Historic agreement reached between farmworkers and agribusiness in Baja California; New York fast food workers testify in support of higher wages; Cal-OSHA to strengthen its heat exposure oversight; and labor advocates say an upcoming visit from Pope Francis could be a boost for workers.
Injury Control & Violence
Fatal work injury that killed Richard Johnson was preventable, Arizona OSHA cites Southwest Fabrication
The fatal work-related injuries that killed Richard Johnson, 31, could have been prevented had his employer followed worker safety regulations.
Oregon’s House and Senate have passed a bill requiring businesses with 10 or more employees to let their workers earn paid sick time. If the Governor signs it as expected, Oregon will be the fourth state with a paid-sick-days law. Will New Jersey be next?
Environmental Health
Researchers find association between proximity to fracking sites and low birth weight newborns
The science on the health effects of fracking is still very much emerging. Oftentimes, the growing body of research can’t make a conclusive link between the drilling technique and negative health impacts, but it certainly makes the case that more research is needed. Earlier this month, another study joined the pack.
The fatal work-related injuries that killed John Dunnivant, 57, could have been prevented had his employer followed worker safety regulations.
Government
A Q&A with public health leaders on emergency preparedness: ‘It should be approached as a permanent and consistent part of what public health does, not a quick fix’
“All response is local” is a commonly heard phrase among public health practitioners who serve on the front lines of disease outbreaks, emergencies and disasters. Whether it’s a measles outbreak, a terrorist attack or a hurricane, public health agencies are at the ready to deploy an emergency response infrastructure designed for one overriding purpose: to protect their communities against preventable disease and injury.
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health held its national safety conference last week in Baltimore, Maryland. This recap includes comments from OSHA administrator Jordan Barab, national reporters, and advocates who participated.
At least 50 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have been diagnosed in South Korea, where a 68-year-old man who recently traveled to the Middle East visited four hopsitals before being diagnosed.
Government
Massachusetts extends OSHA protections to state workers: It’s about ‘creating an infrastructure that supports health and safety’
Back in 1970 when the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established, local policymakers could choose whether or not to extend OSHA protections to state employees. Unfortunately, Massachusetts took a pass. But decades later — and after years of advocacy, organizing and research on the part of worker advocates — employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can now look forward to safer and healthier workplaces.
Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court issued the landmark Griswold v. Connecticut decision, which struck down a Connecticut law that criminalized the encouragement or use of contraception. Women’s access to effective contraception has improved a lot since then — but we still have a long way to go.