April 2018

Reflecting on Workers Memorial Day


I make a point of reading Jordan Barab’s excellent blog, Confined Space. Jordan provides great news and commentary on what is happening in occupational health and safety. I especially appreciate the work he puts into sharing news stories from across the nation about workers who are killed on the job. Those stories, and those workers, deserve our attention. 

Earlier this month I was scrolling through the stories and noticed one was about a worker from my hometown. I clicked on the link to the news article and after some further searching realized it was a guy who was two years behind me in high school. Bobby Blevins, Jr., was a 47 year old truck driver with a wife, a daughter, and a granddaughter. He was electrocuted when the frame of his truck’s tarp cover came into contact with power lines. 

I didn’t know Bobby very well. I had to look through an old yearbook to match the middle-aged man being eulogized on Facebook with the teenage Bobby I finally recognized. From social media I pieced together a sketch of his life since high school. There was a recent picture of him proudly smiling behind the wheel of a new red dump truck, his employer’s name painted on the door. He loved to work on cars and motorcycles and race at the local drag strip. 

A friend recalled how he and Bobby talked on the phone every morning at 3:30 a.m. before the work day started, just to check in and see how one another were doing. Another remembered how Bobby mentored him as a driver. Lots of people remembered how he made them laugh.

Several people commented on Bobby’s generosity and sense of community. I learned that when a local child needed specialized medical care, Bobby auctioned off his prized Harley Davidson motorcycle in order to contribute to the child’s medical fund. Bobby didn’t know the child or his family.

As Workers Memorial Day approaches, please take a moment to reflect not only on the workers we have lost, but also on the incalculable loss to the loved ones and communities left behind. Because every worker who dies has a story, and it deserves our attention.
Onward,
Doug Parker
Executive Director

Remembering Workers Lost to Violence
Each year, hundreds of California workers are killed on the job, leaving behind families, workplaces, and communities forever changed by preventable tragedy. Join Worksafe and the UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) on Friday, April 27th as we gather to observe Workers Memorial Day 2018.
This year, our event will highlight workplace violence –  the second leading cause of death among California workers, and the leading cause of death for women at work. 
Attendees will hear from workers and advocates who are confronting workplace violence across sectors. Worksafe will also share information from our upcoming report, Dying at Work in California. We hope you will join us to mourn these workers, reflect on what's at stake, and recommit to another year of fierce worker justice activism. 
The event is free and lunch will be provided. Please register here to RSVP and learn more.

On the Road with Worksafe
Worksafe's Doug, Nicole, Jora, and Tim
American Bar Association Occupational Safety & Health Section (Santa Monica)

The ABA OSH section recently hosted their midwinter meeting in Santa Monica. Worksafe attorneys showed up in force:
Doug joined several panels concerning developments in enforcement at the Mine Safety and Health Administration during the Obama years and under Trump.
Jora presented on a panel discussing sexual harassment as a safety and health issue. Among other things, the panelists examined whether sexual harassment could constitute a serious workplace safety and health issue and whether OSHA could or would cite an employer under the general duty clause.
Nicole presented on an OSHA Primer panel that provided a general overview of the fundamentals of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The panel also compared Federal OSHA and Cal/OSHA practices.
Jora presents at the OSH Boot Camp
Occupational Safety & Health Boot Camp (Washington, DC)
The attorney crew then headed to the OSH Law Boot Camp – an intensive two-day training on health and safety law. legal strategies for protecting workers from harm and ensuring they receive adequate compensation if they are injured. Jora co-facilitated a panel on how preemption law affects the ability of state and local governments to regulate health and safety. The training is generously sponsored by The OSH Law Project, the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, and the Center for Progressive Reform. 
Nicole representing at Representative Barbara Lee's office
Unidos US Action Summit (Washington, DC) 
Nicole then attended the Unidos US Leaders in Action Summit, which brought together advocates and community leaders for two days of advocacy training. Unidos US (formerly National Council of La Raza) provided key updates on current issues affecting the Latino community, specifically calling for:
  • Strengthening public benefits and the safety net;
  • Ending funding for the mass deportation machine;
  • Strengthening consumer protections;
  • Improving access to affordable housing. 
Nicole organized two congressional visits with staff from the offices of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (District 11) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (District 13). We thank them for their support of the Unidos US policy platform and for their continued support of vulnerable workers.

Worksafe's 36th Anniversary Event - Join Us!
Have you heard? Worksafe will be hosting our 36th anniversary celebration on Friday, June 1st, 2018 at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley. Check out our 2018 Heroes of Health & Safety:
Want to get in on this special event? There are several ways to participate:
Questions? Please contact us at celebrate@worksafe.org or call 510-922-8075. We can't wait to celebrate with our amazing community of supporters and activists. Let's turn the tide together!
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!
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