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Concerns -- Topics & Action Reports
Here are some current topics of concern and reports on actions taken addressing these issues that will be of interest. If you would like to submit an article for inclusion or have items of concern, mailto:safety@usw.org?subject=Concerns--Topics & Activity Reports.
- NIOSH INTERIM NANO GUIDANCE COMMENTS (FINAL) -
Comments on the NIOSH Interim Guidance Document on Medical Screening of Workers Potentially Exposed to Engineered Nanoparticles
- VIEW IN PDF FORMAT
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- MSHA Comments on the MINER Act by the USA On June 12. 2006 the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 was enacted. The USW sent in this letter to the Director of MSHA in support of expanding MSHA penalties n metal and nonmetal mines.
- View the Letter in PDF Format
- Chemical Plants Remain Vulnerable to Terrorists: A Call to Action: A research study of 125 local USW unions found that these plants are still vulnerable to terrorist attacks despite the increased concern about plant safety post-9/11. The researchers call for greater worker and local union involvement in these important issues and for governmental action to ensure that companies take key steps – such as substituting safer chemicals – necessary to keep workers safe from both terrorist attacks and unintentional incidents. The research team included USW members and staff as well as consultants. Published September 2006 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
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- View in PDF Format
- View Online in HTML Format (will open in a new window)
- Asbestos Compensation Bill, S.852 – Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005: The Senate is [February 7, 2006] debating this bill. The House is considering their own version.
- USW February 6, 2006 letter to United States Senate – “Should S. 852 become law, the victim’s ability to obtain compensation under the current system ceases immediately while it will possibly take years to put in place the infrastructure necessary to properly administer a program of this size. In addition, due to the fact that bankruptcy trusts are to be eliminated upon enactment, this will leave victims without a remedy for an indefinite period of time.” - Leo W. Gerard
- AFL-CIO February 2, 2006 letter to United States Senate – “Addressing the so-called ‘leakage’ to the tort system has become more important than ensuring just compensation for those who are sick.” - John J. Sweeney
- Chemical Facility Security: The Senate unanimously passed a resolution [July 14, 2005] introduced by Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) that calls for federal standards to protect the country's chemical plants from terrorist attacks, the first time either body of Congress has done so. "I am extremely pleased the Senate is now on record calling for mandatory federal standards at our nation's unguarded chemical plants...There is real, overwhelming consensus that something must be done, and momentum is on our side."
- Diesel Fumes: United Steelworkers Union angered by Administration's weakening of Mine Safety Standard for Diesel Fumes -- "Diesel fumes cause cancer and lung disease," said USW President Leo Gerard. "Without good controls, working in an underground mine can be like working in the tailpipe of a bus."
- Dust Explosions: Wright Statement CSHIB 6-22-05 -- "Dust explosions are a hazard in many of the industries that our union represents. As the [US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation] Board knows, virtually any solid capable of being oxidized can do so explosively under the right conditions, and if it is divided into sufficiently small particles."
- Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting -- EPA proposes weakening reporting requirements
o See Docket ID No. TRI-2005-0073
o See the USW letter dated Jan 12, 2006 to EPA
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