NYCOSH UPDATE

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• Labor leaders urge passage of James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act 
• Howard roundly welcomed back to his former post as NIOSH director
• ADAO supports Acting U.S. Surgeon General's statement on asbestos
• Events

Labor leaders urge passage of James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act

State and local labor leaders stood with Congressional lawmakers on September 8 to urge support for the Zadroga Bill, legislation that would finally establish a stable federal program to aid the many thousands of sick victims of the World Trade Center disaster eight years ago.

"We are moving the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act through Congress, but we need to need to make sure we all get together to increase the pressure," said Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO. "It is an outrage that we haven't gotten this bill passed yet – it must get done in this legislative session," he added.

The Zadroga bills in the House and Senate (H.R. 847/S 1334) would provide guaranteed federal funding for health monitoring and treatment programs for 9/11 victims. It would also re-open the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) to allow victims to file claims for economic losses suffered as a result of 9/11.

 "Eight years is long enough for the heroes and heroines of 9/11 to wait for health care," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-14th ), who re-introduced the Zadroga bill in the House early this year. "Our nation owes a tremendous debt to 9/11 responders and others sick from the attacks and we intend to start paying these debts this year by finally passing a comprehensive 9/11 health and compensation program."

"New leadership has given us genuine hope that it really is only a matter of time before we finally bring some justice to the heroes of 9/11," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-8th), a co-sponsor of the Zadroga bill. The bill "cleared a significant hurdle in July when it was favorably reported out of the Judiciary Committee to bring us one important step closer to realization," he noted.

 "It is critically important that the Zadroga bill is passed and passed now because we need to continue to monitor the health of firefighters and those in the communities who were impacted," said Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York.

Cassidy said that 343 firefighters had died as a result of their 9/11 service and that "firefighters are now sick in record numbers. Over 2500 were forced to retire with permanent disabilities, and cancers have cropped up in record numbers for younger firefighters."

Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ - 6th District), who chairs the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he planned to schedule a markup of the Zadroga bill at the end of the month. "We can start the momentum with a mark-up, but we need to generate enough support to get it voted out of the subcommittee," he said.

"The markup is our last big hurdle in the House, short of a full vote on the floor," said Dr. James Melius, Administrator, New York State Laborers' Health and Safety Trust Fund. and chair of the Steering Committee for the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program "It one of the key steps we've all been waiting for."

Howard roundly welcomed back to his former post as NIOSH director

The re-appointment of Dr. John Howard as director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was heartily praised by local labor leaders and Congressional representatives who had urged President Obama earlier this year to return Howard to his post.

In a September 3 statement announcing his reappointment, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Howard would "assume a dual role.  In addition to being the director of NIOSH, he will also serve as the World Trade Center Programs coordinator for HHS."

"Dr. Howard brings a wealth of administrative experience from his service in both state and federal governments and a long history of personal dedication and professional achievement to the field of occupational health and safety," Sebelius said.

In response to his reappointment, Howard said, "It's great to be back and to be able to work with everyone at NIOSH again is very exciting for me." His immediate priorities include a review of the 9/11 health program.

"I want to understand what's happened with the program over the last 14 months or so and then I hope to come to the city in October and make my rounds with everybody, including the community groups," he said.

Under the former Bush Administration, Howard was not reappointed to his post when his term expired in July 2008. No reason was given for the failure to reappoint him and the Bush Administration was sharply criticized for its action. Following the election of President Obama, labor leaders and Congressional representatives called for Howard's reappointment, citing his efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims.

"Dr. Howard is one of the very, very few federal officials who responded decently, who showed that he cared -- and for that he was fired by the Bush Administration and now rehired by the Obama Administration. So that is a sign of hope," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (9th District). "He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the proper care and treatment to those suffering from 9/11-related health problems," Nadler added.

 "It's great to have the opportunity to work with John again," said Micki Siegel de Hernandez, Health and Safety Director, Communications Workers of America, District 1. "He has always been a strong supporter of the World Trade Center health programs and he understands the issues. His absence has really been felt and we're all looking forward to picking up where we left off."

