WV Public Employee OSHA Survey
Please fill out any part or all of this survey and return it to the WV Public Workers Union Hall or email your responses to our email address below.
1) Is your work place always safe? Y / N
2) Do you feel that your health or safety is in jeopardy at work? Y / N
3) Describe your safety or health concern?
4) Is the safety hazard ongoing, frequent or occasional?
5) Are you concerned that you might be working in a sick building? Y / N
6) Are you (or your co-workers) experiencing sick-building symptoms (these may include respiratory problems, chronic illness, headaches or nausea), which may be caused by mold, lack of ventilation, maintenance or other chemical odor and indoor air quality issues?
7) Have you reported your health or safety concerns to an authority? Y / N
8) If yes, who did you report your concerns to, when and what was the result?
If you want more information about the public workers union or about representation regarding problems with your building or how to file an OSHA complaint, please send your name and contact information to the union today.
Your Name _________________________________ Work location ____________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________
City _______________________ State _____ Zip code __________ Phone # _____________________
Send your survey responses to:
West Virginia Public Workers Union, UE Local 170
1591 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25311
Call (304) 699-4401 - or email - uelocal170_info (at) yahoo.com
A Study of the WV Occupational Health and Safety Act
WV Public Employees Right to Representation
The West Virginia Public Workers Union, UE Local 170, continues to investigate sick buildings and dangerous working conditions. Our research of working conditions in state offices has uncovered that the WV OSHA law has not been properly implemented or enforced since 1987. This Union requested the legislative study of WV OSHA for state employees in 2010. In April the State Legislature authorized SCR 51 and HCR 100 (Senate and House Concurrent Resolutions), regarding the study of the WV OSHA law for public employees.
WV public workers have identified these concerns about how the WV OSHA Law is administered:
Each employee has the right to have representation for OSHA complaints.
Maintain the requirement that any employee who files an OSHA complaint shall remain anonymous. All references to the employee must continue to be redacted from all complaint documents and records.
Employee representatives must be allowed to participate in each phase of an OSHA complaint, including participating in all pre-inspection planning meetings, in all phases of the inspections, including testing, analysis and audits and employee representatives must be allowed to participate in all follow up and debriefing meetings.
Employee representatives must be given copies of all reports and findings in a timely manner.
Require the Division of Labor to implement OSHA standards, monitor for compliance, including oversight of risk mitigation training, and provide for the investigation of OSHA complaints.
Meaningful standards for indoor air quality need to be identified and established; including standards for molds, indoor air toxins and for various forms of irritants, including temporary maintenance related events.
Employee certification and training programs must be established to provide for proper safety and health training, developing levels of certification and standards for continuing education where appropriate.
OSHA complaints should not be investigated by an insurance company that provides workers compensation to the agency where the complaint originated.
You can help develop meaningful OSHA safety rules for WV public employees by helping us identify standards for WV OSHA compliance. By participating in our OSHA survey as part of this important study, you can help identify the workplace locations with health and safety problems. You can participate by filling out the questionnaire on the back of this flier and send your responses to the WV Public Workers Union today.
For more information visit the West Virginia Public Workers Union website – www.uelocal170.org
