Do yourself a favor and skip halfway down this article, right past the nonsense from Americans for Prosperity, to read the responses to some questions on the state of unions from our executive director, Dan Fatton, in honor of Labor Day.
Are you interested in working with a progressive organization to advance labor and environmental policies in New Jersey? The NJ Work Environment Council (WEC), an alliance of 70 labor, environmental, and community organizations, working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment, has an exciting internship opportunity beginning September, 2016. Please Click Here
Safety Violations or Illegal Activity at Work: Your Right to Protection (Spanish) Your Employer Must Tell You About Chemical Hazards Background on Worker and Union Involvement During Clean Air Act Section 112(r) Inspections On April 2, 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued "Interim Guidance" for involving facility employees and employee representatives in EPA and local agency inspections conducted under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 112(r). Using Risk Management Plan to Improve Health and Safety RMP information can be used to support change to safer operations that protect workers and communities. Using Federal Reading Rooms to Research Worst-Case Chemical Release Scenarios You can use the information to work with others for safer solutions - such as reducing or eliminating the hazard through the use of safer and more secure chemicals or processes. Make Sure Public Employers Submit Accurate Chemical Right to Know Surveys Public employee unions should ensure that public employers do a thorough job completing the 2008 Right to Know Survey. Safe Work, Safe Care Project Brochure Learn more about WEC's Safe Work, Safe Care Project. The goal of the project is to help create and maintain safe, healthy work environments for healthcare workers. Preventing Chemical Accidents: OSHA's Process Safety [...]
Your Rights Under the New Jersey Public Employees' Occupational Safety and Health Act An overview of your rights. Good Things to Do During a PEOSH Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Inspection A checklist of what to do during an inspection. Be Aware of Artificial Turf Hazards The health risks that may accompany synthetic turf. School Hazard Facts for Families Factsheet Series: School Hazards Hurt Health and Learning (In Spanish) Top School Health and Safety Websites (In Spanish) Schools with Good Ventilation (In Spanish) Schools with Comfortable Temperatures (In Spanish) Schools Free of Dust, Dirt, and Germs (In Spanish) Schools Free of Pests and Pesticides (In Spanish) Schools Free of Hazards from Construction (In Spanish) Schools Free of Mold (In Spanish) Schools Free of Environmental Hazards (In Spanish) Toxic-Free Schools (In Spanish)
Toxic Release Inventory TRI is one of a number of federal and state laws that workers and community members can use to help reduce toxic exposure. Chemical Facilities Must Hold Public Meeting After an Incident with Off-Site Consequences By law, effective March 15, 2021, 78 facilities in NJ that use extremely hazardous substances are required to hold a public meeting within 90 days of any incident that results in offsite deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage, or environmental damage. Protecting Firefighters, Police, and Other Emergency Response Workers From Hazardous Materials You Have the Right to Disclose Unlawful Activity and to Not Participate In Such Activity Without Employer Retaliation Summary of NJ Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Vinyl Chloride This is a summary of the NJ Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet on vinyl chloride and on your righ to know about hazardous chemicals in your community. Hurricane Recovery: Resources for Protecting Workers & Residents A list of resources for workers and residents. This factsheet was revised July 2013. Finding Chemical Exposures and Negotiating Fixes A checklist to help you and your union to push management to reduce workers' exposure to hazardous chemicals. Make Sure Public Employers Submit Accurate Chemical Right to [...]
New Jersey's Mandatory Worker Training Program on Chemical Safety and Security On July 25, 2006, New Jersey's Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) wrote certain chemical facility owners informing them that they were now legally required to train their employees about security. This fact sheet explains the requirement. Worker and Union Rights to Participate in Inspections to Prevent Catastrophic Toxic Releases Workers and union representatives now have important rights to protect the safety and security of workers and communities. DEP Rule for Inherently Safer Technology Review Learn about the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Rule. (Effective May 2008) Bakken Crude Oil By Rail: New Dangers For Firefighters Tar Sands Oil Tar sands present health and environmental hazards.
2016 09/14/2016 WEConnect: Stop TPP, Annual Awards Dinner, New Industrial Hygienists, Member Survey Reminder 08/10/2016 WEConnect: Oil Trains, Awards Honoree Profile, Chemical Safety, Intern Announcement 07/14/2016 WEConnect: 2016 WEC Awards Dinner, PEOSH update, Oil Train Safety Bill, Temperature Control, Infectious Diseases, and Job Opening 06/23/2016 WEConnect: Call for for crude oil train transparency, welcome Jerell Blakeley, TSCA reform, Stop wage theft 05/12/2016 WEConnect: Verizon Workers, EPA Updates chemical security rule, Respect Our Right to Know Petition 04/21/2016 WEConnect: Worker Memorial Day, Lead in Schools, New Silica Rule and PSA 02/11/2016 WEConnect: Chlorine report, silica rule, Worker Memorial Day & media training 01/21/2016 WEConnect: New OSHA Citations and Penalties, Media Training 2015 12/09/2015 WEConnect: Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Dinner Recap 11/25/2015 WEConnect: Annual Membership Meeting, Photos from Awards Dinner, and Oil Train Response Conference 11/10/2015 WEConnect: A Day's Work Film Screening, Hazards Training & Awards Dinner 10/26/2015 WEConnect: WEConnect Inaugural Edition WEC previously distributed a hard copy newsletter called WEC@Work.
With the average age of New Jersey's public schools at more than 50 years old and with many schools dating back to the turn of the 20th century, we are concerned that custodian privatization will have negative ramifications for the quality of our school facilities. "Investing in schools means investing in the personnel that keep our buildings safe and healthy. As the debate around equitable school-funding rages, New Jersey school districts would be wise to think twice about privatization, which often carries substantial hidden costs coupled with reduced performance." Full opinion-editorial by Jerell Blakeley, WEC Campaign Organizer in August 15, 2016 - NJ Spotlight
Right in the shadow of the New Jersey Statehouse, the workers were dry cutting the sidewalk concrete, unwittingly putting themselves and the public in danger. Silica exposure impacts thousands of workers; in New Jersey more than 150,000 work in construction, but those who work with glass, pottery, jewelry and even dentistry might be impacted. Full Article by Ken Hoffner, Assistant Director, NJ Laborers' Health and Safety Fund and Dan Fatton, WEC Executive Director August 8, 2016 - Asbury Park Press Online
Legislators and an alliance of concerned groups rallied to call for passage of legislation that would require transparency so the public would know about high hazard cargoes traveling through their communities. "The costs of a potential disaster are astronomically high and the rail car companies are not currently required to prove they have insurance coverage for worst case disasters, costs which we know will be higher in New Jersey. This bill would be a step in the right direction for information transparency and safety preparedness, but the legislature needs to ensure that the public has access to information and that our first responders receive the training they need," said Dan Fatton, executive director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council. See the Press Release here