U.S. EPA is interceding in a New Jersey public-health flap that could have national implications, ordering a hospital services company to stop disinfecting its ambulances with finely misted pesticides after a local union complained of workers falling ill. See Article Here
Acknowledging that workers have become ill after exposure to disinfectant chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week ordered a New Jersey ambulance company to cease using fogging machines to sanitize its vehicles. See Article Here
In the months after the Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) began using newly acquired machines to disinfect its ambulances in May 2009 by pumping the vehicles full of pesticide fog, paramedics began experiencing troubling ailments, PEMSA officials say. See Article Here
Eileen Senn, WEC Industrial Hygiene Consultant was interviewed by Jose Santiago, News Director at WBAI in New York City. The interview is available online here in the WBAI archive file. Go to WBAI Evening News, December 22, 2010, 6 PM and fast forward to the 15:30 mark. You can also download the mp3 file here.
A coalition of 76 labor, health and environmental groups signed a petition in Trenton today, demanding the Legislation to kill a bill that would prevent New Jersey state agencies from adopting safety, conservation and health standards that are tougher than federal regulations. See Article Here
Seventy-five labor, environmental, emergency response, and other organizations today announced at a State House news conference a new public campaign to defeat bipartisan attacks on decades of New Jersey's worker, environmental, health, and other protections. Letter to Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Oliver Statement from Senator Buono How S1986 and/or A2486 Would Harm New Jersey See the Press Release here