Press Releases

The New Jersey Work Environment Council is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Healthy Schools Now Campaign Organizer. Jerell Blakeley most recently taught Civics and History at his alma mater, Trenton Central High School-West, and served as an Organizational Development Consultant with the New Jersey Education Association. As a teacher and graduate of Trenton Central High School, Blakeley realizes the importance of health and safety of school facilities. See the Press Release Here

Last night the Senate passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This legislation reforms the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and gives the Environmental Protection Agency new tools to require chemical testing and restrict dangerous chemicals. See the Press Release Here

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has mandated new limits on exposure to silica dust. Workers may be exposed to silica on the job in construction, mining, shipbuilding and other industries. See the Press Release here

Tens of thousands of school children impacted Testing at Newark schools has revealed lead levels above federal EPA action guidelines in at least 30 of the city's 66 school facilities. Exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, neurological changes and may have a lasting impact on kids' ability to learn. See the Press Release here

Nearly 9 million in New Jersey are could be impacted by a potential disasters. Greenpeace and the New Jersey Work Environment Council co-released a new report on the safety and environmental performance of chlorine bleach plants across the United States. According to the findings, 86 facilities throughout the U.S. continue to needlessly use huge quantities of chlorine gas in their manufacturing process and endanger more than 63 million people living in nearby areas. See the Press Release here

The NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) has selected Dan Fatton, an environmentalist, community activist and fundraiser as its new Executive Director. Fatton was selected after the WEC Board and search committee completed a nationwide search. See the Press Release Here

The NJ Supreme Court ruling today in Lippman v. Ethicon assures that the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) will remain a viable statute. The court rejected the argument that employees would not have whistleblower protection if identifying health and safety issues is part of their regular job duties. See the Press Release here

See the Press Release here

Governor Chris Christie has failed to carry out his legal responsibility under federal law for ensuring that the public has access to up-to-date Emergency Response Plans (ERPs). Every New Jersey county and municipality must have an ERP in order to prepare for chemical plant or oil train emergencies. See the Press Release here

The N.J. Supreme Court has been asked by 27 environmental, labor, and community organizations representing more than half a million New Jerseyans to uphold the state's whistleblower law that protects employees from employer retaliation when they report violations of the law. In a friend of the court brief the groups cite multiple cases in which employees have been protected by the courts under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). This makes it more likely that employees will report without fear of retaliation violations affecting public safety and health, the environment, and financial security of individual households and businesses. See the Press Release here