Highlights

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

California is considering whether an allegedly dangerous chemical found in common paint strippers should be taken off the market. Health authorities there say dozens of people have died from exposure to methylene chloride, which can kill in minutes if inhaled. It's especially dangerous in enclosed spaces. The Environmental Protection Agency is also proposing a ban, but chemical manufacturers oppose that idea. They say the compound is safe if used correctly. Wendy Hartley's son, Kevin, was just 21 and working at a new job refinishing bathrooms for his uncle.  "He would light up the room when he walked in. He had that smile," she said. "He wouldn't have to worry about bills. He would make good money doing it." Kevin took a special training course to protect himself from chemicals used to strip paint. In April, he was refinishing a bathtub in a Nashville apartment complex when his brother called their mom at work. "He said, I'm sorry mom. I did everything that I could and I couldn't save him," Hartley said. The cause of Kevin's death? The medical examiner later determined that, despite wearing gloves and a respirator, he'd been overcome by a chemical in the paint stripper he was [...]

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  

WEC announced today that it is has signed on as a cooperating partner for the 2018 International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum (IPF). The IPF is the number one technical conference for offshore wind in the United States hosted by the Business Network for Offshore Wind (the Network). The conference brings together the industry’s global and U.S. experts to generate new business opportunities and strengthen the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. The conference will be held from April 3-6 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village in Princeton, New Jersey. Registration is now open. “Thanks to the support of organizations like New Jersey Work Environment Council, we are able to deliver the leading domestic technical conference for offshore wind where we are building valuable partnerships and facilitating critical conversations that will help us successfully move the industry forward and create a domestic supply chain,” said Liz Burdock, executive director of the Network. “A decision to support the IPF is a decision to support the significant economic, environmental and health benefits that offshore wind can bring to the United States.” In its fifth year, the IPF draws more than 600 attendees annually, including the industry’s leading global experts and developers. Attendees have [...]

Public education is under attack, including at higher education institutions; at Rutgers University, tuition is increasing, our professors and campus workers are paid less, and top administrators seem to be the only ones benefiting. Join the New Jersey Work Environment Council, Rutgers United Students Against Sweatshops, and other partners on December 16, 2017 to engage in a discussion on economics, financialization, and how financial institutions rob Rutgers University of vital resources - resources which could be better used to maintain/reduce tuition, invest in educational resources, and increase wages and pay for campus workers and faculty. This event is free, but please register to attend. Register Now Public Need Over Corporate Greed

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 [...]