David Kotelchuck began his work and activism in the occupational health and safety movement in the early 1970s, soon after the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. He has been a stalwart member of the New Solutions editorial board from its inception. In Spring 2026, he celebrated his 90 th birthday, and along with that milestone, he has written a memoir of his life and career. This article presents the memoir chapters that tell the story of David's entrance into the field of occupational health and safety, to inform readers of some of the history and development of the health and safety movement that has taken off since the 1970s. We hope that this story will help inspire a new generation of occupational and environmental public health professionals and activists to continue this work and achieve the goal of a safe and healthy workplace for all workers.
Executive Summary:The attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and the subsequent magnitude of the destruction and loss of life at the World Trade Center Complex (WTC) created an emergency response, rescue, and recovery effort of enormous proportions.New York City, State, and many Federal disaster response organizations, in addition to thousands of volunteers and other support organizations, quickly responded, including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)-Worker Education and Training Program (WETP). Several of the WETP grantees were among those support organizations responding for the purpose of providing quick-response training to workers, many from organizations with which the grantees are affiliated. In order to provide a perspective at the WETP Administrator level, a short-term technical assistance and coordination task order was executed with the authors, one of whom was dispatched to the WTC disaster site over the period from September 22 through September 27, 2001.The purpose of the short-term task order was four fold: (1) assist in coordination of NIEHS-WETP grantee activities at the WTC Site, (2) assess the current safety and health status of response personnel working at the WTC Site, (3) evaluate the current Site safety and health plans or programs and related aspects such as exposure monitoring with respect to worker protections, and (4) perform a preliminary training needs assessment specific to the WTC Site activities.With respect to the coordination task, both the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Operating Engineers National HAZMAT Program had launched an immediate and comprehensive response. As events unfolded, the authors and several other grantee organizations mobilized response resources, including coordination with the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council and the Construction Employers Association, Bechtel Corporation, the contractor responsible for developing the over-all WTC Disaster Site Safety and Health Plan, and other parties with respect to the training programs that could be promptly provided by the grantee organizations.Assessment of the current safety and health status at the Site was based upon on-site observations and analysis of the WTC Disaster Site Worker Injury and Illness Surveillance Update Reports issued by the City Health Department. Evaluation of the current Site safety and health plans and programs and related aspects was not possible, as none were apparently applicable to the construction workforce. The training needs assessment task, therefore, was conducted solely on the basis of safety and health status observations and analysis of the injury and illness surveillance reports. Training recommendations, in broad terms, are provided in this report. Training needs assessments keyed to specific construction crafts or trades, an important dimension to aid in better targeting of training response and capacity assessments by the grantees, was not possible as the prime clean-up, demolition, and removal contractor's safety and health plans and related documents have not yet been released.It became very apparent early in the WTC Site visit that the WTC Site was operating in a search and rescue mode being undertaken by NYC Fire and Police personnel and Federal personnel such as the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams in accordance with the Federal Response Plan (FRP). In addition, massive utilization of contractor-provided skilled construction support personnel to aid in the rescue and recovery effort was evident. As this phase continued past the second week, there was no clear termination of the rescue and recovery effort owing, no doubt, to several factors such as the NYC Fire Department bearing responsibility for collapsed buildings and the fact that fires continued to burn in the Site debris pile. This situation created a very complex safety and health setting in which there was confusion as to which occupational safety and health standards were applicable, whether enforcement agencies indeed had enforcement jurisdiction, and at what point in time the WTC Disaster Site Safety and Health Plan would become effective and operative. Examples of the approaches to worker safety and health protection during this period were the Operating Engineers National HAZMAT Program on-site support operation providing several thousand respirators and cartridges to operators (Police, FEMA Team members, among others), the OSHA Technical Support operation providing over 4000 respirators and conducting air monitoring as a technical support activity likely under provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Support Annex to the NRP, and the Carpenters Union Training Academy providing respirators and fit testing. Of importance, it must be noted that the determination that respiratory protection is required, and providing of such devices when required, is the responsibility of the worker's employer.What has emerged in this massive disaster and the protracted and complex response is the fact that rescue, recovery, and other activities have occurred in a scenario never anticipated by the safety and health legislation or the subsequent standards/regulations.The injury and illness reports for the initial weeks of the search and rescue activity were at unacceptable levels. Moreover, the exposure data, as well as the potential for serious exposure to toxic materials (including asbestos) among the construction response workers, raises significant concerns. Accordingly, how to respond to such situations demands serious attention in the context of worker protection and training needs.
