Post-hurricane cleanup could kill more workers than storms themselves

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Mon Oct 23, 2017, 03:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Retweeted by Dave Weigel: https://twitter.com/daveweigel

Trump's OSHA is refusing to work w/ immigrant hurricane clean up workers facing deadly risks of asbestos exposure

Link to tweet

Post-hurricane cleanup could kill more workers than storms themselves

The two hurricanes that battered Texas and Florida left 200 people dead but neglect of health and safety among mainly day laborers could exact a great toll

Mike Elk
https://twitter.com/MikeElk
Monday 23 October 2017 06.00 EDT

More workers could die from the long-term effects of cleaning up after hurricanes Harvey and Irma than were killed by the storms, according to a nationwide network of workplace health and safety groups.

The mainland US death toll for the two hurricanes, which battered Texas and Florida in August and September, now stands at approximately 200 people. But according to Jessica Martinez, executive director of National Council of Occupation Safety and Health (Cosh), a nationwide network of workplace health and safety groups, a greater number of people will die cleaning up in their wake “if more resources aren’t put into health and safety training from post-cleanup”.

José Garza, former associate deputy assistant secretary for policy at Department of Labor under Obama, and now executive director of the Texas-based Workers Defense Project, said he had been working with more than 60 organizers in communities in Texas since the storm and had yet to meet with any high-ranking government officials. “Ultimately, the lives of workers are too important for us to sit back and do nothing,” he said.

Part of the problem stems from cuts the Trump administration is seeking to make to federal funding given by the Obama administration to labor groups to train undocumented workers in their rights to a healthy and safe workplace. Local groups claimed the Trump administration was also refusing to coordinate with worker groups doing health and safety training for hurricane cleanup workers.

[riversedge]

1. There really is a dangerous disrespect for these workers!!

[matt819]

2. This is no different than children recylcing computer parts on junk heaps in China and elsewhere

Pardon me for the expression, but this is a third world mentality, no different from allowing children to strip computers for valuable metals and minerals in China, India, and elsewhere. In fact, it's not much different from WTC cleanup crews who are now dying because they went in without protection. We should be ashamed of ourselves as a nation, but we're frankly too far gone already.