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Last Updated 6/4/09
WNYCOSH (Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health) is a nonprofit group that provides grant-supported occupational safety training to various unions and companies. WNYCOSH and the Buffalo AFL-CIO have formed the “Safety Committee”, which acts as a forum to discuss occupational safety issues and an alliance for a safer workplace.
Executive Director: Roger Cook
Program Director: Germain Harnden
Upcoming Meetings
Past Safety Committee Activity
WNYCOSH Accomplishments
Workplace Fatalities
Contact Information
Files
WNYCOSH Union Membership Form 2008
WNYCOSH Individual Membership Form 2008
News
- Several WNYCOSH members along with others from local unions joined the Buffalo Steelworker's Action Group on Wednesday, June 25th, for a rally at the Department of Labor District Headquarters in Cleveland, OH. The BSAG requested just compensation for workers who suffered injury or death as a result of exposure to radioactive materials at several government sites. Several groups and representatives have offered their support of the BSAG and their cause. These include, WNYCOSH, the Buffalo AFL-CIO, Jobs with Justice, Justice Commission for the United Church of Christ, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Charles Schumer, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones.
Marty Gelfand (Congressman Kusinich's Office) addressing Joyce Walker and the rest of the crowd outside the Dept. of Labor Headquarters in Cleveland.
The next Safety and Health meeting will be held on:
The next meeting will be held Tuesday, June 9th at 6 P.M. at the Hearthstone Manor.
WNYCOSH/AFL-CIO Safety Committee Activity
May 11, 2010 - Workers' Memorial Event
Special guests: Robert Kulick - Administrator, OSHA Region 2, Richard Mendelson - Deputy Administrator, OSHA Region 2, Laura Kenny - Labor Liaison, OSHA Region 2, Art Dube - Buffalo Area Director, OSHA & Anne Hudson - WING USA
Key initiatives OSHA is taking to move forward
• Implement stronger penalties for worker fatalities
• Make sure all workers' have a voice in the workplace
• New standards for rule making
• Ergo changes
• Changes in record keeping(there has been and under reporting of injuries)
• strengthen whistle blower protection
Anne Hudson gave power point presentation on Safe Patient Handling
• There are too many hospitals and nursing homes that don't have proper equipment for nurses to be lifting/moving patients
• Many nurses from all departments are being injured resulting in loss of work/salary
April 13, 2010
Special guest Ellen Smith, owner and editor of Mine Safety & Health News, talking about the Upper Big Branch mine explosion
• Massey mines had a number of safety violations but nothing was done to prevent the disaster
• Ellen Smith - "Open peoples' minds to the culture of safety, coal mining will have a bad reputation untill good companies step up and talk about their practices"
Tome Grace - There will be a forum on June 3 at the UAW Region 9 in light of visit from Tea Party express and announcement of Carl Palidino for Governor
March 9, 2010
Report by Frank Dolce - the importance of reform of Section 29 of the Worker's Comp. Law
Donna Chapman - Introducing agenda for the Worker's Memorial Event on May 11
SPH sub committee is being formed to focus on broader education and implementation and passing SPH legislation
February 9, 2010
Paul Blujus has implemented a successful SPH program at the Veterans Home in Batavia
Special Guest - Mark Higgins was in attendance from the NYS Workers' Comp. Board, discussing issues on workers' compensation
Erin Heaney reported on the violations of the Tonowanda Coke Plant
January 12, 2010
Mobilization on HAB
• Governor wants to eliminate board and have DOL Administer
• Eliminate board could lead to funding being done away with $6.8 million
Medical Treatment & Guidelines
• Some treatments that Dr.s' think are successful are not being included into guidelines
• Non-practicing physicians are coming up with guidelines
• New head of workers comp.- administrative law judge is viewing changes
Special presentation on Contact Dermatitis by John Lipsitz
November 10, 2009
OSHA updates given by Art Dube
Apollo Alliance - Green projects
• Greg Stoner - Western NY Apollo alliance worked on 3rd year of weatherization - went into fruit belt and worked on 50 homes
• Worked on 50 homes in two weekends for a total of 150 homes for the program
Workers Compensation - Medical Treatments and guidelines
• Update on medical treatment guidelines by Dr. Vigna and Dr. Croce
• Discussion of pitfalls in proposed guidelines
• Under workers comp system and under automobile no fault system - any injured person is free to retain their own physician
• Medical decisions are made by the medical community - guidelines will introduce corporate concept of managed care, letting medical professionals determine proper treatment for patients
