A new GoFundMe campaign has beenlaunched to provide urgent financial assistance to families experiencinghardship due to immigration enforcement actions and related challenges. Thefundraiser aims to help ensure that children, elderly family members, and otherdependents have access to essential needs during times of uncertainty andcrisis.

MassCOSH extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Manuel Chuqui, who died Thursday after a fall from scaffolding while performing exterior work in Jamaica Plain. NBC10 Boston reported that Manuel’s family identified him, that fire officials said the cause of the fall is under investigation, and that OSHA has been notified.

Extreme heat is a growing public health risk for Massachusetts residents and workers. MassCOSH urges statewide heat protections, building on Boston’s new worker heat-safety ordinance, to ensure safe homes and workplaces as extreme heat becomes more common.

Dying for Work 2026 is MassCOSH and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO’s annual Workers’ Memorial Day report documenting 59 work-related injury deaths in Massachusetts in 2025—a 22.9% increase from 2024—and connecting those losses to weakened federal enforcement, climate-driven hazards, immigration retaliation, and specific policy fixes. The 76-page booklet is both a memorial record and an advocacy roadmap spanning construction accountability, transportation safety, maritime labor abuse, heat standards, and 2026 State House priorities.

MassCOSH reminded the media and the public after the recent heat wave that working outside during oppressive heat isnt just uncomfortable for workers; it can be deadly. A Medford employee of the U.S.

Century later, issues still resonate, (Jan. 11) highlights the parallels of the haves and have nots of 1912 and those of 2012.

Over the past few years, reporter Jane M. Von Bergen has shadowed MassCOSH to report on our fight for good, safe jobs for all.

MassCOSH is very happy to announce its newest team member in the fight for good, safe jobs for all. Joe Tache joined MassCOSH this past January as its new Youth Programs Director leading our Teens Lead @ Work (TL@W) program.

MassCOSH is excited to welcome new Labor-Community Training Coordinator and Organizer, Jazmin Morinigo!

Task force: Reopening plans dont offer enough help for people disproportionately affected by crisis Among the conditions it wants met is a drop in the infection rates among minority groups.By Anissa Gardizy Globe Correspondent,Updated June 4, 2020, 10:19 a.m.

With schools closed and job sites shuttered, teenagers around the country have found themselves at home struggling to continue their education and going without income.

While Hurricane Henri brought a near miss to Massachusetts, hurricane season runs through November 30, and its important workers mobilized to clean up after storms, our second responders, know about the potential hazards on the job and their rights.

On February 1, 2019, after a decade-long campaign, a new law went into effect that established federal OSHA regulations as the minimum safety standard for public workers.

Links for the first time working outside the home to a dramatic risk of death due to COVID-19 On December 10, 2019, Vidal Bravo Cifuentes, a 34-year-old day laborer, was killed during a tree removal operation at a house in Wakefield.

On February 3, MassCOSH joined with National COSH and over 100 worker groups to release the National Agenda for Worker Safety and Health.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, MassCOSH has reached thousands of workers through multi-lingual, virtual town halls that provide science-based information on how to stay safe, how to access paid time-off benefits to quarantine and recover from COVID-19, and how to enforce COVID-19 worker health and safety regul...

By Beth Healy and Megan Woolhouse GLOBE STAFF SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 Luis Mayancela was 15 years old when he fell from the roof of a house in Portland, Maine, where he was helping fasten shingles. He tumbled two stories, severely breaking his leg. His employer did not call an ambulance.

MassCOSH is working on an outreach project to understand how you and other workers are feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are distributing a survey across the state to ensure that MassCOSH tailors our priorities to best meet your needs in the ongoing fight for workplace safety and health.

MassCOSH is very proud of a brave group of hotel housekeepers who have successfully brought their employer to the bargaining table to address workplace bullying, back wages, overtime, stolen tips, and retaliation damages.

Thanks to our partners in the Raise Up Massachusetts Coalition, two critical benefits for working people in Massachusetts started on January 1. First, the minimum wage has increased to $13.50. This is part of a gradual increase that will bring the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by January 2023.

Without knowing their rights, many workers hurt on the job remain unaware of the protections and benefits that have been secured for them by advocates over the decades.

