The Pump Handle
Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH
of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services
Demands for safer working conditions, fair wages drew Martin Luther King to Memphis
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on January 21, 2013 Today we commemorate the life of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated in Memphis, TN in April 1968. The civil rights leader was visiting Memphis to support hundreds of city sanitation workers in their demands for safer working conditions and dignity on the job.
Precarious work arrangements deserves attention and action by new Secretary of Labor
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on January 15, 2013 The report, “At the company’s mercy,” should serve as the new Secretary of Labor’s roadmap to improve working conditions for temporary and other precarious workers.
Delays continue in Obama Administration on new worker safety protections
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on January 8, 2013 With five days left in calendar year 2012, the Obama Administration released its current regulatory plan and agenda, including new rules addressing health and safety hazards in workplaces. Neither OSHA nor MSHA have a good track record predicting when such rules will actually be completed.
Safety experiences of union carpenters, imagine what it’s like for the rest of them
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 20, 2012 A survey of more than 1,000 union carpenter apprentices describes how production pressure can compromise safety and how suffering an on-the-job injury can compromise your job security. The frank comments from workers who have the protection of a union makes me wonder how bad it must be for non-union workers.
USDA’s focus should be food safety, not increasing profit for poultry industry
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 18, 2012 McClatchy Newspapers’ reporter Lindsay Wise reports in two new articles on a proposed USDA rule to allegedly “modernize” the poultry inspection process. USDA and the poultry industry are having a love fest over the proposal, but food safety and workers’ safety advocates oppose the rule. The White House will soon be deciding the rule’s fate.
Excess breast cancer risk among women employed in automobile plastics facilities
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 12, 2012 Two recently published papers funded by the federal agency Health Canada report on excess risk of breast cancer among auto plastics workers and the chemical compounds and processes used that are the likely culprits.
New DOT policy promises better health and safety protections for flight attendants
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 10, 2012 After three decades, the FAA has finally acknowledged that its regulations to protect the health and safety of flight attendants are not adequate. A new policy—barring major objections from the airlines—-will extend OSHA protections to airline flight attendants.
Worker remain missing four days after failure of West Virginia coal slurry impoundment
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on December 4, 2012 After four days, one worker remains unaccounted for after being caught in the collapse of an embankment at a WV coal slurry impoundment. The 788 acre pond of coal waste and chemical-laced water is owned by CONSOL Energy, and is just one of hundreds like it located in U.S. coal mining States.
Exploring links between working conditions and obesity in low-wage workers
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 28, 2012 Most current strategies to address the obesity problem in Americans focus on individuals changing their behavior. A new report illuminates why those strategies alone ignore the work environment as a contributor to obesity risk.
Where did the pardoned Thanksgiving turkey come from? Inspector records tell the filthy story
Posted by Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH of George Washington University School of Public Health & Health Services on November 21, 2012 The turkey pardoned by the President was headed for a slaughterhouse with a history of food safety violations such as fecal contamination. Surprisingly, the USDA considers it a model for a modernized, streamlined inspection system.