October 13, 2009
OSHA updates given by Art Dube
Legislative Agenda follow up
• Protect America's Workers Act
-Rep.s' Slaughter, Massa, Schumer and Higgins signed on, no response from Gillibrand or Lee
• Federal SPH Bill
-Motion to send committee contacts to introduce national SPH bill, to see if Schumer will introduce
Report on Labor Law 240-241 proposed changes
• Legislation has a long history of protecting workers working at heights (i.e. on scaffolding/ladders)
• 240 delas with proper precautions for protecting workers working at heights - including lanyard, slings, other devices
• Two bills are at committee that under the present legislation would no longer make owners and general contractors liable to workers
Report on NYS SPH program/Legislation
• WNYCOSH applied for an OSHA SPH grant and was awarded it
• Legislation would require nursing homes and hospitals to have manual lifting equipment
Report on Workers' Comp - John Bieger
• Went to NYC conference on compensation presented by NYCOSH-discussed what is happening with workers comp and on issues where legislative change needs to happen
• Groups in the building trades expressed frustration that much of the fraud came from insurances industry - AIG and others
• People are losing benefits for partial temporary disability - even if permanently disabled, because the comp board says the disabled worker has an ongoing duty to try to find employment
Workplace Violence - Mike Schlict
Presented legislation and documentation on workplace violence/bullying (steps to legislation)
• Step 1 - Employee and employer to attempt to work out a solution (i.e. transfer or addressing bully)
• Step 2 - If step one doesn't work - worker can litigate up to a cap of $25K
• Step 3 - Litigation with no caps if there is egregious situation and if the worker can prove it was health harming - i.e. person forced on permanent disability
• Step 4 - Would allow the worker to hold bully responsible independent of the employer
September 8, 2009
OSHA updates given by Art Dube
Protect America's Workers Act
• This act would make egregious violations of OSHA punishable as a felony
• It would cover public sector workers in all states and provide "whistle blower" protection for workers
SPH Legislation
• The NYS SPH bill got through the NYS Assembly Labor and Health committees and was sent to ways and means
• The senate bill (sponsored by Health committee chair Duane) didn't move because of senate meltdown
Legislation to protect NYS Farm Wokers'
• They are requesting an 8 hr. day (many now work 14 hrs. days), Sunday off, and a minimum wage standard (many work for as little as $3.20/hr.)
• It passed in the Assembly and is bottled up in the Senate
Report on Swine Flu -Dana McCarthy
Report on Tonawanda Coke Plate - Erin Heany
June 9, 2009
Code 60 Rule
• Workers Comp. Reform Act Code Rule 59-target employers' with poor injury rates
Safe Patient Handling
• A bill was introduced to the health committee of the Senate and Assembly
• Policy and procedures and ergo committees-there is no safe manual lift
• Introduced in Assembly by Susan John and in the Senate by Senator Duane
Protecting America's Workers Act
• National AFLI-CIO, National COSH's & National health organizations are in support
• Criminal penalties for egregious injuries
May 2009
Workers Memorial Event
Guests:Tammy Miser (Founder&President of United Support & Memorial for workplace fatalities), The Andrew Fundalinski Family, Joyce Walker (Buffalo Steel Action Group)
All guests shared their personal stories on how workplace fatalities have affected them and their families and why we need to fight for workers' rights
Protecting America's Workers Act and the Ed Walker Memorial Act
April 14, 2009
John Pullano reporting on the death of a Grand Island Worker, Roger contacted the NYS Attorney Generals office about coordinating with the Erie County Da; Frank Sedita on pursuing this case. Sedita will be looking into it
Discussion on workplace violence standards
Planning for the Worker's Memorial Event on May 12, 2009
March 10, 2009
Worker's comp. changes-Keith Williams
• 1 1/2 year old comp. laws and medical guidelines
Guest: Russ Ippolito Jr. - Addressing procedure for reporting potential labor laws
• Possible form for reporting
• Types of Documentation
February 10, 2009
Attorney General report on owner of an Erie County plumbing and heating company who ripped off employees - handed out and discussed
Report by Roger on SPH
• There is NO safe patient lift
• Anything over 35 lbs. will injure your back
• Biomechanics is taught to lift with your knees
Special Guest Cesar Cabrera
January 13, 2009
Guest- Art Dube, Area OSHA Director
OSHA Update, a rise in whistle blower complaints. If company does not respond with abatement, then OSHA follows up on compliance inspections.