MassCOSH would like to wish the best of luck to Ben Weilerstein, who, after an amazing and productive two years with MassCOSH, is soon leaving in order to be closer to family in Pittsburgh.

On May 27, Governor Baker replaced Massachusetts' COVID-19 Workplace Safety Regulations with a blank version, circumventing any public process and leaving workers in Massachusetts with no protections from workplace exposure to COVID-19.

MassCOSH is very pleased to announce that after years of advocacy, An Act to protect children, families, and firefighters from harmful flame retardants has been signed into law.

Workplace violence fact sheet

4174/S. 2401. These bills would protect workers who seek their rightful access to medical care and workers compensation from retaliation from their employer.

Workers’ comp agency urged to speed handling of claims ByBeth HealyGLOBE STAFFSEPTEMBER 21, 2016 Two dozen immigrant workers and their advocates packed into a small downtown hearing room Wednesday to urge a state agency to speed the handling of workers’ compensation claims and press employers to meet their obligatio...

On September 26, MassCOSH members, Justice at Work, and Fair Work Law gathered to celebrate a temp worker victory year in the making.

On March 1st, it was announced that the program would end March 15, with funds allocated for reimbursement set to be exhausted before the initial deadline at the end of April.

MOURN for the Dead - FIGHT for the Living Thursday, April 25, 2013 12:00 – 1:15 PM In front of the State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston MOURN for the Dead FIGHT for the Living Thursday, April 25, 2013 12:00 – 1:15 PM In front of the State House 24 Beacon Street, Boston (rain location , call 617-825-7233 x14 for inf...

By Megan Woolhouse BILLERICA About a year ago, a worker sued a Billerica packaging company and the temporary employment agency that placed her there, claiming she was owed thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime.

On May 18, MassCOSH issued failing grades to Governor Bakers Reopening Massachusetts plan because of its failure to adequately protect workers and the public.

Every day, thousands of frontline workers are interacting with countless members of the public as part of their job, putting themselves and their families at risk to keep society running.

NEW BEDFORD The death of seafood worker Victor Gerena could have been prevented had Sea Watch International followed safety protocol, according to his mother Ada Garcia. And now, she said, five kids are without a father.

As president of a worker center in Boston, I was thrilled to see a reporter recognize the growing role that these centers play in protecting workers from wage theft, dangerous jobs, and other forms of labor abuse (Worker advocacy groups gain clout, clash with businesses, Business, Jan. 17).

A recent Massachusetts Department of Public Health report on worker opioid-related overdose deaths shows MassCOSHs efforts to educate and provide services to at-risk worker is more badly needed than ever.

"There is clearly a documented history from OSHA of negligence committed by this nonunion company towards the safety of its workers, MassCOSH Chief of Strategy & Engagement Al Vega said in a statement.

According to media reports, Lyon, 42, was working around a standard forklift being used to hoist and then lower a large 900-pound wheel. Lyon was working on the equipment when part of the object fell on him, causing catastrophic injuries.

There are multiple machinery/equipment violations, including failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures in energy control. They were also cited for failure to protect against falling objects and respiratory hazards.

With MassCOSH staff and many of its Worker Center members vaccinated, the Worker Center has recently resumed limited, in-person trainings for low-income and immigrant workers.

With state data showing Massachusetts teens average over 700 work-related emergency room visits each year, Boston teens and state officials working to change these statistics announced the winners of the statewide 4th annual Safe Jobs for Youth poster contest today at the Massachusetts State House.

Why Workers Wont Unite GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE GUTTED THE LABOR MOVEMENT, AND PART-TIME WORK IS SABOTAGING SOLIDARITY. IS THERE A NEW WAY TO CHALLENGE THE POLITICS OF INEQUALITY?

Who's Sick at School Report

Written by MassCOSH Intern Isabella Eisenhart On June 8, MassCOSHs worker center held elections for new board members, electing Fernando Chacon, Beatriz Yanez, and Mayra Molina.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all workers are treated with respect and dignity, earn a fair wage and return home to their families alive and well.

JOB OPENING: MassCOSH Youth Coordinator The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) is a nonprofit organization that builds the power of workers both youth and adults to lead efforts that achieve safe, healthy working conditions.

