David Harlow hosts the holiday edition of Health Wonk Review at Health Blawg, our final edition of the year. As one of the few attorneys in our HWR lineup, David lends a unique and valuable perspective to our discussions. Today, he sheds light on a variety of health matters in what may well be the largest edition of the year. Grab some coffee and holiday cookies – there’s enough good reading to carry you into the New Year.
Survival story – Thanks to Jordan Barab for calling our attention to this follow-up story to the recent scaffolding tragedy in New York: After a Window Washer’s 47-Floor Plunge, the Big Question Is: How Did He Survive?
NYC to India and back again – A freelance photographer for the New York Times captures a work scene out of the Middle Ages in India, and it happens to be a foundry with a local link: New York Manhole Covers, Forged Barefoot in India. Here’s an excerpt:
When officials at Con Edison — which buys a quarter of its manhole covers, roughly 2,750 a year, from India — were shown the pictures by the photographer, they said they were surprised.
“We were disturbed by the photos,” said Michael S. Clendenin, director of media relations with Con Edison. “We take worker safety very seriously,” he said.
Now, the utility said, it is rewriting international contracts to include safety requirements. Contracts will now require overseas manufacturers to “take appropriate actions to provide a safe and healthy workplace,” and to follow local and federal guidelines in India, Mr. Clendenin said.
Immigration raids – one year later – Chris Ortman of Change to Win follows up on I.C.E. Raids – one year later in Greeley, Colorado; Worthington, Minnesota; and Grand Island, Nebraska. Peter Rousmaniere also features an item from Morning Edition revisitng a Cargill plant in Beardstown, Illinois one year later.
OSHA’s agenda – The Pump Handle reports on OSHA’s issuance of its semi-annual agenda, noting that several of the safety issues and standards that had been on the agenda in the past are curiously missing: “The Secretary’s last regulatory agenda (April 2007) listed 38 workplace health and safety hazards for possible regulatory action, 16 for MSHA and 22 for OSHA. The newly published regulatory agenda lists only 9 items …”. The post details what’s still on the list and what’s missing.