Although this will not be the last time we thank the members of our Health Technical and Legal Committees, we wanted to take this opportunity to publicly honor their efforts aiding MassCOSH and workers during this devastating pandemic. Our Health Technical and Legal Committees have played an essential role in…
Not in living memory have public school teachers faced such dangerous conditions on the job. Decades of neglect have left many school buildings in disrepair, making the COVID-19 pandemic especially concerning for school staff who are being asked to resume in-person learning. MassCOSH staff and members of our Health…
Your health and wellness matter to MassCOSH on and off the job and we are able to provide tailored training for workers on infectious disease control. With your needs in mind, we are compiling trusted, vetted information on how you can increase your chances of staying well during the COVID-19…
On September 8, 150 dedicated local public health officials joined MassCOSH and the Massachusetts Health Officers Association for a highly informative webinar on how local boards of health can expand their capacity to protect the Commonwealth's workers from an unprecedented health and safety crisis. Since the beginning of the pandemic,…
In the past few weeks, MassCOSH has been extremely busy working to address policy shortfalls that are leaving workers needlessly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On September 9, MassCOSH submitted well-received public testimony regarding the state’s Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards during a virtual hearing, summarizing that the…
Over the last five and a half months, MassCOSH has provided COVID-19 health and safety training to almost 600 workers across the state from industries ranging from community health to restaurants and small businesses. On August 6, MassCOSH brought its expertise to over 100 members of the American Federation of…
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline, public health workers who serve as a bridge between underserved communities and healthcare systems. They are from, or have a close understanding of, the community served. The critical role they play in keeping communities healthy is needed now more than ever to help those…
On August 13, MassCOSH’s Teens Lead @ Work Youth Programs Direct Jenny Fernandez transitioned to a new role at Boston Public Schools. While MassCOSH is incredibly sad to be losing Jenny, we wish her the best in her new role. In her six years at MassCOSH, she has grown TL@W…
Every summer, MassCOSH’s Immigrant Worker Center holds a Leadership Institute to train members and low-income immigrant workers about their legal rights and workplace standards. Our efforts help them become peer leaders who conduct outreach at day labor sites, churches, and other community settings to connect with workers at risk of…
The pandemic has hit vulnerable workers hard, but none so much as undocumented workers. Just a few months ago, these workers played an essential role in our economy, laboring hard to clean our buildings, cook our food, sort our recycling, and other critical jobs. Without access to a government…
Since the very beginning of the pandemic, MassCOSH has been pressed policymakers to mandate the collection of occupational information when someone tests positive for COVID-19. Together with our labor and community partners, our advocacy resulted in the passage of An Act addressing COVID-19 data collection and disparities in treatment and it’s…
In MassCOSH’s four decades of operation, we have forged hundreds of coalitions that connect the needs of union and non-union workers to ensure that they can all earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity, and return home to their families alive and well. Our latest efforts have centered around empowering…