AFL-CIO Pres. Comments on EPA's Ban of Methylene Chloride at Work
Editorial StaffThe Facts -
- The Biden-Harris administration has taken historic EPA action to phase out the dangerous chemical methylene chloride, with AFL-CIO's Liz Shuler applauding the move.
- The phase-out is expected to protect workers and save lives, particularly following the Trump administration's neglect to require employers to use safer alternatives.
- The AFL-CIO's 2024 Death on the Job report reveals an estimated 125,000 U.S worker deaths in 2022, with chemical exposures causing around 50,000 of these deaths.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler Commends Biden-Harris Administration for Banning Methylene Chloride
The Biden-Harris administration's historic decision to phase out and ban the lethal chemical methylene chloride has been lauded by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. This initiative, under the Toxic Substances Control Act, is a significant leap towards securing worker safety, following the Trump administration's failure to act.
This move, coming shortly after Workers Memorial Day, is a significant advancement in our endeavour to safeguard workers. The AFL-CIO wholeheartedly endorses this rule, which is a testament to the Biden-Harris administration’s and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) unwavering commitment to worker safety and health.
Given the availability of safer alternatives, we are confident that this practical change will save lives. Methylene chloride has long been recognized as a serious threat to workers, capable of causing instant death if inhaled. Yet, the Trump administration and its corporate allies failed to protect workers by only banning consumer usage and not mandating safer workplace practices. We will strive to ensure maximal worker protection during phase-out periods and set stringent standards to shield all workers from on-the-job chemical exposures.
An insight into the unacceptable rates of worker deaths and injuries can be found in the AFL-CIO’s 2024 Death on the Job report.
Findings of the 2024 Death on the Job Report
- An estimated 125,000 workers, including 5,486 from traumatic injury and approximately 120,000 from occupational diseases, died in the US in 2022. This equals 344 workers each day.
- Chemical exposures leading to occupational diseases are responsible for an estimated 50,000 deaths and 190,000 illnesses annually.
- The traumatic job fatality rate increased to 3.7 per 100,000 workers.
- Disproportionate job fatality rates were observed among Black and Latino workers, with Black workers' job fatality rate reaching a near 15-year high of 4.2 per 100,000 workers.
- The job fatality rate among Latino workers was 4.6 per 100,000, marking a 24% increase over the past decade, making them the most at-risk demographic.
- Work-related injuries and illnesses reported by employers increased to nearly 3.5 million.
For more information, contact Riley Lopez at 202-637-5018.
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