wiscosh: safety before profits

  • Workers' Memorial Day 2020

    In accordance with Gov. Evers Stay At Home order WisCOSH, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, and the Waukesha County Labor Council have planned a virtual Workers' Memorial Day this year. You can download the flier and mark your calendar today!

    But that's not all. This year the United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities is hosting their first ever National Virtual Workers' Memorial Day commemoration. The event will ... (More)

  • Proximo Seminario Web Gratuito Sobre el Proximo Coronavirun (COVID-19)

    Por favor, unase a nosotros para este importante seminario web sobre los trabajadores y el Coronavisus (COVID-19) - y compartir con sus redes!

    Cómo lxs trabajadorxs se ven afectadxs por el Coronavirus (COVID-19)

    Jueves, 19 de marzo a las 3pm PT/5pm CT/6pm ET

    Entrenamiento virtual, organizando por National COSH

    Este seminario cubrirá:

    1. las precauciones,
    2. los derechos de lxs trabajadorxs,
    3. recursos y cómo tomar acción!

      INFORMACIÓN DE LLAMADA:
    • Enlace web: https://app.gotomeeting.com/?meetingId=704180693
    • O por teléfono +1 (224) 501-3412; Código de acceso: 704-180-693

    Hemos recibido muchas respuestas al próximo seminario web sobre Coronavirus y trabajadorxs, 3/19, 3pm PST / 6pm ET.
    Para asegurarse de que tenemos suficiente espacio de llamada, por favor, utilice este enlace para registrarse y compartir con otros.

  • Infectious Disease Response Training

    With the recent outbreak of the Corona Virus, now being called COVID-19, around the world workers will soon find themselves on the front lines of a potential pandemic. Will you know the proper means of identifying potential, probable and definate infected persons in your vacinity? Will you know the proper cleaning and disinfecting procedure and product? Are they familiar with the appropriate personal protective equipment, how to don and doff it, clean and/or dispose of it properly? Will they know the facts from the fiction of bloodborn and infectious diseases?

    WisCOSH has been offering Infectious Disease Response in conjubction with the International Chemical Workers Union Council's Training Center in Cincinnati, OH for the past several years. Diseases such as West Nile Virus, Bacterial Menengitis, Ebola and more are covered. Currently we are updating our materials to include the latest accurate information in regards to COVID-19.

    If you work in an industry or occupation that puts you at high risk of being infected ...[More information].

  • Workplace Bullying and Violence: A Workshop

    While WisCOSH is deeply saddened by the recent tragedy at the Miller Brewing facility in Milwaukee we are also extremely upset that given the continued and increasing incidence of workplace bullying, sexual assault and violence there remain so many major employers that are completely unprepared for such a situation.

    While OSHA has yet to issue a standard for workplace bullying and violence it has issued recommendations for some industries and employers. They are not alone. WisCOSH has been providing training on the subject since 2008. We have continued to update and improve the program.

    The Occupational safety and Health Act of 1970 requires all employers to ... [More information].

  • Tragedy Strikes At Milwaukee Brewery

    WisCOSH is deeply saddened by yesterday's horrific events at the Miller Brewery in Milwaukee's valley.

    We mourn the tragic and senseless loss of life of six workers.

    We encourage any workers, family members and survivors that need help to seek it as soon as you are able. If you are unsure where you can turn please contact WisCOSH and we will assist you.

    For those families directly affected we encourage you to reach out to the United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF). This national organization was started, and is run by, surviving family members of workplace tragedy. They have been where you are now and they know what you can expect in the coming days, weeks, months and years. The loss never goes away but you can heal.

  • WisCOSH's Annual Membership Meeting 2019

    WisCOSH has set the date for this year's Annual Membership Meeting for October 12, 2019. We are currently seeking suggestions for our fundraiser meal. If you have ideas or favorites please contact us as soon as possible.

    Besides our communal dinner there will be the election of officers for WisCOSH's Board of Directors. As per our Bylaws each year one half of the Board of Directors is up for election. Any member or delegate of an affiliate in good standing at the time of the election is elegible for any open position. Each position has a two year term. Currently there are also a couple positions vacant with one year left in their term. Nominees do not need to be present to be nominated or elected but should be aware of their nomination and are willing to serve.

    WisCOSH has a special surprise in the plans for this meeting. We're hoping to line up a couple more and make an announcement in the near future. Updates and additional information.

