Japan’s Nuclear Temp Workers Exposed to Unmeasured Risks

Thousands of day laborers and subcontracted workers were enlisted to clean up nuclear waste and shut down the earthquake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant last year, search with many of these workers celebrated as national heroes. However, link much is still unknown about their health and employment status. The Fukushima 50, as they were called was more akin to the Fukushima 18,000, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which says many of these workers—usually casual laborers from the area who had lost their jobs in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami—did the work for the money, not to serve their country. – Epoch Times 01.28.2012

Support for health and safety training for vulnerable and hard-to-reach workers:

On September 9th, s OSHA announced the award of its 2010 Susan Harwood Capacity Building Grants. The grants will support training in industries that range from meatpacking and agricultural work to beauty salons, supermarkets, online and construction – in both remote rural and urban environments. Almost all programs are designed to reach workers in both English and Spanish – among other languages – as well as workers in what OSHA describes as “high risk” industries. “The programs funded by these grants will have a long-lasting, positive impact on workers and employers alike,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels in a press statement. This year $8 million will go to 45 organizations to support their work in safety and health training and education for workers and employers. – The Pump Handle. 09.13.2010