Injured member presses for faster OSHA action


By SHERRY HALBROOK PEF member Judy Rychcik went to work as a nurse for


the last time March 13, 2011. That’s when an attack by a patient at Capital District Psychiatric Center broke her jaw and left her with career-ending damage to her brain. This April, Rychcik joined 14 other workers from


throughout the country in Washington for two days to talk to federal officials about the need to move more quickly in approving federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and guidelines to prevent work-related injuries and illness. Rychcik’s participation, which was coordinated by PEF


and the national AFL-CIO, involved speaking to officials at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as well as providing a written statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Employer opposition is causing delays of up to 10 years


or more in approving new OSHA standards and guidelines. OSHA’s proposed standard on Injury and Illness


Prevention Programs, which would require employers to identify recognized workplace safety hazards and take steps to correct them before workers are hurt, has been delayed for years. Rychcik and the other workers urged officials to move more quickly because the delays are taking a terrible toll.


STOPTHE INJURIES – Congresswoman LynnWoolsey of California, chair of the House Subcommittee onWorkforce Protection, thanks PEFmember Judy Rychcik for her comments following anApril 19 press conference inWashington.Rychcik and other workers told lawmakers to expedite new OSHA standards and guidelines.


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