Debra Coyle, Author at Work Environment Council

NJ Senate Revives Weinberg’s Oil Train Transparency Bill Chris Christie Vetoed

The New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee approved an oil train transparency bill on Monday, reviving an effort that had been stymied by former Gov. Chris Christie. The legislation, S-1883, would require railroads to develop oil spill response plans in case of a derailment. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, would also require more transparency from railroads about their shipment of flammable liquids through the state. The states surrounding New Jersey have made the routes and estimated volumes of oil train traffic publicly accessible when compelled by public information requests from news organizations. Effectively, the public already has the information railroads want to shield. "There has been precedent for releasing this information," said Debra Coyle McFadden, assistant director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council. Read the full story on NorthJersey.com.

By Debra Coyle|2018-03-13T09:26:24-04:00March 13th, 2018|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Bloomfield Mayor Venezia Joins Mayors of other Earned Sick Day Towns to Call for Statewide Action

Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia joined the mayors of Jersey City, Montclair, Newark, Passaic, Morristown, and Plainfield, to call for statewide legislative action to extend coverage to all New Jersey workers; Each of these municipalities have earned sick day policies in place. "Ensuring that all workers in New Jersey have access to earned sick days is a common sense policy to guarantee working families have options when a breadwinner needs time to recover from an illness or injury; allowing workers time off to recover while sick also protects the rest of us by keeping germs out of the workplace," said Dan Fatton, executive director for New Jersey Work Environment Council. Read the full story on TAP into Bloomfield.

By Debra Coyle|2018-03-02T12:30:36-05:00February 26th, 2018|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Murphy’s Turn to Fix the Sickening Conditions of N.J.’s Urban Schools

Entire school districts are shutting down due to mold contamination and fears of asbestos exposure. Students are unable to drink from water fountains due to worries about high lead levels. Classroom temperatures reach triple digits in the spring and are freezing cold in the winter. A middle school shut down for months because of a collapsed roof. Districts comprised of a dozen schools constructed when horse and buggies ruled the roads. We aren't describing schools in a developing country. These conditions exist right here in New Jersey. Throughout our state, both in our state's poorer urban districts and in property tax strapped suburban towns, school buildings are crumbling and remain in desperate need of repair. Read the full opinion-editorial in the Star-Ledger by Elizabeth Smith, executive director of Statewide Education Organizing Committee and Jerell Blakeley, the Healthy Schools Now campaign organizer for the New Jersey Work Environment Council.

By Debra Coyle|2018-02-12T11:54:57-05:00February 12th, 2018|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off

Job Posting: Freelance Writer

Free-lance writer for monthly labor union magazine The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) seeks a free-lance writer to conceptualize, research and compose ten 1,000-word byline articles a year on school health and safety issues for the New Jersey Education Association’s NJEA Review. You will be expected to spend approximately 12 hours per article. Pay is $500 per article. Articles will be due for review one week before the end of the month from February to April 2018 and then July 2018 through April 2019 and so on for each school year. You will need to interview WEC staff, NJEA UniServ field representatives, NJEA local association officers and members, and WEC industrial hygiene consultants to conceptualize and research the articles. Internet research may also be needed. Preference given to individuals who have written for or about labor unions and union activism and organizing. See past articles online here. Submit letter of interest, resume, and two applicable writing samples to [email protected] by close of business January 31, 2017. No calls. For more information about WEC, please go to www.njwec.org.

By Debra Coyle|2018-01-17T11:22:34-05:00January 17th, 2018|Highlights, Job Postings|Comments Off

Webinar: Introduction to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard

For the last two years, the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) 1910.1200 is the second most cited standard on OSHA’s Top 10 list of violations. The sections within the HazCom standard most often violated include implementation of a HazCom program and training, followed by the requirement to maintain Safety Data Sheets. In 2012, the HazCom standard was updated to align with the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and labeling of chemicals. Major updates included hazard clarification, labels and safety data sheets. Employers have a responsibility under OSHA’s HazCom Standard to educate and train employees about the chemicals they work with and how to protect themselves from any potential hazards. Please join the NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) on January 30, 12 pm for a webinar on the Introduction on OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Please register here. WEC can also provide FREE training to employers and workers on recognizing hazardous conditions, preventing exposure to chemicals, OSHA’s HazCom Standard and how it is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and labeling of chemicals, and the importance of effective hazard communications programs. This material was produced under grant SH-31183-SH7 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. [...]