How do non-governmental standards matter for occupational and environmental health and safety? Internationally recognized standards specify requirements for structural firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), but concerns have emerged about hazardous chemicals and firefighters' potential exposures. In this paper, we draw on the case of the National Fire Protection Association's standards for firefighter PPE to develop the concept of peri-governance, work done by non-governmental actors or organizations that exerts governance force through various mechanisms, including government entities. We conducted qualitative interviews with firefighters, industry representatives, activists, and other experts to identify firefighter and union concerns related to the development of PPE standards, and advocacy related to those concerns. We find that peri-governmental standards can exert essentially binding influence over sectors of society through four mechanisms: formal regulatory and legal requirements, fear of legal liability, insurance requirements, and universal uptake by relevant users. Peri-governance raises specific concerns about transparency, fairness, and public-private interactions, making the concept useful in examining other standards and governance more broadly.
Reliable assessment of ergonomic and job-related risk factors requires tools that are linguistically, culturally, and contextually appropriate. This study translated, culturally adapted, and preliminarily evaluated Malay versions of the Job Factor Questionnaire (JFQ) and Quick Exposure Check (QEC) among workers in Malaysian food manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises. The process included forward and backward translation, expert review, face validation, pilot testing, and psychometric evaluation. The instruments were administered to 151 employees from participating enterprises. Item-level content validity indices were at least 0.80, internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = 0.835), and test-retest reliability showed good agreement for the JFQ (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.861) and QEC (ICC = 0.800). In the recruited sample, production workers had higher observed JFQ and QEC scores than office workers, consistent with anticipated exposure differences. These findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and utility of the Malay JFQ and QEC in food manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education has changed teaching and assessment practices and has introduced new risks for faculty well-being. This study, conducted in 10 public and private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, examines faculty burnout associated with AI adoption and academic integrity enforcement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 full-time faculty members, each with more than 5 years of teaching experience. Reflexive thematic analysis identified 5 domains of burnout: workload intensification through invisible labor, technostress driven by rapid technological change, an investigative burden that moves the faculty role from pedagogy toward surveillance, ethical strain within a policy vacuum, and disruption of professional identity. Participants described AI integration as a structural intensifier of academic labor rather than a labor-saving tool. In the absence of clear governance, faculty members absorbed the cognitive, emotional, and administrative costs of institutional transitions. The findings support the need for written institutional AI policies, formal recognition of assessment redesign labor, fair and reliable misconduct procedures, and sustained professional development so that integrity enforcement does not rest on individual instructors alone. The results carry implications for university governance, national regulatory bodies, and occupational health in academic workplaces.
This study aimed to describe and analyze the relationships between the organizational climate towards sexual minority workers, the quality of work life (QoWL), and burnout in a sample of 256 Portuguese and Brazilian workers. The mediating role of QoWL in the relationship between climate and burnout was analyzed, and the variables under study were compared considering participants’ sexual orientation. Our findings showed group differences in burnout and in specific QoWL dimensions (general well-being and working conditions), but not in overall QoWL or perceived climate according to sexual orientation. An inclusive climate toward sexual minority workers had a negative impact, reducing burnout, and a positive impact on QoWL. QoWL had a negative impact on burnout and mediated the relationship between climate and burnout. We drew implications for research, practice, and policies from the current findings.
In January 1946, the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology published "A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels." This cross-sectional epidemiological study is one of the most consequential in the history of industrial hygiene and occupational medicine as it errantly concluded that insulation work on ships using asbestos-containing materials was "…not a dangerous occupation." As a consequence of this innocuous conclusion, the U.S. Navy and others neglected to protect insulators and other employees from asbestos dust for the next 25 years, leading to an epidemic of asbestos-related diseases in active and retired workers. Subsequently, attorneys and expert witnesses used this exculpating conclusion to mount "state of the art/science" defenses for asbestos manufacturers in tort actions, arguing that their clients relied on this publication when they failed to protect their own employees from asbestos or warn their customers of the hazard. Both the industrial hygiene and the medical components of this study were deeply flawed. The successor publisher to the original journal has refused to consider retracting this paper, so this catastrophic blunder may remain a part of the literature, available to asbestos tort defense attorneys and their experts. Publishing industry policies and precedent related to retracting very old articles are reviewed.
IN SUMMARY:(a) surgical masks provide inadequate protection against airborne pathogens; (b) the current WHO guidelines are harming healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients; and (c) WHO as a global healthcare safety leader has the power to reduce disease burden in healthcare settings through more effective advocacy. WHO should lead decisively toward safer healthcare by establishing respirators as the universal default for all healthcare encounters, with clearly defined, locally-determined off-ramps based on transparent risk indicators and the use of effective engineering controls. This recommendation would align WHO policy with science and existing safety standards and would improve safety for both patients and healthcare providers.
