, and Mark Griffon as Board Member
Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso and Mark Griffon were both confirmed for their positions on the US Chemical Safety Board on June 24th. They had been nominated by President Obama on March 22nd, discharged by the Senate Environment and Public Works committee on June
BLOG - July 02, 2010
A Miracle Safety Tool
In these huge corporate kingdoms we work in, we are used to the fact that we have very little voice in running the business. We are used to the fact that even in safety we have to fight and scratch daily to have any impact at all. Well . . . what if I
BLOG - July 01, 2010
Q&A With Mark Dudzic, President of Tony Mazzocchi’s Local in 1984
Mark Dudzic was the president of Tony Mazzocchi’s local in 1984 and worked closely with Tony throughout the 80s. He is currently the coordinator for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer healthcare reform. Where’d you first meet Tony? I joined Tony’s
BLOG - June 29, 2010
Why the Wall Street-BP Double Standard?
Reposted from The Huffington Post, June 25, 2010 08:54 AM Les Leopold Author, "The Looting of America" "In reality, credit pollutants pose the same kind of threat to our economy as chemical toxins do to our environment. Like their chemical counter
BLOG - June 28, 2010
EPA Turns to Workers and Unions to Help With Inspections
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a policy compelling EPA inspectors to reach out to plant employees actually engaged in the nuts and bolts of the business. Employees and plant workers will be able to show EPA inspectors those areas of their
BLOG - June 21, 2010
OSHA: Refineries Ignore Safety, Workers Die
At least 58 workers in the energy sector have been killed on the job i
BLOG - June 17, 2010
OSHA Announces Proposal to Increase Workplace Safety
OSHA recently announced plans to reform the rules around what sort of protection employers must provide against slipping, tripping and falling on the job. The rules in place are outdated and actually advocate the use of equipment that can increase injury
BLOG - June 10, 2010
Lessons Not Learned: Oil Industry Fails to Embrace Adequate Safety Measures
USW Before US Senate: OSHA’s Ability to Regulate Needs Improvement Washington, D.C. (Jun. 10, 2010) —Kim Nibarger, health and safety specialist for the United Steelworkers (USW), testified today before a Senate subcommittee that the oil industry is f
BLOG - June 01, 2010
OSHA’s Recordkeeping Rule (29 CFR 1904) and Safety Incentive and Injury Discipline Policies and Programs
The Ocupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Recordkeeping Rule (29 CFR 1904) requires many employers to keep records of their employees’ work-related injuries and illnesses and record them on OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and I
BLOG - May 27, 2010
Tammy Miser Won’t Be Stopped, Part 2
When I talked to Miser last week, it had just been one of those days. Her voice was weary, though quickly energized when she started to talk about her work. “Just trying to get more support for the Protecting America’s Workers Act,” she says. “I
BLOG - May 26, 2010
Tammy Miser Won’t Be Stopped, Part 1
Tammy Miser won’t be stopped. In 2003 her brother, Shawn Boone, was killed after an aluminum dust explosion caused 90% of his body to be burned. He suffered this fatal injury while working as a maintenance worker for Hayes Lemmerz International. After
BLOG - May 25, 2010
PAWA Could Help To Extend Whistleblowers’ Rights
David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, addressed the Professionals For The Public Interest on Tuesday to talk about the provisions and protections available to whistleblowers under the Occupational Safety and
BLOG - May 20, 2010
UAW asks for comprehensive standard on metalworking fluids
The UAW has asked the federal government to set a comprehensive standard to protect workers against dangerous exposures to metalworking fluids (MWFs), the union announced today. The petition, filed April 28 with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
BLOG - April 26, 2010
USW Mourns the Loss of the Seventh Victim of the Tesoro Refinery Disaster
Very early Saturday morning, Matt Gumbel, 34, the seventh and final victim of the April 2 explosion and fire at the Tesoro Refinery in Anacortes, Washington lost his battle for life. Matt had been in intensive care with severe burns after the incident whi
BLOG - April 23, 2010
Green Does Not LEED to Safety
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBH) has instituted an internationally recognized program to certify just how green a construction project really is. Termed, LEED, the program measures performance in key areas such as sustainability, water & energ
BLOG - April 22, 2010
USW Points to Latest Oil Industry Explosion/Fire as Evidence of Sector’s Need to Overhaul Health & Safety
(Pittsburgh)—With yet again another accident within the oil industry, the United Steelworkers (USW) union today again called for an overhaul of health and safety within the oil sector. Last reports have 15 workers injured, including seven critically, and
BLOG - April 21, 2010
Keep the spotlight on refinery safety: An interview with USW’s Kim Nibarger
2005 was a dismal year for oil refineries. The disastrous explosion at the British Petroleum plant in Texas City, TX killed 15 contractors, injured 180 more and got the attention of the entire nation. The resulting investigation led to calls for vast r
BLOG - April 20, 2010
Historic National Summit on Health & Safety for Latino Workers Held in Houston last week
Each year, thousands of workers are killed or hurt on the job in this country. That’s not really news to anyone reading this blog. But perhaps the fact that more Latino workers are hurt and killed on the job than any other group in the workforce is.
