Trade Union Contributions to Injury and Illness Prevention

1. Trade Union Contributions to Injury and Illness Prevention

2. Occupational Health Service • Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket RI • Dr. David Kern • Provided invaluable resource for worker health

3. Occupational Health Service • 1997 – program shut down by Memorial Hospital • Dispute over investigation of an outbreak of an unusual lung disease at a Pawtucket plant

4. 1997 Rhode Island AFL-CIO Convention Resolution No. 5 Occupational Health Service at Memorial Hospital

5. Resolution No. 5 • WHEREAS, over the years Dr. David Kern and the Occupational Health Service at Memorial Hospital has been an invaluable resource for worker health in our state, and • WHEREAS, the Occupational Health Service has seen over 2000 patients in the last six years, with referrals coming from doctors, OSHA, unions, and the Health Department, and

6. Resolution No. 5 • WHEREAS, the Occupational Health Service has provided such important services such as assisting the RI Department of Health to investigate asbestos removal problems in Warwick public schools, conducting an exhaustive investigation of Sarcoidosis among Providence fire fighters at the request of the Providence Fire Department and the International Association of Fire Fighters,

7. Resolution No. 5 • evaluating acetic acid spill effects on nurses at (then) Woonsocket Hospital, investigating respiratory disorders at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, helping resolve concerns about a PCB spill at Davies Vocational High School, and conducting cancer screenings for Steamfitters, Plumbers, and other construction unions with historic exposure to asbestos, and

8. Resolution No. 5 • WHEREAS, this past year Memorial Hospital shut down the service in a dispute with Dr. Kern over an investigation of an unusual lung disease outbreak at a Pawtucket plant, and

9. Resolution No. 5 • WHEREAS, Brown University, where Dr. Kern teaches occupational medicine, failed to support Dr. Kern and resist the closing of the Occupational Health Service when advised of Memorial Hospital’s actions;

10. Resolution No. 5 • THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Rhode Island AFL-CIO condemns the actions of Memorial Hospital and Brown Medical School in closing down the Occupational Health Service and pledges to work for the creation of an occupational health service center to serve the needs of the workers of our state. • Submitted by: The Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board

11. Occupational and Environmental Health Center of RI • Formed steering committee 1998 • March 2001 opened a non-profit, independent health center free from financial / political pressure.

12. OEHCRI • Model similar to Occupational Health Service • Evaluations of occupational and environmentally related illness and disease • Lee Okurowski, MD, MPH, MBA Medical Director for Occupational and Environmental Medicine

13. OEHCRI • Referrals from: • RI Department of Health • Doctors • Unions • OSHA • Attorneys

14. OEHCRI Projects • AOEC/ATSDR Community Health Intervention Project Central Landfill Johnston, RI • Pascoag Water Contamination • Rhode Island Occupational and Environmental Injury and Illness Data Collection Project • Audiometric Testing Program for Small Business • World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program

15. OEHCRI Keys to Success • Constant communication with the labor movement • Finding ways to provide services needed

16. Expansion of Services • Occupational and Environmental Health Services • Physical Examinations • Drug and Alcohol Screenings • Immunization Programs • Prevention Programs • Primary Care Health Services • Specialized Screening Services

17. Flock Workers Lung