Safety & Health
 Work Shouldn't Hurt
Local One established its Safety & Health Department in June 1991. Since then, we have helped reduce the rate of occupational injury and disease among our members through sound labor/management cooperation and ongoing education.
Occupational illnesses are defined as being cumulative and developing over a period of time, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Injuries are one-time occurrences, such as a cut or broken bone.
Local One members in the grocery, food processing, health care and manufacturing industries engage in a variety of work tasks that are exceedingly labor intensive. Workers in these industries are continually utilizing motions of a repetitive nature, which increase the risk of painful injuries associated with Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Many of our members bend and twist their backs, shoulders, hands and wrists while lifting or applying pressure literally thousands of times per day.
Most worksites have Safety & Health Representatives. These are members at each worksite assist in addressing safety and health inspections in order to address hazards at an early stage. They receive support from Local OneÕs Safety & Health Department through annual trainings, technical assistance, onsite visits and a quarterly newsletter.
Local One also provides a 57-page Reference Guide for Safety & Health Representatives. This guide is divided into sections covering Retail Food, Industrial (manufacturing, chemical, food processing, etc.) and Health Care. It is designed to assist representatives in identifying major safety and health hazards. The department has a library of safety and health materials and a number of brochures.
More information on safety and health issues is available through the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration . Information on sanitation is available through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets .
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