By Debra Coyle|2018-01-12T10:05:05-05:00December 31st, 2017|Highlights, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Workplace Violence Infographs and Educational Materials

Below are workplace violence materials developed by WEC in 2017. Understanding and Preventing Workplace Violence webinar Systems and Sub-Systems Chart

By Debra Coyle|2017-12-21T10:28:35-05:00December 21st, 2017|Highlights|Comments Off

Who Tracks the Railroads?

WEC released Who Tracks the Railroads? The Case for Transparency on Rail Bridges, a whitepaper documenting the need for rail companies to release basic information on the safety of our freight bridges. Freight rail bridges, some more than 100 years old, cross over waterways such as the Passaic, Delaware and Manasquan Rivers, as well as sensitive environmental areas like the Oradell Reservoir. Yet, despite repeated calls for transparency on rail bridge infrastructure from federal agencies and the public, the rail companies refuse to release safety and inspection reports. Who Tracks the Railroads outline steps our elected officials can take to protect our lives, jobs, health and our environment. Read the report here. Sign the Petition Respect Our Right to Know

By Debra Coyle|2017-12-07T15:51:36-05:00December 7th, 2017|Highlights|Comments Off

Many Poor Schools in New Jersey are Overcrowded

Two-thirds of low-income school districts in New Jersey don't have adequate space to serve their students, according to a report by the NJ Department of Education (DOE). "The report makes clear the enormous unmet needs in the SDA districts, and the continued failure of the current administration to address overcrowding and educational adequacy," said Jerell Blakeley, campaign organizer with the NJ Work Environment Council and coordinator of the Healthy Schools Now campaign. Read/Listen to the full story on WNYC.

By Debra Coyle|2017-12-06T17:32:39-05:00November 23rd, 2017|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Training Program: Preventing Exposure to Workplace Chemcials

You're invited to attend the NJ Work Environment Council TRAINING PROGRAM: PREVENTING EXPOSURE TO WORKPLACE CHEMICALS With a presentation by an OSHA Area Office representative When: Tuesday, November 28, 2017, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (8:30 AM Registration) Location: NJ Work Environment Council, 7 Dunmore Avenue, Ewing, NJ 08618 Register Here Are you aware of the major changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) Standard and how it is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals? Employers have a responsibility under OSHA’s HazCom Standard to educate and train employees about the chemicals they work with and how to protect themselves from any potential hazards. Join us for an interactive workshop as we discuss: • Assessing chemical hazards and understanding safety data sheets • OSHA’s HazCom standard • Identifying safety system failures At the conclusion of the training, an OSHA representative will be available for questions and answers. Click here to register and for more information. The OSHA speaker is not funded by the Harwood Grant. This material was produced under grant SH-31183-SH7 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the [...]

By Debra Coyle|2017-11-03T10:44:46-04:00November 3rd, 2017|Highlights|Comments Off

Climate Change in New Jersey? It’s Here

Climate change is happening in New Jersey, and some of its impacts are already occurring: warmer summers, more days of extreme rainfalls, and increased frequency and intensity of floods due to rising sea levels. Hoping to kick off a statewide dialogue to fashion a comprehensive strategy for climate-change policy, Rutgers University and the New Jersey Climate Adaption Alliance gathered thought leaders at Duke Farm yesterday to begin hashing out strategies to deal with global warming and its consequences. “It is beginning to affect public health here in New Jersey,’’ Fatton said, adding the most vulnerable populations are most at risk. Read the full story from NJ Spotlight.

By Debra Coyle|2017-09-28T11:06:23-04:00September 28th, 2017|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Debra Coyle

About Debra Coyle