Benefit Workers, Management?
Council Seeks Full Job Injury Report

By REUVEN BLAU

The City Council has introduced legislation to require the Mayor's Office to include an index, executive summary, and other helpful information as part of its annual report detailing workplace injuries and illnesses.

JOEL SHUFRO: Bill would cut city's costs.

In 2004, the Council passed a bill mandating the city to compile a yearly list of civilian Workers' Compensation claims, which was designed to be the foundation for creating a data-based health and safety program.

'Tough to Use'

But the more-than 500-page document released in December didn't include an executive summary and index or list job titles. "It's a little difficult to utilize," Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. said during a phone interview after the bill was issued. "Subsequent reports will hopefully be more useful."

The Council introduced the original legislation after health activists said the city had rebuffed their repeated attempts to obtain the data from the various agencies.

Supporters of the bill said that tracking the injury figures would enable the city to reduce its burgeoning Workers' Compensation costs as well as redefine its effort to prevent employee injuries in the future.

According to Joel Shufro, executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), the city is paying at least $140 million yearly in direct costs for Workers' Compensation.

"And probably two to three times that amount when indirect costs, such as lost productivity, recruitment and training of replacement workers are accounted for," he said in a statement. "With a program to reduce illnesses and injuries, we can bring that number down."

'Save and Protect'

He added, "But it's not just about saving money. It's also about protecting the municipal work force from often-disabling illness and injuries."

Mr. Addabbo said that the Bloomberg administration has been supportive of the legislation so far. Stu Loeser, Mayor Bloomberg's chief spokesman, declined to comment.

John Sweeney, Division Chief of the Workers' Compensation Division of the city's Law Department, has promised that future documents would include an executive summary and a year-to-year comparison of the data.

But Mr. Addabbo and supporters of the original bill are fearful that future administrations may not be as amenable. "We may be working well together today, but that might not be the case with future Mayors," Mr. Addabbo said. "We need a little more detailed report next time for the sake of the safety of the city workers and indirectly to maybe save the city some money."

The bill, Intro. 507, has broad support from the city's largest unions, including the United Federation of Teachers, District Council 37, and Communications Workers of America Local 1180.

'Right to Expect It'

"All municipal employees have a right to expect the city to provide safe and healthful work environments," said Randi Weingarten, president of the UFT and the chair of the city's Municipal Labor Committee. "This bill should help the city focus its efforts to develop preventative safety measures and programs to eliminate workplace hazards."

The UFT has urged the city to implement added training courses to help its teachers and education aides. Paras assigned to special-education classes work in a high-risk environment and often perform job duties similar to a nurse without any basic health training, the UFT has said. The union has detected a pattern of rising accidents, assaults, and injuries, based on internal union reports and anecdotal evidence. Many Paras have to change the diapers of special education students. They are often faced with the daunting task of lifting children who weigh up to 250 pounds onto unsanitary makeshift changing tables. The UFT is seeking to persuade the city to stock mechanical lifts and adjustable changing tables in all schools with such special needs children.