Latest news with #NationalInstituteforOccupationalHealthandSafety
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RFK, Capito and Moore didn't save NIOSH employees' jobs — a lawyer and coal miner did
U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger ordered 'full restoration' of services at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, pictured here on Jan. 28, 2012, is located in Morgantown, (Getty Images) Last week, a federal judge ordered 'full restoration' of services at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program. However, after the ruling, credit for getting those people back to work at NIOSH started going to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — the man who eliminated the positions in the first place. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger said the federal Department of Health and Human Services could not legally end services with the surveillance program, and that doing so would 'cost lives.' In April, more than 200 jobs were eliminated at NIOSH as part of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative, which aimed to reduce staffing at DHHS from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees. This affected the entire NIOSH facility in Morgantown, leaving no one in the United States who performs the same services for occupational safety and health, said Cathy Tinney-Zara, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3040. 'We do the research to make everyone's job safer,' she said. West Virginia U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito was the only member of the state's Congressional delegation who spoke up against the job cuts. She requested a meeting with Kennedy, to ask him to bring back the NIOSH employees. Capito posted on X on the day of Berger's ruling that, 'The health and safety of our WV workers, including our miners, is of the utmost importance and I will always advocate for their wellbeing.' Despite that comment, she's not backing the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act that was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Bobby Scott, who both represent Virginia. She's not speaking out about delaying the Mine Safety and Health Administration rule that would have limited how much dangerous silica dust coal miners are exposed to while they work. She hasn't supported federal legislation to increase monthly black lung benefits stipends for thousands of West Virginia coal miners and their families to keep up with rises in inflation. On the same day as Berger's ruling, job cuts were reversed for a Pittsburgh lab that certifies virtually all U.S. government-approved respirators in the country. When Pennsylvania Capitol-Star reporter Ian Karbal reached out to DHHS about the reversal, a spokesperson pointed to employees at the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program getting back to work. They gave the credit, however, to Kennedy and, of course, the Trump administration. 'The Trump Administration remains committed to supporting coal miners, who play a vital role in America's energy sector. Under Secretary [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]'s leadership, NIOSH's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program will continue to meet the needs of our nation's miners,' a spokesperson for DHHS wrote. West Virginia U.S. Rep. Riley Moore — who eventually began to care about the job cuts in Morgantown — credited himself and Kennedy for good news. 'This is a great win for West Virginia, and I can't thank the Secretary enough for working closely with my office to make this happen,' Moore posted on X. 'The work NIOSH does is critically important for our coal miners and their safety.' But that's not what happened. The NIOSH employees only got their jobs back because Berger ruled it was illegal to end the program. And she heard from NIOSH employees and the case's lead plaintiff, a coal miner named Harry Wiley, who presented 'overwhelming evidence' that the work had been stopped — not just paused — without any plans or efforts in place to ensure it continued as mandated by Congress. Mine safety and health lawyer Sam Brown Petsonk worked with Mountain State Justice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates to file Wiley v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., et al. Petsonk found Wiley, a coal miner who was diagnosed with black lung in November, to testify and lead the case. Wiley asked to use Part 90, which allows workers diagnosed with black lung to transfer to a less dusty part of a mine without facing retribution from a mine operator. To qualify, miners must have their black lung testing results certified by NIOSH. But those employees were all placed on administrative leave on April 1, leaving no one to approve his application or offer him free screenings to verify his claims. 'As the testimony before the Court made clear, that dust exposure will cause [Wiley's] disease to progress until it becomes debilitating. Does [Kennedy] genuinely believe that a miner diagnosed with black lung is not being injured when the program designed to confirm his condition and provide him with workplace protections to prevent its progression is rendered inaccessible?' Berger wrote. 'This Court does not share such a belief.' Wiley risked the possibility of facing unofficial social reprimands from the coal mine he works at. He should feel insulted that people are thanking Kennedy — Kennedy didn't make the decision to put NIOSH employees back to work, Berger did. Our elected and appointed officials with one lone exception sat back while the government attempted to rob coal miners of the congressionally mandated rights their predecessors fought for. And those miners fight every day to survive an incurable disease without their help. When you see campaign ads featuring coal miners start to circulate on TV next election, remember where this credit really belongs. Remember who actually fought for our coal miners. Capito and Moore should be thanking Berger, Petsonk and Wiley for getting some NIOSH employees back to work. And they should be working to get the rest of the employees back on the job permanently as well. The mining research team in Pennsylvania is still on 'temporary' administrative leave. This isn't the end of the fight. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
San Francisco Chronicle
01-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: S.F. school garden's elimination is one of Trump's small cuts, but it has a big impact
