I know it's a stupid question, but WHERE is OSHA for the cleanup crews in the Gulf?

[Donnachaidh]

Shouldn't THEY be down there, making sure these folks are properly equipped? Shouldn't THEY be down there to make sure the BP overlords aren't endangering these folks?

[Mnemosyne]

1. Great question, imho. KnR! n/t

[Poll_Blind]

2. OSHA is mentioned in a DU video in the video forums titled:

"Louisianna Woman With Inside Look At BP GoM Tells It Like It Is". From what I recall, OSHA is involved in some way- she mentioned them in regards to respirators. Don't know much more than that, passing it on.

PB

[Donnachaidh]

3. will check it out -thanks! n/t

[cheapdate]

4. Don't know, but I hazardd a guess

that OSHA regulations are written to cover specific classes of workers and specific classes of activities. The particular circumstances of the oil spill responders might not be covered under OSHA. I'm not dismissing your question, but I worked in the chemical process industry for a while and I know that the OSHA regulations that affected us were pretty specific. For instance, because we were a manufacturing facility that stored on site more than a certain amount of a particular, listed chemical we were required under federal law (i.e. OSHA regulations) to have and to maintain in good condition certain kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE). All I'm saying is that OSHA regulations are finite and limited in scope.

Also, do you know that there aren't OHSA officials involved in the government's spill response?

[bigwillq]

5. Having drinks with FEMA (nt)

[HowHasItComeToThis]

6. THE BUSH GANG SO GUTTED OR GOVERNMENT THAT IT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

[Festivito]

7. Did you call them? Do you know they didn't show yet?

Chances are that the levels of VOCs are below levels that would require masks.

But, I don't know, and I suspect you don't either. Just government bashing for fun, or profit.

[FBI_Un_Sub]

8. OSHA's expertise is in physical trauma industrial injuries.

I loaf with the local fire fighters -- and the Hazmat Captain tells me that less then 2% of OSHA's efforts go into toxics.

[cwydro]

9. Where is our government?

period

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Here's some stuffs

www.osha.gov/oilspills/