Between 1917 and 2007, Alcoa operated an aluminum smelting plant in Badin, North Carolina, resulting in hazardous occupational and environmental exposures in West Badin, a predominantly Black community. We partnered with the Concerned Citizens of West Badin Community to document the experiences of prior employees and their families. We used a community-engaged survey approach to summarize residents' workplace and community-level experiences. Fourteen interviews were coded for recurring themes. Potroom work was the most frequently reported job. Occupational exposures included asbestos, extreme heat, and dust inhalation. Additional workplace stressors included take-home exposures and racism. Most participants expressed concerns about environmental exposures as well. Health conditions most frequently reported included cancer, heart disease, and lung disease. Badin residents experience cumulative impacts of occupational and environmental hazards resulting from Alcoa's operations. This survey served as a tool for documenting their experiences, identifying ongoing environmental concerns, supporting community organizing, and highlighting the resilience of the West Badin community.
In this qualitative study, we sought to understand the experiences of Hanford nuclear workers who navigated health care and compensation systems after exposure to chemical vapors. In 2016, we conducted semi-structured interviews with six workers who had experienced chemical vapor exposure. Our grounded theory inductive analysis produced five themes. In light of Washington State's 2018 Hanford Presumption Law, we added a longitudinal component to our investigation. In 2021, we reconnected with original participants to assess whether their experiences navigating systems had changed. Our analysis produced four themes.
MATES in Construction originated in Australia as a workplace suicide prevention program for predominantly male, blue-collar industries with high suicide rates. Accreditation criteria were developed for the purpose of providing recognition for participating sites and promoting the program. Arising from an internal review of the MATES accreditation criteria, this article presents the purpose and history of MATE's accreditation criteria; the rationale and evidence underpinning the accreditation criteria; and the evolving practice of accreditation in the MATES context. Four accreditation criteria are specified, addressing the 3 levels of the prevention and early treatment spectrum for mental health and illness interventions (universal/selective/indicated): (1) All the available workforce on a work site must be offered General Awareness Training (GAT, universal); (2) Following initial GAT training, at least 80% of the workforce is GAT trained (universal); (3) All workers must have a “line of sight” to a worker/volunteer trained in how to connect people to help (selective); (4) the work site must be able to access an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trained person during operational hours (indicated). MATES programs continue to evolve, possibly warranting additional accreditation criteria in the future to acknowledge the implementation of increasingly comprehensive programs. The extent to which the MATES justification for and approach to accreditation is generalizable to other contexts is not known; however, the underlying principles and rationale provided are likely adaptable in other contexts.
Escalated pesticide use in Latin America has increased the number of people exposed to these substances. There are controversies about their health risks in rural contexts. This study, conducted 2018-2021, analyzed local perceptions and discourses on pesticide health risks in the Uruguayan agro-city of Guichón. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with agricultural, health, educational, and social actors. In addition, we visited the city and observed activities related to pesticide use. This study identified two discourses in tension. On the one hand, we observed statements that minimized pesticide risks and avoided responsibility for protecting health, safety, and the environment. These discourses contrast with those from a health-environmental perspective. They focused on several diseases and the loss of fauna, using complaints as the primary response. In conclusion, it is necessary to promote preventive practices in local workplaces, increase municipal control, and involve community-based actors in the analysis of pesticide health risks.
Improper and unsafe insecticide handling in India remains a concern due to limited awareness and training, despite existing regulations. Using a phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights through semistructured interviews with seven farmers and farm workers in Odisha, India. The study identified environmental change, increasing crop vulnerability to pests, financial burdens, and modern cultivation methods as drivers leading to increased usage of insecticides. Farmers often relied on vendors for guidance rather than label instructions, highlighting the need for clearer communication and improved presentation of instructions to aid comprehension. Disposal practices such as releasing contaminated water into fields or canals and discarding containers by burying, burning, or selling pose risks to human health and the environment. The findings indicate there are systemic barriers to good practice, such as inadequate training or education, a lack of enforcement of regulations on safe handling, and a lack of infrastructure and financial resources for pesticide safe use and disposal. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive reforms, such as stronger policy implementation, more effective enforcement mechanisms, and sustained awareness-raising initiatives. Specific policy recommendations include clearer insecticide labeling, mandatory PPE provision, vendor training, promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biopesticides, safe disposal practices, and stronger enforcement of pesticide regulations.
Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) programs address the tasks associated with lifting, moving, transferring, and/or assisting patients in healthcare-related settings. Manual patient handling tasks are a major source of occupational injury among healthcare workers, often resulting in harm to the back and musculoskeletal system. We systematically used legal epidemiology policy surveillance methods to capture and evaluate all state-level SPHM policies for US healthcare settings, recording their scope of coverage and enforceable elements. Since 2006, eleven states have enacted SPHM policies to reduce healthcare worker injuries. Two states repealed them later. These policies tended to target higher acuity settings rather than lower acuity or long-term residential settings and favor administrative controls over engineering controls. Specifically, the most common policy interventions included mandatory training and SPHM committees, while interventions targeting SPHM equipment availability or use were less common. Researchers, labor unions, and policymakers should prioritize engineering controls that impact physical workplace safety when crafting SPHM policy interventions.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began, California was the only state where workers in high-risk workplaces including healthcare and prisons were protected under a comprehensive occupational health standard for aerosol transmissible diseases (ATD Standard). The ATD Standard provides clear, enforceable requirements to protect workers from an emerging, novel pathogen. Based on open access sources and public information requests, we present findings on 524 COVID-19-related enforcement inspections in certain specified industries covered by the ATD Standard from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2024, and on the 460 inspections that resulted in citations for violations of the ATD Standard. Evidence showing that 80% of identified ATD hazards were abated demonstrates a substantial impact on worker protection. We describe citation details from acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and state prisons. Based on California's experience, we recommend enhancing enforcement staffing, updating the ATD Standard, and adopting a Federal OSHA infectious diseases standard.
This study examined the experiences of immigrant workers in Alberta, Canada, following work-related injuries, with a focus on postinjury reporting and return-to-work challenges. Twenty-seven injured immigrant employees from various industries were interviewed. Using an interpretive analysis approach, the study identified key factors shaping their experiences. Most participants were educationally overqualified for their roles and unfamiliar with high-risk, labor-intensive work environments. Findings revealed significant barriers to accessing information about injury reporting, workers' compensation, and available benefits. Participants also reported adverse interactions with employers and insurers, inadequate work accommodations, and inappropriate retraining options. Discrimination, language barriers, fear of job loss, and systemic discrimination exacerbated these challenges. The findings highlight an urgent need for policy interventions, including occupational health and safety training for new immigrants, stronger employer accountability, culturally responsive return-to-work planning, and improved communication of workers' rights. These measures can enhance injury prevention and promote more equitable return-to-work outcomes for immigrant workers.
Silicosis is a devastating, deadly, and thoroughly preventable disease. It literally takes your breath away. In California alone, hundreds of workers have recently been diagnosed with silicosis. At least 27 have died. 52 have undergone lung transplants. Passage of H.R.5437, "The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act," would prohibit lawsuits against corporations that manufacture or distribute artificial stone. Lawsuits play an important role in public health protection; if lawsuits by workers with silicosis are prohibited, these manufacturers will make no effort to prevent more workers from dying or becoming disabled by silicosis. There are safe substitutes that can make equally fashionable countertops. Shifting to a substitute will result in no loss of American jobs. With new cases on the horizon, the artificial stone industry is asking Congress to prohibit all lawsuits by workers sickened by their products. They blame fabricators who don't follow OSHA's silica standard. The manufacturers know their product is being used unsafely, but do absolutely nothing to stop it. Other industries that manufacture hazardous products practice Product Stewardship. Responsible firms in high-hazard industries consider the risks faced by downstream users of their products and endeavor to limit or mitigate those risks. Passage of this misguided legislation will ensure this doesn't happen - it promises to be a death sentence for workers who fabricate these countertops in the USA.
Canada's occupational health and safety (OHS) legislative frameworks describe the general rights and responsibilities of employers and employees to ensure safe workplaces. However, the extent to which these OHS frameworks recognize and safeguard reproductive health and fetal development remains understudied. Protections for reproductive health and fetal development were evaluated in OHS legislation, employment standards, and associated regulations across Canada's federal and 13 provincial/territorial jurisdictions by a policy analysis, supported by a sex and gender-based thematic and content analysis. OHS and reproductive health keyword frequencies were also determined. Three major themes were identified: (1) inconsistent recognition of workplace risks to reproductive health, (2) job modification, and (3) employer-mandated pregnancy leave. Our review found that workplace protections were generally limited to pregnancy, with little recognition of workplace risks to fertility, suggesting gaps in workplace protections for reproductive health and fetal development. We recommend contemporary reform of Canada's OHS legislation and regulations to support universal, comprehensive, and inclusive protections for reproductive health and fetal development for all workers, regardless of sex and pregnancy status.
Despite interest in collecting occupational health and safety data to protect high-risk workers such as firefighters, there is limited research on public policies governing this data. We reviewed policies impacting firefighter occupational health and safety data. We identified laws, regulations, and union contracts at the federal level, and in Maryland and Virginia. We collected data using secondary sources and Westlaw (March-May 2023). We reviewed 20 laws and regulations: nine federal, three in Maryland, and eight in Virginia, and 11 union contracts. We developed a framework for evaluating each policy: permissiveness of data collection, data use/purpose, storage conditions, and sharing/access privileges. We found few policies directly related to occupational health and safety data privacy, and only two fire service-specific laws. Union protections varied, with many limiting data access, while others authorized electronic surveillance. The current legal structure provides some protection, but additional policymaking is needed to further safeguard firefighter data.