Representative Hilda Solis (nominee for US Sec. of Labor)
Candidates for OSHA Director
National COSH (Protecting Workers on the Job)
Safe Patient Handling Update WNYCOSH & Kaleida
Communications from Attorney Generals office
December 17, 2008
Joint Legislative Roundtable with the Area Labor Federation held at the UAW Region 9 Hall with topics of discussion on
Safe Patient Handling policy and procedures
Safe Staffing for quality care
Annual Christmas party followed, honoring long time trainer Ken Bojanek who retired last year from WNYCOSH
.
November 11, 2008
Employess Compensation has a new C-3 form effective Jan 1, 2009
Workplace Violence Regulation (PESH)
National COSH handout,
Attorney General press realease on withheld wages for Long Island Hospitality workers
Rep Silda Solis confirmation hearing discussion
HAB OSHTE funding discussion
October 14, 2008
Guests: Mark Higgins Commissioner Workers Comp board
Safe Patient Handling 2 day conference held in Niagara Falls with over 300 attendee's.
12 % of staff leaving the healthcare profession every year due to back injuries
DA race discussed, Ken Case to step down.
September 16, 2008
WNYCOSH safety training class for safety trainers October 21, 22, 2008. Cornell University -NYSSILR, 237 Main St. Ste 1200, Buffalo, NY.
"Rocket docket update"
Safe Patient Handling/Zero Lift Legislation/ Roundtable Hearings/ Conference.
Worker's Compensation Workplace Safety and loss prevention incentive program. (proposed regulations and our response)
US Dept of Labor's proposal to change standard setting process
This committees roles in planning a roundtable with Attorney General Cuomo October 21st or 22nd.
June 2008
Guest -Raymond Struzik, District Administrator NYS Workers Compensation Board. Erie County District Attorney candidates.
Diane LaValle, Frank Sedita. How can we work with the DA's office to prosecute negliegent employers.
60 Minutes segment on combustible dust.
Evaluation of our work this past year: summer business and ideas for next year.
May 2008
Guests - Joyce Walker, Thomas Bennett, and Ralph Krieger shared their experiences from Bethlehem Steel and working with the government to compensate injured workers.
• Worker’s memorial day and honoring Ed Walker
• Compensation for irradiated workers of Bethlehem Steel
• Petition for the elimination of mandatory overtime for healthcare workers
April 2008
Guest, Melissa Rowland gave a presentation on Safe Patient Handling (SPH)
• Criminal Prosecution of Negligent Employers
• Safe Patient Handling (The committee unanimously agreed to support SPH and related legislation.)
March 2008
Frank Dolce led a discussion on the latest amendment to the NYS worker’s compensation law.
• Effects of the change in legislation
• Max Brock construction case
February 2008
Ed Ruff (NYS Advocate for Injured Workers) gave a guest presentation.
• OSHA responses to local injury cases
• Partnership between OSHA and WNYCOSH
January 2008
Guests, Jim Rogers (NYS A.G. for Social Justice), Russell Ippolito (Assistant A.G. in charge of Buffalo Regional Office), and Ed Walker gave presentations to the committee.
• Employer negligence
• Pursuing criminal charges against negligent companies
• Bethlehem Steelworkers Action Group (BSAG)
November 2007
Art Dube (Area OSHA Director) and Laura Kenney (Labor Liaison for OSHA Region II) were guests at the meeting.
• Webb and Holiday Inn Express Fatal injuries
• Protect America’s Workers Act
September2007
In the meeting with Frank Clark, he indicated that he would not conduct a criminal investigation of the Fundalinski case.