Staff members at Marshall Elementary School in San Francisco learned this weekend that our gardening program is now canceled, thanks to drastic reductions to the AmeriCorps program by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. Given the many current outrages, this cut may seem trivial. Eliminating an outdoor education program can't compare with the abduction of undocumented workers without due process or with government officials openly flouting court orders. But for urban children growing up without backyards, garden time provides more than a breath of fresh air. It's a chance for students to perform scientific experiments — recording the interactions between plants and animals helps them develop healthy food preferences. Children love the taste of carrots they've grown themselves. Americorps' modestly compensated staff helped communities recover from disasters. And, yes, some of them teach our children about the magic of seeds and the importance of earthworms. Please contact your representatives. Demand a return to our fundamental constitutional protections. Also, insist on restoring funding to programs that employ Americans and make our lives better — programs like the school lunches and AmeriCorps. Judy Viertel, San Francisco Support worker safety International Workers' Day on May 1 marks one month since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a more than 90% cut to the workforce of the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, which is credited with saving lives and protecting millions of workers. The agency's work spans sectors from agriculture to manufacturing, mining, public service, health care and construction, with a budget of $338 million, or about $2 per U.S. worker. So, was the decision to end it a mistake? Just ask the 62-year-old California firefighter, a healthy, athletic father of two, who woke up one morning unable to catch his breath or soon, climb a flight of stairs. It turns out he had a respiratory disease from inhaling chemicals on the job. This man's doctor had received specialized training funded by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety through UC Berkeley's Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, which teaches health professionals how to prevent and manage work-related injuries and illnesses. As wildfires invade local neighborhoods, more and younger firefighters are getting sick. The time to fight for the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, and workers' health is now. Meredith Minkler, professor emerita, UC Berkeley School of Public Health Secession a bad idea Regarding 'Secession movement works' (Letters to the Editor, April 29): The new secessionists of California should think carefully about our country's two previous secession attempts before they disgrace themselves any further. After all, the question was decided in 1865 at the courthouse in Appomattox, Va., where Confederate General Robert E. Lee signed surrender papers after the final battle of the Civil War. The Hartford Convention secessionists of 1814 were deemed unpatriotic and doomed their political party to extinction. They are barely remembered today. The Southern secessionists of 1860 are recalled with such opprobrium that Californians (and others throughout the United States) continue, even now, 160 years later, to remove their leaders' names from schools and cities and to deface or remove their statues. Our imperfect country needs love and attention. Let us not abandon her in this time of need. Stephen St Marie, San Francisco Clean air important, too Regarding 'Politicians tout a 'just transition' to green jobs. For Benicia refinery workers, 'that's a farce' ' (Joe Garofoli, April 27): I spent four years in college, two years in graduate school, and two years under supervision and taking exams to get my clinical license. In my entire working life, I could never have expected to make anywhere near $200,000 a year that crane operators at Valero make. I'm sorry that Valero crane operators like Mark Felsoci may lose their jobs if the refinery closes. However, the Valero refinery 'spewed illegal amounts of cancer-causing gases and chemicals into the air.' That's my air, too. Yes, a new job probably won't pay former Valero workers as much, but our environment will be cleaner, and that will benefit the entire Bay Area.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion - As Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer will put firefighters first
The leading cause of death among firefighters might surprise you. Most people assume it's accidents on the fire ground (that's actually number three) or cardiovascular events (number two). But the greatest danger we face is occupational cancer. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety shows that firefighters have a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. This isn't just a threat to our health — it's a real, immediate danger to the safety of the communities we are sworn to protect. Politicians from both parties have pushed the same tired talking points about public safety for decades. But not former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.). President Trump's nominee for Labor secretary has a record of prioritizing the common sense solutions to protect firefighters and build a stronger nation. Chavez-DeRemer has long championed the health and well-being of America's firefighters and emergency medical workers. In Congress, she put people over politics and reached across the aisle as a lead co-sponsor of the PFAS Alternatives Act. This critical legislation aims to develop next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear for firefighters. Our job is dangerous enough without intentionally adding carcinogens to our gear. The bill — which also earned industry support — would place firefighters at the center of this research. After all, the very gear we rely on for our survival should be designed by and for the user. Chavez-DeRemer has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with first responders on countless other issues, from expanding death benefits and public safety funding to repealing harmful Social Security cuts for retired public servants. Like President Trump, Chavez-DeRemer is proud to back our hometown heroes. As Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer will be poised to finalize the Emergency Response Standard — the first federal improvement to firefighter workplace safety in over 40 years. We need look no further than the California