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Policy Paper Meetings
The WorkSafe Activist Network meets periodically to revise its 1999 White Paper. Click here to see the 1999 White Paper.
We are working with a national ad hoc group to develop a framework for the future of workplace safety and health and incorporating work being done in this area by others.
If you are interested in helping us develop this policy paper, please call WORKSAFE! at (510) 302-1071 or e-mail fcs@worksafe.org. You can participate in one or more sections or the policy paper as a whole. Click here for a sign up form that lists each section. Click here for a draft detailed outline of the policy paper (incomplete).
WORKSAFE POLICY CONFERENCE
Learning from the Past, Building for the Future:
Worker health and safety policy, research, advocacy and organizing
Sunday December 2, 2007
Monday December 3, 2007
Click here for more information.
NO MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT THIS MOMENT
RESOURCES
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM?
The Fraction of Disability Caused at Work - Study estimates the proportion of the disabled population whose disability was caused by workplace injury, accident, or illness using the Health and Retirement Study of 1992 - Robert Reville and Robert Schoeni - Social Security Bulletin Vol. 65 No. 4 2003/2004 - click here for the press release
How Much Injury and Illness is Missed by the Current National Surveillance System? - Study estimates the undercount of occupational injuries and illnesses by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the existing national surveillance system - Rosenman et al - 2006 - Michigan State University
The sections being drafted for the new policy paper are as follows:
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Section I |
Introduction
A. Who we are and our accomplishments
B. Purpose of the policy paper |
| Section II |
Improve Workers' Voices
A. Provide a real "right to act" for all workers through safety and health reprsentatives and committees, standing to complain, and make meaningful the right to refuse unsafe work
1. Require safety and health representatives or committees
2. Strengthen the right to refuse unsafe work
3. Eliminate false distinctions among complainants filing safety and health complaints
4. Repeal laws that exclude household domestic service from safety and health protection
B. Establish effective private right of action to enforce safety and health laws and regulations
C. Strengthen the right to know
1. Establish a comprehensive hazard and exposure tracking program
2. Employers and employees must have accurate and informative Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDSs)
3. Govt agencies need information to educate workers and their employers
D. Educate and empower workers through independent training programs
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| Section III |
Improve Existing Laws and Regs, Govt Enforcement & Govt Programs to Prevent Injuries and Illnesses
A. Improve Cal/OSHA enforcement program
1. Increase enforcement staff
2. Increase cultural and language resources
3. Improve efficiency and fairness int he enforcement process
a. increase targeted inspections
b. change the definition of serious injury to reflect current hospital procedures and policies
c. require timely abatement of unsafe and unhealthy conditions
d. make the penalty scheme fairer and increase its impact
B. Improve criminal and civil prosecution program
C. Improve occupational health capacity in our public health system
D. Improve Cal/OSHA standards and the standard setting process
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| Section IV |
Improve Remedies When Prevention Fails and Workers are Injured
A. Identify Exposed and Sick or Injured Workers through a comprehensive workplace injury, illness, disease and fatality tracking program
B. Strengthen and enforce injured workers' rights
1. Improve the workers' compensation system and/or eliminate it and replace it with universal health care, state disability, and right to sue employer for negligence
2. Strengthen and expand 3rd party remedies
3. Assure that injured workers do not suffer retaliation
4. Assure that disabled workers do not suffer discrimination
C. Assure effective medical treatment for injured workers |
| Section V |
Protect Vulnerable Workers
A. Immigrant workers
B. Other low-wage workers and workers of color
C. Young workers
D. Contingent workers |
| Section VI |
Encourage Employers to Reduce Hazards with Innovative Approaches
A. Educate employers
B. Create and improve employer incentives for providing a safe place to work
C. Improve the Cal/OSHA Consultation program |
| Section VII |
Organize for Change
A. Build an activist network
1. Develop coalitions for worker health & safety advocacy
2. Bring together the occupational and environmental health communities
3. Bring together the occupational and community health communities
4. Create a new generation of occupational safety and health activists and professionals
B. Increase the visibility of OSH issues
1. Public education campaign
a. Identify various problems and find funding to research these problems and propose solutions
b. Increase OSH advocacy groups connection to the media
c. Develop talking points for OSH advocacy groups
2. Reach policy makers |
| Section VIII |
Strategies for Assuring a Continued Commitment to OSH
A. Financially sustain these efforts |
1999 WORKSAFE! White Paper (311k pdf)
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