Widow cries out for workplace safety

[Omaha Steve]

To the newer readers here, I worked in a Waste Water Treatment Plant. I filed an ADA claim against my employer. I was illegally fired in retaliation. My union is fighting the action. I will have a hearing in front of an arbitrator on June 19th. I understand the dangers of treatment plants. I'm currently killing time in a non union environment. It sucks. :-)During the Reagan administration a union fought my case with the NLRB for being fired for union activities and won.


http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03052507.htm

NEWS: Front Page

May 25, 2007

Widow cries out for workplace safety
By JOHN BOZZO
Staff Writer

Casey Jones choked with tears as she testified before a congressional subcommittee Thursday about her husband's fiery death after an explosion at a Daytona Beach wastewater plant.

"My heart breaks as I speak," Jones said, her voice breaking as she read from a prepared text, her face noticeably reddening. "I know that he did not have to die.

"My heart breaks for his children. My heart breaks for those that have lost family and friends in similar situations, all so needlessly."


Emotions overcome Casey Jones, widow of Clyde Jones, as she testifies Thursday before a House Committee on Education and Labor hearing on workplace safety in Washington, D.C. Her husband was killed in the Daytona Beach wastewater plant explosion in 2006.

She told the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections in Washington, D.C., the tragedy could have been prevented. And she urged congressional leaders to impose federal workplace safety rules on state and local governments.

The Jan. 11, 2006, explosion at the Daytona Beach Bethune Point Wastewater Treatment Plant resulted in the deaths of city workers Clyde Jones, 40, and Eric Johnson, 59. Another employee, Michael Martin, 43, was severely burned.

A surgical technologist, Casey Jones was working at Halifax Medical Center when her husband was brought to the hospital after the explosion.

FULL story at link.

[iamjoy]

1. BUT, BUT

all those troublesome safety regulations are SO expensive. Why should they be imposed on any business. Why not let the free market work? You know, people won't want to work at "dangerous" places, so employers will voluntarily adopt the practices best for their community.

Jeesh - I can't believe some people really think that way. It's hard enough for me to write as an exercise in trying to understand the point of view of people who are against stricter standards (other than thinking them heartless, I mean)