"Dr. John Howard is one of the nation's leaders in occupational health and worker safety," Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control, said in a statement. "He's worked with the scientists, medical professionals, and workers to effectively lead investigations into new and potential health hazards, and to address workplace health and safety concerns. Importantly, he brings to this position the dedication and passion needed to achieve the safest workplaces possible."

ADAO supports Acting U.S. Surgeon General’s statement on asbestos

Acting Surgeon General Steve Galeson issued a statement urging "every American to become aware of the public health issues of asbestos exposure and the steps they can take to protect their health."

The statement, originally posted in April of 2009, in response to a Senate resolution that designated the first week of April 2009 as National Asbestos Awareness Week. was recently found on the web site of the U.S. Surgeon General's Office.  The Surgeon General's statement was discovered by staffers in the office of Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL.), who were working on research for legislation to ban asbestos,

The posting states there is "no level of asbestos exposure that is known to be safe and minimizing your exposure will minimize your risk of developing asbestos-related disease." The complete statement can be found here

Linda Reinstein, executive Director of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauded the discovery of a statement."

 "I was surprised to learn about the statement, but also very pleased that the Surgeon General had issued it," Reinstein said. The organization has been conducting an ongoing national education campaign about asbestos and has been working with members of Congress on legislation that would ban asbestos in the United States.

"As a mesothelioma widow, I am pleased to see the Surgeon General's statement, as asbestos has been a known carcinogen for more than thirty years. ADAO is excited to be able to advance educational efforts with his statement, which strongly reaffirms the need to ban asbestos," Reinstein said.

In announcing the posted document ADAO noted "every reputable United States and international health agency including the Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American Cancer Society agree there is no safe level of asbestos exposure."

"Most recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reconfirmed that all commercial asbestos fibers – including chrysotile, the most commercially used form of asbestos – cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, the IARC newly confirmed that there is sufficient evidence that asbestos causes ovarian cancer and reconfirmed asbestos causes laryngeal cancer," the ADAO statement said.

EVENTS

Wednesday, September 30, NYCOSH Forum

Pandemic Flu: Are We Prepared?

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Professional Staff Congress, 61 Broadway, 16^th Floor (at Exchange Place)

Panelists:

Pamela Kellner, RN, MPH, Infection Control Coordinator/ICS Liaison, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Communicable Disease

Robert Kulick, Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Region 2

Bill Kojola, MPH, Industrial Hygienist, AFL-CIO

Saturday, October 3, Workers’ Compensation Conference

Nuts and Bolts of Navigating New York State’s Workers’ Compensation System

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

District Council 37, AFSCME

125 Barclay Street, NYC

Breakfast, lunch, and materials provided

No Fee, Seating is limited. Pre-registration required.

For more information, call NYCOSH at (212) 227-6440 extension 10

Co-sponsored by (list in formation); NYCOSH, District Council 37; AFSCME, District Council 1707, AFSCME; Local 1, International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees; Local 56 IBFOMM – affiliated with Local 32BJ, SEIU and the New York Hotel Trades Council, AFL-CIO; NYC Local 246 SEIU; Local 1500, United Food and Commercial Workers; Local 1-2, Utility Workers Union of America

Joel Shufro, Executive Director

John Raymond, Public Affairs Director

jraymond@nycosh.org

New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health

116 John Street, Suite 604, New York NY 10038 : Tel: 212-227-6440 ext. 14; Fax: 212-227-9854

www.nycosh.org

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NYCOSH is a non-profit provider of occupational safety and health training, advocacy and information (including technical assistance and industrial hygiene consultation) to workers and unions throughout the New York metropolitan area. Our membership consists of more than 250 union organizations and 400 individuals: union members, health and safety activists, injured workers, healthcare workers, attorneys, public health advocates, environmentalists and concerned citizens. We welcome contributions of any amount to support our work, which can be made by visiting http://www.nycosh.org and clicking on the "Donate Now" logo. Contributions to the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, Inc. (NYCOSH) are tax deductible as provided by law. A copy of NYCOSH's last annual report may be obtained from us or from the office of the Attorney General, State of New York, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

NYCOSH is a union shop. Its staff is represented by USW Local 4-149.