|
|
Preventing Workplace Violence in the Age of #MeToo
Earlier this month, Worksafe attorneys attended the American Bar Association’s annual meeting of occupational safety and health practitioners. One of the more interesting panels was titled “Sexual Harassment as a Health and Safety Issue.” Worksafe’s Jora Trang participated, along with a management attorney, and an attorney from the Department of Labor.
When the management attorney spoke, I was expecting her to express opposition to the notion that sexual harassment could be a health and safety issue. Instead, she recounted to an audience of mostly management attorneys a “me too” experience. She described how a colleague’s pattern of aggressive, harassing behavior escalated into an assault in a locked office. Thankfully, she was able to escape the situation without physical injury.
Violence is the leading cause of workplace death among female workers in California, and Cal/OSHA is currently drafting a workplace violence prevention standard. We have asked Cal/OSHA to include in the standard the requirement to keep a written log of violence and threats of violence, something the Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups oppose. Unfortunately, Cal/OSHA’s draft proposal only requires employers to maintain written records of investigations of violence resulting in an injury requiring more than first aid to treat. The panelist’s experience of being held against the wall in a locked office would not trigger any recordkeeping requirement under this proposal, nor would the aggressive behavior that forewarned of the assault.
I’m not suggesting that Cal/OSHA should police sexual harassment. It does not have the resources or the skill set. But if the workplace violence prevention standard is going to do what the name says – prevent violence – it has to promote intervention before violence occurs. A recordkeeping requirement would help verify that employers have taken appropriate measures to identify and address threats before they escalate into violence.
Onward, Doug Parker Executive Director
| |
|
Worker Health & Safety in California: Regulatory Updates
Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment: Last month, Cal/OSHA held a third Advisory Committee meeting to discuss draft language for the Indoor Heat Standard mandated by SB 1167. The meeting was well attended by labor groups as well as industry reps. The Warehouse Workers Resource Center (WWRC) came up from the Inland Empire to speak on behalf warehouse workers. Other groups present included janitors from the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund (MCTF), workers from the Teamsters, reps from the Communication Workers of America (CWA), workers with EBASE, and the California Labor Federation. Worksafe is currently coordinating a stakeholder effort to ensure that labor voices are heard on the Indoor Heat Standard. Click here to learn more. Workplace Violence - General Industry Standard: Also last month, Cal/OSHA convened a second Advisory Committee meeting to discuss draft language for the workplace violence prevention - general industry standard. This standard would apply to all industries and create important safeguards to help reduce and prevent the harm caused by workplace violence. The current draft concerns us and our allies because its does not require an employer to maintain a violent incident log, assess environmental risk factors and work practice controls, assess the workplace violence prevention plan, or meaningfully involve workers in the plan. Worksafe is mobilizing allies to submit comments, which are due on March 30th, so contact us to get involved. Read the latest draft here.
Injury and Illness Prevention Programs: Cal/OSHA recently convened its first Advisory Committee meeting to draft language amending the requirements for an employer's Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) to include employee access to the plan. The California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation pushed hard last year for legislation that would require employers to provide a copy of the IIPP to employees or their representatives upon request, but industry maneuvering diverted their efforts into the rulemaking process. Issues discussed at the meeting included the form in which the IIPP could be provided (electronic (email or online posting), paper or both), access during working hours, time limits for providing the document, who could request a copy of the IIPP on the employee's behalf, and a discussion of what records and documents constitute the IIPP. Standards Board staff is drafting proposed language based on our discussion for the committee to review.
| |
 | Worksafe's Senior Staff Attorney Nicole Marquez speaks at ROC the Bay event. |
| Bay Area Restaurant Workers Build Power
Last month, Worksafe was honored to be a part of a rally and speakout hosted by Restaurant Opportunities Center Bay Area (ROC the Bay). The event included a sharing circle of workers, employers, and allies. Participants took turns sharing their experiences; giving powerful testimony about their on-the-job experiences with sexual harassment, racial intimidation, and other forms of workplace abuse. The speakout was part of a broader campaign of brave Bay Area restaurant workers and their supporters calling for moves to "ReCulture the Restaurant Industry." They are advancing a vision we at Worksafe can definitely get behind: a restaurant industry grounded in racial equity, professionalization, harassment-free environments, and dignity in the workplace. Be sure to follow ROC the Bay on Facebook and Twitter – a truly awesome organization doing great work!
| |
Meet the Board
Did you know that Worksafe has a fully fantastic Board of Directors? It's true, and we want to tell you about them! Let's start with Suzanne Teran, Associate Director of the UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP). Suzanne has been with LOHP for 22 years, and has served as Worksafe's Board Secretary since 2015. Her areas of focus include improving conditions for immigrant workers, Spanish-language training, effective health communication and social marketing, occupational health disparities, and leadership and capacity-building programs. Check out some of her publications here!
Worksafe is especially inspired by Suzanne's passion for worker education. "I love the challenge of thinking through a new training topic and distilling complex information into key points that are truly accessible and useful," she says. We also admire her knack for communicating occupational health issues to multiple audiences, including the general public. Her work deepens our collective understanding of the ways worker health and safety intersects with broader public health and social justice issues. Thanks so much for your support and leadership, Suzanne!
| |
Worksafe Anniversary Event: Save the Date!
Celebrate 36 years of fighting for worker health and safety! Worksafe will be hosting our 36th anniversary celebration on Friday, June 1st, 2018. This year, our honorees are: We'll be sending out more details in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! This is gonna be a good one, folks – can't wait to see you there!
| |
Want to learn more about Worksafe's recent activities? Be sure to check out our 2017 Impact Report at Worksafe.org! As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas!
| |
|
|
|