June 2007
Follow-up on the Fundalinski case.
• Legal brief for the Jonathan Fundalinski case is drawn up by Rebecca Town and Frank Dolce.
• Setup meeting with D.A. Frank Clark
May 2007
The Buffalo AFL-CIO/WNYCOSH Safety and Health Committee is formed. The first meeting is held to discuss Worker’s Remembrance.
• Remembering Workers who have died on the job.
• Smithfield Packing workers and National AFL-CIO Safety and Health Director address to the Buffalo Council.
28 Years of Fighting for Workers’ Rights
In 2007 - 2008 WNYCOSH was able to:
• set up joint labor-management training and education programs for 22 unions and companies
• provide over 600 hours of training for 4,000 - 5,000 union working women and men in Western New York
• co-chair the NYS Safe Patient Handling Task Force and develop legislation that will eliminate manual lifting in hospitals and nursing homes
• set up ergonomics committees and provide training for over 500 health care workers on Safe Patient Lifting/Zero Lift in 3 nursing homes and 2 hospitals
• work with the Buffalo AFL-CIO and affiliates to set up an active Buffalo AFL-CIO Safety & Health Committee dedicated to ensuring the criminal prosecution of employers who maim and kill workers
• work with the WNY ALF to help organize the Legislative Town Hall
meeting, the Legislative Roundtable, and Holiday Party and program with UNITE-HERE
• work with the UFCW to organize the Buffalo AFL-CIO’s “Worker Memorial Day” program, bringing Smithfield workers and organizers from North Carolina last May’s AFL-CIO meeting
• with the help of many of our union brothers and sisters and Senators Volker and Senator Maziarz, recover funding that WNYCOSH should have legitimately received from the Hazard Abatement Board
Thank you to all of our union brothers and sisters over these many years! We look forward to your joining WNYCOSH in 2008 - 2009.
Workplace Fatalities 2003-2008
| Date |
Name |
Age |
| 1/12/03 |
Arthur Rainey |
52 |
| 2/11/03 |
Gary Kroening |
42 |
| 3/13/03 |
Emerick Coleman |
46 |
| 3/26/03 |
George Goupil
|
63
|
| 4/12/03 |
Albert Serrano
|
35
|
| 10/27/03 |
Robert Mazza
|
62
|
| 10/25/03 |
Brad Burgher
|
23
|
| 3/8/04 |
Troy Robertson
|
28
|
| 3/30/04 |
Lester Ordway
|
56
|
4/30/04
|
Nicholas Cinquino
|
43
|
6/9/04
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Paul Gefell
|
53
|
7/12/04
|
John R Goole
|
64
|
9/27/04
|
Bob Hollinsworth
|
57
|
| 11/6/04 |
Michael Kloc
|
36
|
11/8/04
|
Earl Kay Jr.
|
30
|
12/1/04
|
David Burroughs
|
68
|
12/13/04
|
Joseph Mattina
|
39
|
2/4/05
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Douglas Vincent
|
34
|
2/17/05
|
Robert Schmitz
|
56
|
3/22/05
|
Charles Matthew Lee
|
34
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5/13/05
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Michael Stokes
|
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7/13/05
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Joseph Jazdzewski
|
25
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7/20/05
|
Brandon McLane
|
21
|
8/12/05
|
Lee Wilsom
|
42
|
12/8/05
|
Jason Robinson
|
36
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3/1/06
|
Karl Martin
|
51
|
3/1/06
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Andrew Beck
|
22
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7/14/06
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Thomas Hill
|
63
|
11/3/06
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Steve Musilli
|
48
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3/20/07
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Jonathan Fundalinski
|
24
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8/31/07
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Joseph Fusco
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| 10/3/07 |
August Corsivo
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| 1/24/08 |
Joseph J. Gronowski
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Robert Batt |
|
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Mike Russo |
|
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Ryan Brady |
|
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Robert Houston |
|
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Kevin Coffta |
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You can contact WNYCOSH at (716)-833-5416, or Fax at (716)-833-7507.
Mid June 2007 Update
(Posted: Jul 20, 2008 19:31:18)
Page Last Updated: Jul 20, 2008 (19:31:18)
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