wildfires to understand the importance of ensuring our cities and towns have enough properly trained, equipped and healthy firefighters to do the job. The Emergency Response Standard will prevent us from accepting otherwise avoidable tragedies, securing Trump's goal of making America stronger and more prosperous. As a former city councilor, mayor and member of Congress, Chavez-DeRemer understands that public safety challenges can have far-reaching consequences. She has fought to give federal wildland firefighters the pay and support they deserve. As cities and towns nationwide battle the fentanyl epidemic, she has pushed for stronger enforcement to curb the drug's flow into our country and expanded resources for firefighters and paramedics responding to opioid overdoses. Chavez-DeRemer recognizes that these crises threaten the American public, strain local resources and jeopardize our economy if left unchecked. Most importantly, Chavez-DeRemer isn't a career politician. She and her husband built a successful small business from the ground up. She understands the demands and pressures of running a company. This real-life experience gives her the perspective needed to balance the priorities of both business and labor — growing wages and bottom lines. She knows that true collaboration between employers and workers is the way to implement President Trump's bold vision to defend America's middle class. President Trump won this election because he pledged to put America first. Nominating Chavez-DeRemer shows he is serious about delivering on that promise. I've seen firsthand how she isn't afraid to challenge the establishment or let politics get in the way of doing what's right. Chavez-DeRemer says what she means and means what she says, and that's exactly the kind of person we need leading the Department of Labor. I have no doubt she'll have the backs of firefighters and all American workers while advancing President Trump's vision for our economy. Edward A. Kelly is general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the labor union for fire fighters, emergency medical workers and rescue workers in the United States and Canada. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
05-02-2025
- Health
- The Hill
As Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer will put firefighters first
The leading cause of death among firefighters might surprise you. Most people assume it's accidents on the fire ground (that's actually number three) or cardiovascular events (number two). But the greatest danger we face is occupational cancer. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety shows that firefighters have a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. This isn't just a threat to our health — it's a real, immediate danger to the safety of the communities we are sworn to protect. Politicians from both parties have pushed the same tired talking points about public safety for decades. But not former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.). President Trump's nominee for Labor secretary has a record of prioritizing the common sense solutions to protect firefighters and build a stronger nation. Chavez-DeRemer has long championed the health and well-being of America's firefighters and emergency medical workers. In Congress, she put people over politics and reached across the aisle as a lead co-sponsor of the PFAS Alternatives Act. This critical legislation aims to develop next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear for firefighters. Our job is dangerous enough without intentionally adding carcinogens to our gear. The bill — which also earned industry support — would place firefighters at the center of this research. After all, the very gear we rely on for our survival should be designed by and for the user. Chavez-DeRemer has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with first responders on countless other issues, from expanding death benefits and public safety funding to repealing harmful Social Security cuts for retired public servants. Like President Trump, Chavez-DeRemer is proud to back our hometown heroes. As Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer will be poised to finalize the Emergency Response Standard — the first federal improvement to firefighter workplace safety in over 40 years. We need look no further than the California wildfires to understand the importance of ensuring our cities and towns have enough properly trained, equipped and healthy firefighters to do the job. The Emergency Response Standard will prevent us from accepting otherwise avoidable tragedies, securing Trump's goal of making America stronger and more prosperous. As a former city councilor, mayor and member of Congress, Chavez-DeRemer understands that public safety challenges can have far-reaching consequences. She has fought to give federal wildland firefighters the pay and support they deserve. As cities and towns nationwide battle the fentanyl epidemic, she has pushed for stronger enforcement to curb the drug's flow into our country and expanded resources for firefighters and paramedics responding to opioid overdoses. Chavez-DeRemer recognizes that these crises threaten the American public, strain local resources and jeopardize our economy if left unchecked. Most importantly, Chavez-DeRemer isn't a career politician. She and her husband built a successful small business from the ground up. She understands the demands and pressures of running a company. This real-life experience gives her the perspective needed to balance the priorities of both business and labor — growing wages and bottom lines. She knows that true collaboration between employers and workers is the way to implement President Trump's bold vision to defend America's middle class. President Trump won this election because he pledged to put America first. Nominating Chavez-DeRemer shows he is serious about delivering on that promise. I've seen firsthand how she isn't afraid to challenge the establishment or let politics get in the way of doing what's right. Chavez-DeRemer says what she means and means what she says, and that's exactly the kind of person we need leading the Department of Labor. I have no doubt she'll have the backs of firefighters and all American workers while advancing President Trump's vision for our economy. Edward A. Kelly is general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the labor union for fire fighters, emergency medical workers and rescue workers in the United States and Canada.