BLOG - April 13, 2010
No Free Lunch
Question: “Some one said you guys offer free training? Can we get some?” Answer: “You can have what you need, but it is never free.” Health, safety and environmental training for workers is never free. Someone pays for every minute a worker is in
BLOG - April 09, 2010
USW Worker Health Protection Program (WHPP) Receives New Five-Year Grant
Since 1999 the United Steelworkers Worker Health Protection Program (WHPP) has been actively screening workers for occupational diseases through a medical surveillance program for retired, and in some cases active, Department of Energy (DOE) workers at fi
BLOG - April 07, 2010
Washington State OSHA deleted serious citations: prelude to disaster at Tesoro refinery that killed five?
April 3, 2010 in Confined Space @ TPH, OSHA, Occupational Health & Safety, Safety | by The Pump Handle by the spirit of Tony Mazzocchi The Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) inspected th
BLOG - April 06, 2010
USW Mourns the Loss of Five Brothers and Sisters in Anacortes
Late last week the USW lost five sisters and brothers who were killed at work following an explosion and fire at the Anacortes, WA Tesoro oil refinery. Two others (one USW member and one supervisor – who was a long time union member) are critically bur
BLOG - April 05, 2010
USW Mourns the Loss of Five Members in Refinery Fire
Friday, April 2, 2010. Residents as far as five miles away from the Tesoro Corporation’s Anacortes, Washington refinery felt it - a sudden explosion at in the middle of the night. Anyone who looked up into the night sky could see it - the sky
BLOG - April 01, 2010
Got the latest gizmo? Ever wonder what happened to your old one??
OK, you’re a product of the 21st century – you text, blog, Face book and Tweet religiously - and you want to live “green” by properly recycling your e-waste (that’s the stuff left over when you scrap the old version of your newest gadget). No
BLOG - March 30, 2010
The Ugly Side of US Worker Injury Statistics
Industry is having a great year – according to statistics. It doesn’t matter whether you are making steel, rubber, paper, chemicals or motorcycles or if you are refining oil or building bridges – industry has had the safest decade ever – accordin
BLOG - March 26, 2010
A Successful Training and a Memoriam to a Much Missed Union Brother
At last year’s District 2 Spring Conference, the Coordination Adaptation Training and Support (CATS) team met with our members face-to-face to talk about the Hazard Mapping and other safety training offerings through the District’s Kevin Wilson Initiat
BLOG - March 25, 2010
Anniversary of Disaster
March 25, 1911 – 99 years ago today – 146 garment workers lost their lives in one of the nation’s worst industrial accidents that became known as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The Asch Building (now known as the Brown Building of Science) at
BLOG - March 22, 2010
Knowing is not enough, we need the right to understand!
Have you ever read part of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)? Probably most of you have since this is a part of Hazardous Communication training under 29 CFR 1910.1200. Have you ever had to read an entire MSDS? Probably there are a few less of you no
BLOG - March 18, 2010
CSB issues new guidelines for hot work in and around tanks and containers
Hot work[1] has always been hazardous, but do it close to or inside a tank and the odds danger increases. After investigating several fatal incidents involving such work (see: Partridge Raleigh Oilfield Explosion and Fire; Bethune Point Wastewater Plant
BLOG - March 17, 2010
Beware of Unsafe Jobs in “Green” Clothing
Green Jobs, are they the cure-all for our economic woes? Where are they? How many jobs exist? When will they be more available? Where can I apply for one? What will they look like? These questions and many more are heard all over a nation badly
BLOG - March 15, 2010
Not always recognized
United Steelworker Health, Safety & Environment Activists are not always recognized or thanked for the amount of time and effort they devote to their jobs. And it is not just about safety, it’s also about truly caring – caring for their local uni
BLOG - March 08, 2010
Discrimination for Health and Safety Activities – We Want Your Feedback
Have you (or do you know anyone who) has filed a complaint with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) because you were retaliated against by your employer for your health and safety activities? The USW Health, Safety and Environment Depart
BLOG - March 02, 2010
Labor, environmentalists, & others to EPA: Include workers in your inspections.
