Trade Union Contributions to Injury and Illness Prevention

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

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

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

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, 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 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

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, 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,

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 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

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 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

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; 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;

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. 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 Submitted by: The Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board

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

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

OEHCRI Referrals from: Referrals from: RI Department of HealthRI Department of Health DoctorsDoctors UnionsUnions OSHAOSHA AttorneysAttorneys

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

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

Expansion of Services Occupational and Environmental Health Services Occupational and Environmental Health Services Physical ExaminationsPhysical Examinations Drug and Alcohol ScreeningsDrug and Alcohol Screenings Immunization ProgramsImmunization Programs Prevention ProgramsPrevention Programs Primary Care Health Services Primary Care Health Services Specialized Screening ServicesSpecialized Screening Services

Flock Workers Lung