WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH

Background

Each year more than 2,500 New Jersey workers die and more than 14,000 suffer from work-related diseases. About 135,000 workers are injured. Too often, this grisly toll is accepted as "the cost of doing business." Yet, these injuries, illnesses, and deaths are preventable.

WEC's Workplace Safety and Health programs include provision of strategic assistance, workshops, speakers, and publications about job hazards and how to prevent them.

WEC also provides health and safety training. Learn more about our training projects including Safe Work, Safe Care and Process Safety Management.

Accomplishments

WEC has worked with many different unions to stop and/or prevent a wide range of workplace safety and health dangers through organizational and technical consultation and training.
With the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, Communications Workers of America, United Steelworkers, NJ Nurses Association, and other healthcare unions, WEC has trained hundreds of workers about preventing healthcare hazards.
Working with the Communications Workers of America, New Jersey Education Association, and other public worker unions, WEC won amendments to NJ's unique Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Standard. The new rules: a) expand the definition of an office building to include schools; b) define "Sick Building Syndrome," making it a trigger for employers to investigate; c) ensure that the employer's "designated person" has the necessary knowledge; d) require repairs of water intrusion and cleanup of wet materials within 48 hours; e) require airing out before re-occupancy after renovations or construction; and f) clarify that hazards must be reviewed before construction chemicals are selected, not just before their use.

WEC Publications

ALERT: New Threats to New Jersey's Public Employees Occupational Safety & Health & Worker and Community Right to Know Protections
Under the Christie administration, two longstanding programs that help protect public employees, public school students, and the public at-large face new threats.
Why Your Union Should Join WEC
This is a detailed list of workplace health and safety services offered to our union members.
Safe Work, Safe Care Project Brochure
Learn more about WEC's Safe Work, Safe Care Project. The goal of the project is to help create and maintain safe, healthy work environments for healthcare workers.
Preventing Workplace Hazards: An Action Guide for New Jersey Workers and Unions
This guide presents practical advice and valuable resources for solving health and safety problems.
Protect Yourself! Key NJ Safety and Health Telephone Numbers wallet card
This fold-out wallet card provides contact numbers for OSHA, PEOSH, environmental and other key government agencies.
Speak Out About Workplace and Environmental Hazards!
This poster explains your rights under NJ's Conscientious Employees Protection Act (CEPA) and other laws.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Standard poster
This poster explains your rights under the Indoor Air Quality standard.
Make Sure Public Employers Submit Accurate Chemical Right to Know Surveys
Public employee unions should ensure that public employers do a thorough job completing the 2008 Right to Know Survey.
Go to fact sheets to view fact sheets produced by the Protecting Workers Who Exercise Their Rights Project of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Websites

National Council for Occupational Safety and Health
The National COSH is a federation of local and statewide "COSH" groups - Committees/Coalitions on Occupational Safety and Health of which WEC is a member.
AFL-CIO: Safety and Health at Work
Information on AFL-CIO union health and safety issues.
Change to Win: Workplace Health and Safety
Information on current Change to Win union issues.
US Department of Labor - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development