TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION

Health & Safety Weekly News

February 04, 2010

Thinking beyond employer reports to focus OSHA’s attention / The Pump Handle

When there are signs that a company may be shirking its H&S responsibility, with the lives of workers and the community at risk, we need a nimble regulatory apparatus ready to check it out. Read More

Improving foreign aircraft repair station standards / TTD, AFL-CIO

Transportation trades Department, AFL-CIO supports an FAA Reauthorization bill that will enhance the safety and oversight of aircraft repair stations -- especially those located abroad but working on U.S. aircraft. Read More

Metro equipment hits truck on icy tracks / Washington Examiner

A Metro maintenance vehicle carrying 20 workers crashed into a contractor's rail truck on icy tracks Saturday night, causing a domino effect on the Red Line that damaged at least four vehicles less than a week after two workers were killed by track equipment on the same line. Read More

Metro responds on transit safety issues / Washington Post

The general sentiment among board members commenting was that they do not want any more consultants, study committees or blue ribbon panels on safety. They want to keep people from dying on Metro's tracks. Read More

Hands-free cell phones just as likely to distract drivers / Washington Post

Ten days after a national study found that cell phones and texting were to blame for 28 percent of crashes, a report released Friday concludes that hands-free cellphones are no less distracting than those held to the ear. Read More

Tough distraction policy takes effect at MARTA / OH&S

The new policy considers the use of cell phones and other electronic devices, eating, drinking, reading, reaching for fallen items, and other activities as distractions. After an investigation of a distracted driving incident, MARTA employees to whom the policy applies who are found to have violated the policy will face immediate termination. Read More

NHTSA maximum civil fines rising March 4 / OH&S

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will raise some of its maximum civil penalties for violating safety standards. The DOT agency published a final rule on Tuesday that adjusts the top penalties for safety requirements involving school buses, bumper standards, consumer information requirements, odometer tampering, and disclosure requirements for inflation. Read More

Ontario moves to contain violence in the workplace / Life Lines

Worksites in the Canadian province of Ontario promise to be less hazardous to employees thanks to new legislation that puts more protections against on-the-job violence and harassment in place. Read More

Health & Wellness

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlights critical investments in President Obama’s 2011 HHS budget / HHS More

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - HIV/AIDS Prevention: A Choice and Lifestyle / HBC More

Pandemic Flu

International H1N1 Flu Situation: As of 24 January 2010, worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 14711 deaths / WHO More

Cancer, the Flu, and You: What Cancer Patients and Survivors Should Know About the Flu / CDC More

Events

National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety/Cumbre de Acción Nacional para la Salud y Seguridad del Trabajador Latino

April 14-15, 2010

Hilton Americas Hotel, Houston, Texas

Workers and representatives from employer associations, labor unions, the faith community, community organizations, worker centers, the medical community, safety and health professionals, educators, government officials, Consulates, the entertainment community, the advertising industry, and other non-traditional partners will gather in Texas to discuss strategies to reduce injuries and illnesses among Latino workers.

The Summit will target the construction industry and other high risk industries that employ large numbers of Latino workers and discuss initiatives to enhance their knowledge of workplace rights and improve their ability to exercise those rights. It will showcase innovative partnerships, demonstrate successful education and training, and develop effective enforcement and communication strategies.

The event is co-sponsored with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Click here for more information and make sure your Local will be part of this critical debate!

Health and Safety Task Force

Ed Watt       Mark Johnson       Michael Massoni       Michael Conigliaro       Bobby Romaine