Worker advocates are outraged over the death of 63-year-old William Couto of Acushnet, who died of injuries he sustained on January 2 while working at Sea Watch International, a New Bedford seafood processing plant. Couto’s clothing became caught in a running motor at the plant and he died days later…
On New Year’s Day, in their final acts before gaveling out the 2017-2018 legislative session, the Massachusetts House and Senate enacted H.5024 An Act to Protect, Children, Families and Firefighters, legislation that will ban 11 toxic flame retardants in children’s products, household furniture, and bedding. However, this huge new year’s gift…
Recently you received a powerful letter exploring the role opiates are playing in the needless loss of workers' lives. In this letter, we introduced you to MassCOSH Board Member Shawn Nehiley. Hurt on the job, his prescribed treatment soon led to life-changing addiction. But please, click hear…
Today, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposal for public comment to roll back child labor protections in nursing homes. This proposed rule repeals the current DOL policy that 16 and 17 year-olds can operate power-driven patient lifting devices only when working in a team where the…
MassCOSH releases statements regarding workplace deaths as we are made aware of them. Sadly, this past Sunday, another worker lost their life on the job. By working hard to ensure that the media and the general public are made aware of such a needless loss of life, we seek to…
Today, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) released a groundbreaking report confirming what labor advocates have been saying for years: dangerous jobs are playing a direct role in opiate addiction and overdoses in the state. The 21-page study titled Opioid-related Overdose Deaths in Massachusetts by Industry…
As you may know, Tolle Graham, MassCOSH’s longest serving staff person in our 42-year history has retired just a few short weeks ago. I am writing to you today to invite you to Tolle’s official retirement party, conveniently being held at SEIU 32BJ Local 615 in Downtown Crossing on September…
MassCOSH is proud to announce Youth Coordinator Jenny Fernandez’s leadership role in helping to launch the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) new Sexual Harassment Action Network (SHAN). On June 11 and 12, Fernandez, MassCOSH Worker Center’s Erika Sanchez, and MassCOSH Women’s Committee leader Beatriz Yañez traveled…
When Worker Center Director Milagros Barreto addressed the media at a press conference across from the State House on May 14, it was proof just how multifaceted the fight for good, safe jobs really is. MassCOSH, 32BJ SEIU District 615 (32BJ), US Representative Katherine Clark, and others had gathered to…
It is with warm wishes that MassCOSH announces the retirement of Tolle Graham. For almost 32 years, Tolle shaped the health and safety movement in Massachusetts and beyond through her activism in the labor movement and COSH network. Her commitment to the rights of workers and their health and…
One year ago, after sifting through reams of data, MassCOSH reported that 70 workers lost their lives on the job in 2016: 61 as a result of fatal injuries and nine firefighters who died from work-related illness. However, the number of workers killed was much, much higher. Like in previous…
This past March, after over a decade of steadfast advocacy by labor advocates, An Act to Further Define Standards of Employee Safety, a bill extending Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) protections to all public employees, was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker. This welcome victory could not have come soon…