On Workers Memorial Day we remember workers who lost their lives on the job. It’s a good time to let others know about how risky some jobs are and to remind us about the responsibility that employers have to protect their workers. Every worker should feel protected at work from physical harm, harassment, and illegal […]
Workplace Safety
Beat the heat! How to stay safe when the temperature rises.
This week is a scorcher!! From New York all the way to North Carolina, the National Weather Service has issued warnings of a heat wave on the east coast. In addition to staying indoors and out of the sun, here are some tips for safety in the heat. On the job WATER: Be sure […]
Are North Carolina workplace deaths really down?
Recently the North Carolina Department of Labor reported, and it was noted in the press, that workplace fatalities in the state had declined to an all-time low of 23 during the year 2013. However, the low numbers may be more from a change in the way the Department of Labor counts the deaths, and not […]
Anniversary of the Hamlet Chicken Processing Plant fire remembered
On Tuesday, September 3, 1991, a 25-foot long fryer vat ignited at Imperial Foood Product’s chicken processing plant in Hamlet, NC. Workers were unable to get out of the plant because management had locked all exits except the main entrance in order to prevent employee theft. The plant had no windows, no fire alarm, no sprinkler system, and […]
Report finds both workers and doctors pressured to avoid reporting workplace injuries
The new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that both workers and health care professionals are often pressured not to report workplace injuries. The GAO surveyed more than 1,000 occupational health practitioners and found (1) more than two-thirds observed worker fear for reporting an injury or illness, (2) a third said they were pressured […]