  • Big Rush For Teen Workers, Little Time For Health and Safety

    WisCOSH has noticed a concerning trend over the last several years: creating pipelines for teen workers in their senior year to get them into technical schools qquicker and out into the workforce. WisCOSH has no issue with teens working or getting more education, however, the plans put forth so far have shown little time spent educating these future workers about the health and safety hazards associated with their career. WisCOSH is looking to put together a coalition of workers, educators and students to address the issue.

    For over 15 years WisCOSH was able to provide students at MPS's Riverside University High School in the Career Pathways program with information and training. Students, over the course of three years, were taught about their workplace rights, effective means of using them and how to identify the hazards in their workplace. While there were times that WisCOSH was able to do similarly for the Green School and one or two others no other MPS or, to our knowledge, Wisconsin public or private school had any similar classes.

    For more information or to get involved please contact us.

  • Workers' Memorial Week of Action 2019

    While WisCOSH works all year to help workers make, and keep, their work safe and their workplace healthy, in April we hold Workers' Memorial Day ceremonies in Milwaukee and across the state. In an effort to draw more attention to workers' plight we have expanded our efforts to a week of actions directed solely at spotlighting the fact that there are still far too many workers are dying on the job. With the rise in the use of chemicals in more workplaces it is leading to more disease and death after many years of pain and suffering.

    "A Day's Work" Return Showings

    A couple years ago WisCOSH held the Midwest Premiere of A Day's Work at Workers' Memorial Day ceremonies in Milwaukee. It got rave reviews from those that saw it. Since then we've recieved many requests to bring it back. This year ...More

  • Workers' Memorial Day 2019

    As Spring begins it's slow awakening and renewal WisCOSH begins its plans to hold Workers's Memorial Day events as well as Workers's Memorial Week of Action events.

    As in past years WisCOSH is preparing to host a communal meal and a commemorative ceremony. Plans are underway with the Milwaukee Area Labor Council (MALC) and the Waukesha County Labor Council (WCLC)and workers to honor those workers unable to return home at the end of their workshift or that passed prematurely due to workplace exposures. If you know of any workers that either died on the job or from workplace exposures please contact WisCOSH so we can be sure to include them. More here.

  • Preparing For An Emergency To Prevent It

    If you saw the following warning placcards on vehicles at your workplace, or driving through your neighborhood, which one placcard should you be most concerned about?
      D.O.T. hazard placcard Dangerous   D.O.T. hazard placcard Dangerous When Wet Class 4   D.O.T. hazard placcard Inhalation Hazard Class 2   d.O.T. hazard placcard Poison Class 6   Spontaneously Combustible Class 4

    When Your Job Is Transporting Hazardous Materials Accidents Are An Issue

    Knowing OSHA and D.O.T. Regulations Can Save Lives

    WisCOSH is currently able to offer both OSHA HAZWOPER training and D.O.T./FMCSA HazMat training at no cost. These classes are open to workers and employers. Being prepared for emergency situations will greatly reduces the likelihood of such incidents. And it will greatly mitigate losses in case one occurs.

    In addition to the 32 hour HAZWOPER training we have been able to offer the past several years we can now provide HazMat training. We are able to do these classes for free thanks to the National COSH's partnership with the ICWUC in Cincinnati OH.

    If you work with or around chemicals, and nowadays who doesn't, you need to know how to work ... (More here)

  • WisCOSH Celebrates 40 Years Helping Workers

    Join WisCOSH as we celebrate 40 years of helping improve working conditions across Wisconsin and beyond. From our earliest efforts (get an OSHA office in Wisconsin) to our most recent (expanding the types free training available) WisCOSH continues to provide information, education and advocacy on behalf of workers and concerned employers.

    Join us for a fundraising luncheon, a report on our activities in 2018, a look ahead to 2019 and the election of officers. Tickets for the luncheon are available for $12.50 in advance or $60 for a group of six. Tickets the day of the event will be $15. You can order tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be picked up at the WisCOSH office (call first to ensure someone is there) or at the door (Will Call).

    More information and updates can be found on WisCOSH's Facebook Events page.

  • Chemicals In The Workplace: Rights & Responsibilities

    Nearly all workplaces have chemicals in them. Fewer than 1% of the chemicals currently in common use in the American workplace have accurate safe exposure levels set by an enforceable standard. Many chemicals cross numerous borders before reaching their final use destination.

