That means 5.5 workers died every hour as a result of workplace diseases. Every 10 days a steelworker is killed. Millions of workers and their families have been robbed of their health, their income and of full productive lives while corporate greed and government inaction prevents safe workplaces. It is estimated that 400,000 workers a year become ill from occupational exposures. That is 45 workers every hour who become sick from illnesses such as lung disorders, heart disease, nervous system damage, cancer, and liver and kidney damage.
Workers deserve the right to refuse to do work which threatens their lives without fear of job loss.
A safe workplace means a safe community. When workplaces are free of toxic hazards, the environment will be also. Industries whine about being overburdened by OSHA requirements, but the reality is 1,000 inspectors cannot possibly adequately monitor 3.6 million work sites. With current resources, I am told that OSHA can inspect a high hazard workplace only once every 13 years. I am learning that most workers don't even know their basic rights and too many have been brainwashed to believe that their company is safe and wouldn't allow them to be exposed to anything that would harm them.