OUTRAGEOUS: BP STOPPING Cleanup Workers from Wearing Respirators.....

[Junkdrawer]

Coast Guard Grounds Ships Involved in Spill Cleanup After 7 Fall Ill; BP Reportedly Preventing Fishermen from Wearing Respirators

At least seven fishermen involved in the cleanup of the BP oil spill were hospitalized on Wednesday after reporting nausea, dizziness, headaches and chest pains. The fishermen were likely exposed to both the leaked oil and chemical dispersants. As a precautionary measure, the Coast Guard has ordered all 125 commercial ships helping with the cleanup to return to land. For weeks, cleanup crews hired by BP have been reporting health issues, but their complaints have largely been ignored. We speak to Clint Guidry, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, and Albert Huang, an environmental justice attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

.....

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/27/coast_guard_grounds_ships_involved_in
(Video at link, Transcription Later)....

I heard this this morning. Worker health is taking a backseat to PR necessities. Result? Workers hospitalized and Lord-know-what long term health problems.

[Junkdrawer]

1. Kick

:kick:

[Echo In Light]

2. Horrendous...the world has become numb to the blatant, recurring disregard for humanity

[Junkdrawer]

3. TRANSCRIPT:

...

AMY GOODMAN: What about respirators? Are people wearing respirators?

CLINT GUIDRY: No, ma’am. Having had prior experience, I know these people. They’re friends. They’re family. I bought respirators, and I brought them down to these people. And when they tried to wear them, the BP representatives on site told them that it wasn’t a dangerous situation, and they didn’t need to wear them, and if they did, they would be taken off the job.

AMY GOODMAN: If they wore respirators, they’d be taken off the job?

CLINT GUIDRY: Yes.

AMY GOODMAN: Why?

CLINT GUIDRY: Because BP lies, and BP protects BP. And that is the biggest problem we have in the south of Louisiana right now, is BP, with its big oil big money, is buying up all the cover—and when I say "cover" I mean camouflage—that they can to try to make a little of the situation, not only environmentally, but health-wise. This is ridiculous.

AMY GOODMAN: But how does wearing respirators threaten BP? How do the workers, the cleanup crews, wearing respirators, how does that threaten BP?

CLINT GUIDRY: If you would do your research, the same situation occurred with Exxon Valdez over twenty years ago. It is a question of liability. The minute BP declares that there is a respiratory danger on the situation is the day that they let the door open for liability suits down the line. If they could have gotten away with covering this up, like they did in Alaska Valdez situation, like Exxon, they would not have to pay a penny for any kind of health-related claims.

....

[mod mom]

4. let's hope MSM picks this up immediately!

[glitch]

5. Creating their own reality: if respirators are allowed that means there is a need for them.

If respirators aren't allowed that means there is no need for them.

Therefore if you ban respirators, the air is automatically fine! That's their story and they're sticking to it, otherwise they admit liability. This is the way Corporatists think.

[HillbillyBob]

6. Profit always outweights worker health.

nt

[NNN0LHI]

7. Respirators aren't going to do any good

If it is strong enough to get you sick from breathing it getting it on your skin is going to be just as bad for you. Can't avoid that.

As for the "Workers hospitalized and Lord-know-what long term health problems.", all these Gulf state governors are suing the government to block HCR in their states.

They should all be thrown out of office.

Don

[felinetta]

12. What about full bio hazard outfits? I saw postal workers wearing them after the anthrax attacks.If

it is that toxic, then that's it. No one should be allowed
near these dangerous substances. The clean up should be
stopped immediately.

[felinetta]

13. Solution: only let BP people clean up the mess. Get your ass out there Tony Hayward.

[TheKentuckian]

8. See how focused they are on perception management rather than actual safety?

BP is all about covering BP's ass and making this get out of mass perception as fast as possible.

[Junkdrawer]

9. And with all the shoreline spraying of dispersants....

I worry about the health effects to the coastal residents.

[Junkdrawer]

10. The Coast Guard seems to be blaming this on the weather....

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry:

“As you know, the heat and humidity in Louisiana can be challenging. Fortunately, everyone is fine.”

Watch it here:

http://dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=86377

:puke:

[felinetta]

11. I have been screaming from the start "where are their full bio hazard gear?" BP has no soul,

no morality, no humanity.

[blindpig]

14. PR, it's all PR.

Don't want it to look as bad as it is, hazmat suits might give the public a clue as to how bad it is.

This is capitalism 'at it's finest', the interests of the shareholders will be served regardless of who or what gets hurt.

Kill Capitalism.