The United Steelworkers, New Jersey Work Environment Council, and the Blue Green Alliance, along with 103 other labor and environmental organizations from across the nation, are urging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to e
BLOG - February 25, 2010
Thoughts from a USW-Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) Train the Trainer Program
This week, the USW-TMC is holding a five-day train the trainer program for fourteen USW local union trainers to expand their skills to instruct the USW-TMC union approach to effective health & safety committees. In some workplaces, our local unions a
BLOG - February 23, 2010
Systems of Safety Hazard Mapping Project- A Map to Success
[gallery columns="4> Recently Worker-Trainers from the Tony Mazzocchi Center trained 95 employees (both management and Union) from Theta-Pro2Serve Management Company (TPMC) at the former Uranium, Enrichment Plant in Piketon, Ohio in Systems of Safety Ha
BLOG - February 22, 2010
DOL Updates Employment Law Guide
Read the updated version of DOL’s Law Guide online at www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/index.htm . The guide gives information on worker’s rights under federal law and is divided into categories to simplify finding the information you need. Topics are
BLOG - February 19, 2010
Industry Cries, "Too Costly To Protect Against Combustible Dust"
In Atlanta, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) met last Wednesday with industry volunteers at a roundtable discussion about combustible dusts. This is in response to the Imperial Sugar explosion near Savannah that resulted in 14 d
BLOG - February 17, 2010
Terry Davidek - A Profile of a Labor Safety Activist
“Everybody has the right to go home the same way they came to work,” says Terry Davidek, the Hourly USW Company – Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator for ATI Allegheny Ludlum. That belief is one of the reasons that Davidek has devoted th
BLOG - February 16, 2010
OSHA Enforcement: OSHA Complaints – When and How to Use Them
Part 1 of a series of posts on the OSHA enforcement process for USW health and safety activists The Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970 remains one of the landmark laws for rights of workers in their workplace. The Act created the Occupational Saf
BLOG - February 16, 2010
Is Middletown Mayor speaking for OSHA?
February 9, 2010 in Confined Space @ TPH, OSHA, Occupational Health & Safety, US Chem Safety Board | by Celeste Monforton Officials from state and federal agencies have begun investigating the cause of the deadly explosion at the Kleen Energy p
BLOG - February 15, 2010
OSHA Proposes to Change Recordkeeping Requirements – A Step in the Right Direction!
On January 28th the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a proposed change to its recordkeeping requirements to add work-related musculoskeletal or ergonomic hazard related injuries to the OSHA 300 log. The USW supports this pro
BLOG - February 12, 2010
“The Most Dangerous Woman in America” now has her own virtual museum.
"I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there, and he said he had stolen a loaf of bread. I told him if he had stolen a railroad, he'd be a U.S. Senator." Mother Jones. Mary Harris Jones, a self-proclaimed "hell raiser", (known to the
BLOG - February 12, 2010
BNA Reports: House Passes Bill to Strengthen Security Of Chemical Facilities, Water
The House of Representatives passed legislation Nov. 6 that would expand the Department of Homeland Security's authority to regulate chemical facilities and add security coverage for drinking water and wastewater treatment plants under the Environmental P
BLOG - February 12, 2010
Keep Politics Out of the Deadly Explosion in Connecticut
On February 8 a massive explosion at the Kleen Energy power plant under construction in Middletown, CT killed 5 workers and wounded others. Quite understandably, after a disaster like this, the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) responded to investigate the
BLOG - February 11, 2010
Microwave & Radio Frequency Radiation Hazards: Cellular Telecommunications Equipment
Since World War II, many significant technological advancements have occurred within the telecommunications and other industries. One of these is the increased use of radio frequency, i.e., microwave and radio wave radiation equipment. Such equipment is w
BLOG - February 11, 2010
Sharing Lessons Learned
Recently I was asked to review a logic tree for a USW Triangle of Prevention (TOP) investigation one of our sites was conducting into a process upset resulting in a spill. During the conference call with the investigation team I asked, “if there had NOT
BLOG - February 10, 2010
TMC Trainer Database to improve communications issues among trainers.
New Database for Tony Mazzocchi Center (TMC) Trainers A new database for TMC Trainers is currently under construction. This database will help build better communications between TMC staff, District leaders and TMC trainers in the field and will be an im
BLOG - February 09, 2010
The Cherry Mine Disaster 100 Year Anniversary
Last November 13, the tiny town of Cherry, Illinois marked the 100th anniversary of what has become the 3rd worst mining disaster in the history of the United States. Like most days, nearly 500 men and boys, and three dozen mules, were working in the Ch
BLOG - February 01, 2010
16 Deaths Per Day
“I can’t do this alone” were Travis Koehler’s last words as he tried to rescue a coworker who had passed out after entering a grease trap manhole on Feb. 2, 2007. On that day, three engineering employees at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vega
BLOG - September 16, 2009
Too High a Price for High Octane
By Leo W. Gerard, USW International President No more than a thimbleful of hydrofluoric acid killed 37-year-old Alcoa technician John L. Dorton in fewer than seven hours from the moment he inhaled the mist at the plant where he worked in Port Comfort, Tex

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