US Senator Booker Alerts Agencies about Mercury Hazard in Schools
Thanks to the work of Healthy Schools Now, New Jersey Education Association, Mom's Clean Airforce and WEC, US Senator Cory Booker is calling for an investigation into potentially hazardous emissions from flooring that has been widely installed in public spaces across the country since the 1960s. Some synthetic rubberized floors found in schools, hospitals, and community centers were made using a substance, phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA), that may release mercury vapor into the air as they deteriorate. This colorless, odorless vapor can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, skin and eyes and is especially harmful to young children [...]
Investigations, criminal allegations and a lawsuit: Dysfunction reigns at school authority
The NJ Schools Development Authority(SDA)has no funding for new projects and no plan to secure money to support its future. But there is plenty of work to be done. The Education Law Center has identified 381 additional major construction projects in the state’s 31 so-called SDA districts, not to mention hundreds more pending applications for repairs. “It is absolutely reprehensible that this state obligation is not being met,” said Heather Sorge, campaign organizer for the Healthy Schools Now advocacy group, “leaving our New Jersey students and staff to suffer as a result.” Read more at Northjersey.com [...]
Statement from WEC on BPU Announcement on Offshore Wind
Bravo New Jersey for leading the nation in offshore wind development. Today the Board of Public Utilities announced the winner of the country's largest offshore wind project. Orsted will be building the 1,100MW project, called OceanWind, which will bring clean energy to approximately 500,000 homes. Thank you to Governor Murphy for his vision and commitment to clean energy. Offshore wind development has obvious clean energy benefits and also promises to bring good, family-sustaining jobs to the state. These are skilled, well-paying jobs include construction, maintenance, operations, ports, and supply chain, more than 74 occupations in total, that cannot be outsourced. [...]
WEC Statement on Alden Leeds Fire
The threat of a catastrophic chemical release remains a major vulnerability for New Jersey. Every year, chemical releases, fires, and explosions claim lives and threaten residents’ health across the nation. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, nestled between New York City and Philadelphia, and has one of the highest ratios of toxic facilities per square mile in the nation. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported from the chlorine fire at the Alden Leeds facility in South Kearny. Alden leads manufactures pool chemicals including chlorine tablets. The Pulaski Skyway was shut down in [...]
Bear Spray Incident at NJ Amazon Warehouse Shine Light on Safety Record
Internet giant Amazon was urged by a worker advocacy group weeks ago to give workplace safety its urgent attention. After a bear spray can fell off a shelf and discharged at an Amazon warehouse in Robbinsville, sending two dozen workers to the hospital, The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health said the company needs to do a better job moving products without hurting people. "Amazon needs to invest in safety and do better by their workers," said said Debra Coyle McFadden, executive director of the NJ Work Environment Council, a group that advocates for workplace safety. Read the full story on Asbury [...]
Offshore Wind Farm Could Create 75,000 More Jobs, Report Finds
A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) says that new offshore wind farms in coastal states could create more than 75,000 jobs. “This report underscores a major opportunity to not only put people to work installing those turbines, but also to create a regional supply chain that will provide family-sustaining jobs in the manufacturing and distribution industries,” WEC Executive Director Dan Fatton said. Read the full story on the Daily Energy Insider.