Debra Coyle

As we approach the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, we belong to an unlucky club of communities that have the unique perspective of knowing the devastation and horror that our Texas and Louisiana friends and family are experiencing right now from Hurricane Harvey. Unfortunately, membership in the club is growing and we expect it to continue growing at an alarming rate as climate change leads to more frequent, more powerful storms. The Huffington Post poignantly captured what’s it’s like to live through a flood event in this excellent piece by Julia Craven where she interviewed people who experienced the horror firsthand. As volunteers with big hearts pour into Houston and the surrounding area to help, it’s important that they also take precautions to protect themselves from numerous hazards. There are unknown hazards present in floodwaters from chemicals, sewage, unknown submerged items, and floating balls of fire ants. Think for a moment the chemicals you store in your home. For example, under your sink you may have ammonia-based cleaner like Windex, or bleach wipes you use to wipe down your counters, and liquid bleach to use in your wash. In your garage, you may have motor oil waste, opened paints and [...]

On August 31, there were two explosions at the flooded Arkema Inc. chemical plant near Houston, which was inundated with 40+ inches of rain. At least 12 emergency responders were affected by the smoke and some were taken to the hospital. The plant manufactures organic peroxides commonly used in everyday products like kitchen countertops, industrial paints, polystyrene cups and plates, and PVC piping. Unfortunately, this event is not over. Arkema Group is reporting that the cooling system needed to keep the chemicals stable at a cool temperature is offline, as are the backup generators. They are anticipating more chemical releases and possible fire and explosions. There’s been an evacuation zone of the surrounding area within a 1.5 mile radius of the facility. Hurricane Harvey’s historic and unprecedented rainfall amounts have raised two important policy failures of the Trump administration, both at the hands of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The first is the Administrator's delay of a chemical safety rule. The new rule if implemented would improve coordination between chemical facilities, fire fighters, and other local emergency planners and responders; and encourage safety improvements through internal alternatives assessment practices, among other modest changes. Instead of enacting this common sense safeguard, Administrator [...]

It is with great sadness that the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) shares that Adrienne Rosner Markowitz, our colleague, industrial hygiene consultant and Healthy Schools Coordinator, passed away on July 24, 2017.  Adrienne had an indominable spirit and struggled with an aggressive form of breast cancer for several years.  Adrienne was a warm, loving, compassionate colleague who developed many deep working and mentoring relationships over the years.  Adrienne loved her work with WEC and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and it sustained her during her illness. Adrienne spent her professional life challenging the idea that workers must die to make a living.  Armed with a BA in Education from Queens College and a Masters in Occupational and Environmental Health from Hunter College, she wrapped her organizer father’s union ethos around her heart and went into the workplace to fight the only fight that really mattered to her - the fight for justice.   Public sector jobs in New Jersey honed her skills as an educator and truth seeker as she trained county and private sector workers and investigated workplaces for chromium contamination, carrying her CWA Local 1036 membership card proudly. Adrienne expanded her field of battle by [...]

On November 30, 2012 Jamie Hoyt, a resident of Bogata New Jersey, and two other Labor Ready temporary workers were moving racks of computers out of a Verizon facility in Pearl River, New York. Jamie was crushed by a falling computer racks and was killed. Jamie's family agreed to speak with us at the 2016 Workers' Memorial Day event organized by WEC and New Labor about what happened to Jamie in the hope that future workplace injuries and deaths may be avoided. Mike Hoyt explained how his brother Jamie was killed on the job. Jamie's co-worker filled in some of the specifics of what happened that day. Jamie's sister Mary Jo Hoyt explained that despite concern about the accident, the fine levied made a statement of its own. The family expressed concern that the risk all goes to the temp worker, not the contractor or corporation. Mike Hoyt stressed that the temp industry is growing, but no one has a stake in safety. Ann Hoyt, Jamie's sister, said talking about this issue is perhaps one way to see that things change. We also had a [...]