Employees who are now represented by the Service Employees International Union Committee of Interns and Residents at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the facility's inability to protect employees from workplace violence.

Following OSHA's inspection of the facility, OSHA cited the hospital for several minor violations, including that the "OSHA 300 logs were not complete and accurate." In addition to the citation, OSHA sent a letter to the managers at the hospital informing them that "Employees are exposed to incidents of workplace violence by patients and others and the establishment did not have an effective workplace violence prevention program."

OSHA did not cite the hospital for a workplace violence violation because "no OSHA [workplace violence] standard applies." However, OSHA did recommend that the hospital improve its workplace violence prevention program and listed ten steps the hospital should take to proceed.

Assemblyman Lancman is currently drafting legislation to ensure that private hospitals create and implement workplace violence prevention programs.

Assemblyman Lancman and Health and Safety Specialist Susan McQuade from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health presented a workshop on workplace safety in schools to school administrators at the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators' 46th Annual Educational Leadership Conference.

The workshop addressed workplace safety hazards in schools, the laws that are present to protect school employees from safety hazards and current legislation to improve workplace safety in schools. As addressed in the workshop, the Subcommittee supports bills to combat workplace violence (A. 2136), poor indoor air quality (A. 2075), the spread of H1N1 (A.9156), and high indoor air temperature (A.7832).

OSHA hosted a conference on immigrant worker safety and health in New York City as part of a national initiative to spread awareness regarding workers' rights to immigrant workers. Immigrant workers from all parts of New York City, representing a variety of industries, attended the conference.

Immigrant workers are disproportionately at risk of workplace injury and illness. However, immigrant workers are often hesitant to complain about workplace violations for a variety of reasons, including fear of deportation for workers who are undocumented immigrants. A main topic of the conference was that all workers have the right to a safe and healthful workplace no matter their immigration status.

Assemblyman Lancman met with Micki Siegel de Hernandez, the Director of Health and Safety for the Communications Workers of America District One (CWA).

CWA represents tens of thousands of workers, including Verizon employees who install telecommunications lines near electrical wires and who are often not provided with proper safety equipment or training, resulting in numerous injuries and one fatality. The Subcommittee is examining Verizon's policies and practices on this issue.

CWA also represents social workers, who are repeatedly victims of on-the-job assault. CWA and the Subcommittee are working together to strategize ways to minimize workplace violence for social workers throughout the state.

Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ member Carlos Cruz, a resident of Assemblyman Lancman's district, works as a doorman in Rego Park and was recognized by 32BJ for his caring service and commitment to his building and residents. He treats residents of the building almost like family, teaching boys how to tie a perfect Windsor knot and handling delicate situations with discretion. Carlos never hesitates to do something extra for someone in the building and for that Assemblyman Lancman and 32BJ were proud to honor Carlos.

The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local Union Number One hosted its annual tour of the International Masonry Institute (IMI) in Long Island City. IMI trains hundreds of apprentices each year to become quality bricklayers. Training on safety and health is a top priority for IMI.