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Crisis or No, Stress Safety

To the Editor:

Your lead article on labor's view of the election ["Unions View Obama as Their Great Bright Hope," Nov. 14 issue] hits the mark. I am especially concerned about occupational health and safety issues. Ed Ott says it right that the opportunity to have a strong, respected and enforced set of job safety and health regulations is right now.

Strict enforcement of existing job safety and health regulations and the enactment of more [the past eight years has set us back with the Bush Administration not responding to new risks with regulatory action] are even more important in the current economic crisis. With mounting layoffs, the pressure to produce the same goods and services with fewer workers puts workers at greater risk.

For public employees, the risks remain at a high level. Whether that is with steel dust in transit; chemical and blood-borne diseases in hospitals; crane risks in construction; and other hazards, support for the State Public Employee Safety and Health rules and regulations must not diminish. In fact, it should be increased. It should be seen as part and parcel of the infrastructure stimulus package.

The impending state budget cuts must not hit PESH enforcement programs. The 50/50 state/Federal funding of PESH is a good thing, but in these times with both state and Federal budgets in trouble, both will be under pressure to cut back. It is never the time for that, but especially these days.

FRANK GOLDSMITH, DrPH, Former Director of Occupational Health, TWU Local 100