Preventable Deaths: The Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion -28:11
written by building bridges radio
at Monday, April 22, 2013
Preventable Deaths: The Texas Explosion & The Tragedy Of Workplace Fatalities
with
Tom O'Connor, Dir., Ntl. Council for Occupational Safety & Health
The latest work place tragedy, the explosion last Wednesday at Texas’ chemical and fertilizer plant left at least 14 people dead and more that 160 injured. In the last year, on average 4,500 people died in workplace accidents. But, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has jurisdiction over 7 million workplaces the U.S. spent only $558 million a year on OSHA, as increasing numbers of workers died. With a gutted agency it’s not uncommon for some companies to go years without inspection. The Texas plant hadn’t been inspected since 1985 and even then despite being cited for serious violations for storage of anhydrous
ammonia was fined a mere $30.
***************************
Remembering the Triangle Fire
with
Sophia Henderson Holmes
Poet Sophia Henderson Holmes reads from her epic poem commemorating the lives of those who died at the Triangle Fire. The poem itself serves as well as a tribute to Sophia herself, who has since passed on but has left us her stirring words and the challenge to organize for workers' rights.
with
Tom O'Connor, Dir., Ntl. Council for Occupational Safety & Health
The latest work place tragedy, the explosion last Wednesday at Texas’ chemical and fertilizer plant left at least 14 people dead and more that 160 injured. In the last year, on average 4,500 people died in workplace accidents. But, while the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has jurisdiction over 7 million workplaces the U.S. spent only $558 million a year on OSHA, as increasing numbers of workers died. With a gutted agency it’s not uncommon for some companies to go years without inspection. The Texas plant hadn’t been inspected since 1985 and even then despite being cited for serious violations for storage of anhydrous
ammonia was fined a mere $30.
***************************
Remembering the Triangle Fire
with
Sophia Henderson Holmes
Poet Sophia Henderson Holmes reads from her epic poem commemorating the lives of those who died at the Triangle Fire. The poem itself serves as well as a tribute to Sophia herself, who has since passed on but has left us her stirring words and the challenge to organize for workers' rights.
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