Health and Safety

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The CWA Occupational Safety and Health Department has as its primary responsibility the elimination/minimization of member exposure to hazardous working conditions and potentially related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The Department’s primary areas of activity include:

• Promoting the awareness of occupational and environmental safety and health issues and concerns,
• Training CWA members in occupational safety and health recognition and control, and
• Developing an ongoing comprehensive workplace safety and health program.

The primary work functions of the department include:

• The identification of member workplace safety and health needs,
• The development and use of information and communication tools including the CWA Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Webpage,  
• The development and dissemination of educational and training materials that target the elimination/minimization of hazardous working conditions experienced by CWA members,
• The provision of technical assistance that addresses specific member workplace safety and health hazards,
• Conducting and sponsoring both generalized and specialized occupational safety and health education and training classes/programs for CWA leaders and occupational safety and health activists, and
• Conducting and sponsoring survey and scientific research specific to the workplace safety and health hazards encountered by the Union’s members.

These activities are achieved through the development and use of a coordinated approach within CWA involving headquarters personnel as well as national, district, and local officers, leaders, and occupational safety and health activists.