    In 2012 OSHA updated its Hazard Communication Standard and incorporated the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals as adopted by the U.N. In 2003. Most workers and employers do not understand what is required under the standard or how to implement it in the workplace. Join us for this FREE class.

    Reservation not required but are requested in order to have enough materials for all. If attending please comment below or send email to hazcom@wiscosh.org.

  • WisCOSH Partners with Citizen Action To Protect WI's Workers

    With the passage of the continuing resolution for the 2017 Federal Budget there was money available for the Susan Harwood Grant Program. Unfortunately there was no request for proposals or continuation funding for the Institutional Capacity Building which WisCOSH had been a partner with the National COSH and other COSHs across the country.

    Over the past year WisCOSH was able to work closely with Accion Ciudadadas de WI in providing a number of well recieved and much requested classes and workshops. WisCOSH could see a community of workers and employers wanting to know what they can do to make sure workers are safe and return home healthy but not adequately being served. More ...

  • WisCOSH Continues to Offer Free Training Through September

    While nothing is yet certain it is highly likely that the Susan Harwood Institutional Capacity Building Grant will end this fall. There is hope as a budget has not yet been passed and signed by the President, however, there were a number of very specific cuts to the proposed budget. The language for the grant program was removed and language specifically keeping OSHA from moving funds around to return funding to the program. The total budget request for OSHA is smaller by the amount of the program (approximately $10 million) and the 10% cut all agencies have been forced to take for the past serveral years due to Republican legislation.

    WisCOSH encourages you to take advantage of our ability to offer such a wide range of training topics at not cost.

  • Workers' Memorial Day 2017

    WisCOSH has begun planning this years event to commemorrate the workers lost in 2016 to workplace fatality or exposure with the Milwaukee Area Labor Council and the Waukesha County Labor Council. This is a first time joint project with both Central Labor Councils. WisCOSH is happy to welcome Waukesha to the efforts to highlight the continuing loss of workers to workplace hazards.

    Discussion so far has centered around the location of this year's events. Currently the Workers' Memorial Day Committee is looking to hold the "Mourn The Dead" and "Fight Like Hell For The Living" events at an alternate location and work on repairing and repainting the gazebo in Ziedler Union Square Park in downtown Milwaukee where the events have been traditionally located. More information and updates.

  • WisCOSH to Send Delegation to Washington D.C.

    Next month to kick off WisCOSH's "Workers' Memorial Week" of activities WisCOSH wwill send a delegation of workers to Washington D.C. to meet with their Congressional representation to tell of the workplace hazards, illnesses and injuries they have sustained or witnessed others sustain.

    WisCOSH is coordinating this event in support of the recently released National COSH Policy Platform "Protecting Workers' Lives and Limbs". A number of other COSH groups and worker centers from around the country will also host delegations of their own. For more information and updates.

  • PRESS RELEASE: WisCOSH Joins Call for New Workplace Safety Protections to Save Thousands of Lives, Billions of Dollars

    For immediate release March 15, 2017
    Contact: James Schultz james.schultz@wiscosh.org

    WisCOSH Joins Call for New Workplace Safety Protections
    to Save Thousands of Lives, Billions of Dollars

    Local delegation to meet with Sens. Johnson & Baldwin and several Reps.;
    Advocates also call for action in local communities and workplaces

    [Milwaukee, WI] – WisCOSH, a statewide organization advocating for worker safety for nearly 40 years, has joined a nationwide campaign to advance an action agenda for workplace safety.

    “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs,” convened by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, has been endorsed by more than 90 groups across the country, including WisCOSH.

    The comprehensive platform for strong worker safety protections, advocates say, can save workers’ lives and reduce costs to employers in Wisconsin. A delegation from WisCOSH will present the platform to Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Ron Johnson and several Representatives.

    “Communication with elected officials is urgent”, said Jim Schultz of WisCOSH. “Recent Congressional actions have put workers at risk by taking steps to eliminate sanctions against federal contractors who violate safety laws and reverse longstanding recordkeeping rules.

    “The need for workplace health and safety regulations with strong enforcement is of vital need all across Wisconsin and America. No one knows it more than do the family, friends and community of workers like Jeffery J. Jones Jr. (38) of Wausau, Shawn Day (49) of Oak Creek, and many too many others. We have the ability to prevent most incidents from occurring. But voluntary regulations will never be followed by the corporations that can afford to kill it’s worker. Allowing employers to treat their workforce differently ...More here


link to National COSH United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities