Chair: John Bieger - CSEA
Co chair: Andre Pigeon - BCTGM

The Buffalo AFL-CIO has approved a resolution and sign on letter in support of the Protecting America's Workers Act. A fact sheet was handed out as well as sample letters to our representatives in the Senate and Congress asking them to sponsor this act. This was signed at last night's delegates meeting. If you would like copies please request via email reply.

Members of the committee met with OSHA's Buffalo Office Area Director Art Dube, this week inquiring about the status of the ongoing investigation of the Fundalinski death. The office supplied us with the information on the 29 deaths reported in the Buffalo News for Western New York. We compiled a summary of the 29 fatalities broken down by both Union and non union showing the vast difference in the number of deaths as well as the fines levied and then the reduction of the fine. These continuous fine reductions lend towards this looking as though it is becoming the cost of business,  The file is attached for those who did not attend the June 12th meeting.

PLEASE NOTE THAT 100% OF THE CONSTRUCTION FATALITIES WERE ON NON UNION SITES!!!

Thank you for all you do for labor and safety,

WNYCOSH
OSHA Fatality Report - 6/12/07
Date	Age	Occupation	Event	Penalty Full/Reduced
Non Union Statistics
1/12/2003	52	Truck Driver	crushed	$1,500
3/13/2003	46	Material Mover/Equip Op.	crushed	$2.500/$1,500
3/26/2003	63	Elevator Operator	fall	no violation
4/12/2003	35	Laundry	fall	$63,000/$18,000
10/27/2003	62	Construction	struck by falling load	$3,000/$1,800
11/25/2003	23	Construction	fall	$3,450/$2,400
3/8/2004	28	Construction	fall	$1,800
4/30/2004	43	Crane/Tower Operator	electrical shock/power lines	$2,500/$1,750
7/12/2004	64	Excavator/Mech Op/Loader	struck by tailgate door	$2,500/$1,250
9/27/2004	57	Auto Repair	crushed	$3,000/$1,800
2/4/2005	34	Mechanic	flywheel slipped crushed leg	$3,500
2/17/2005	56	Truck Driver	crushed under hydralic lift	no violation
3/22/2005	34	Construction/Plumbing/HVAC	trench collapse	$30,000/$11,900
7/13/2005	25	Construction	heat exhaustion	$2,800/$1,600
7/20/2005	21	Construction	trench cave in	$7,000
8/12/2005	42	Laborer/Non Construction	crusher by baler	$103,050/$31,950
12/8/2005	36	Construction	fall	$15,300/$10,700
3/1/2006	51	Chemical Press Operator	explosion	$10,500/$6,930
6/15/2006	56	Farm Worker	vehicle tipped over	no violation
7/14/2006	63	Construction/Laborer	fall	$2,850/$1,500
11/3/2006	48	Gease/Manufacturing	flash fire   burn/scald	$5,000/$3,500
3/20/2007	24	Construction	fall
Totals:	Average 44	22 Fatalities		$263,250/$106,180
Union Statistics
2/11/2003	42	Material Handler	fell thru grate into coal crkr	$4,500/$3,000
3/30/2004	56	Utility/Maint/Const/Painter	fall off ladder	no violation
6/9/2004	53	Electrician	electric shock	$5,000
11/6/2004	36	Electrician	electrocution	$7,200
11/8/2004	30	Trash Pick Up	fall off truck/head injury	no violation
12/1/2004	68	Fork Lift Operator	crushed	$1,875/$1,100
12/13/2004	39	Roofer/Supervisor	fall	$18,000/$8,000
Totals:	Average 46	7 Fatalities		$36,575/$24,300