Every month as part of our newsletter, we take a moment to name and remember those who we lost as a result of a workplace injury or illness the previous month.

*Update 4/1/2021* Thanks to those who made their voices heard, the Boston Public School district was granted a waiver to start school at a later date!

The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) has a more than 40-year record of advocating for safe, healthy workplaces.

As Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker attempts to reopen shuttered workplaces, millions of workers will be at heightened risk of contracting the novel coronavirus and many of our working brothers and sisters may not survive the infection. Sadly, Gov.

Summer has begun and with temperatures rising, so too is the risk of heat stress.

On April 28, MassCOSH held on online observation of International Workers' Memorial Day to honor the Massachusetts workers who were killed, injured or made ill on their jobs in the past 12 months.

MassCOSH is seeking a full-time Health and Safety Trainer . Please click the bolded text to learn more about the position. We offer salary transparency, generous vacation and holiday policies, full individual health, dental and 2% contribution to your 401K.

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE Published: August 7, 2013 Wal-Mart Stores has agreed to a corporatewide settlement to improve safety conditions related to trash compactors and cleaning chemicals in more than 2,800 of its stores, the United States Department of Labor announced on Wednesday.

Wage theft in the construction industry is rampant and can have devastating effects on our communities. Employers who cheat their employees out of pay can charge less for work and drive good, well-paying job providers out of business.

After receiving a shock from the equipment, he was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead.Unfortunately, workplace electrical hazards have a history of posing lethal threats to workers, especially contract workers.

The beam had a sign indicating a vertical clearance of 86, which the forklift exceeded due to a raised backrest extension. Several co-workers arrived at the scene after hearing the crash and used an aircraft tow bar to pull him out from under the machine.

As schools set to reopen for the 2021-2022 school year, on July 30, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education lifted all health and safety requirements for the Commonwealth’s schools, replacing them with  recommendations  that not only fail to protect stud...

The death of 64-year-old Manuel Viera, a ABC Disposal Inc. employee struck by a flatbed truck on Tuesday November 18, was a tragedy but not the first occupational incident for the New Bedford employer, according to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH).

Two immigrant workers at construction and shipping worksites were killed less than five days apart in the city of Boston.

Workers across the state are being given until June 30th before they no longer need to report to work. The closures are set to impact 128 workers.Workers and advocates have increasingly spoken up about health and safety concerns following the death of Holyoke worker Lorna McMurrey in 2022.

As the economy reopens amid a viral pandemic the medical community admits it knows little about, vetted, expert information on how to stay safe on the job is an invaluable resource.

Last month, MassCOSH Director of Policy and Programs, Al Vega, joined with the Massachusetts Labor Guild and the Brockton Workers Alliance for two Saturdays worth of trainings for low-wage workers.

had a long history of OSHA violations, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health said in a statement. Two families and numerous coworkers and neighbors are mourning today. Emergency responders put their lives at risk.

Health advocates are ramping up pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove the keratin hair-straightening product Brazilian Blowout from the marketplace in light of a legal settlement announced today in a California court against the company that makes the product.

In July of 2005, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts funded the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass Lowell to study safer alternatives for major uses of five toxic chemicals.

This past January, David White and his family received the news you never want to hear. His son, Ricardo R. Oliveira, a 22-year-old construction worker, had fallen 25 feet while working at a job site. A few days later, Ricardo passed away, leaving David and loved ones heartbroken and in shock.

On January 14 th , 72-year-old Samuel Mooskian from Saugus was working at the Everett Home Depot, when he tragically fell and injured himself. Unfortunately, four days later he died from head injuries pertaining to this fall.

My fellow workers' rights supporter, Every day, more people are feeling empowered to come forward and publicly address sexual harassment on the job. But what do you do to protect yourself when you feel invisible and powerless?

A Newbury Street address. Proclamations of praise from the city and state. An extravagant launch party at a Back Bay venue where a group of teen writers signed magazine copies like rock stars. An over-the-top press release hailing the event's success as something unforgettable.

Until recently, Abril (her name has been changed to protect her identity) was living a normal life as one of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who call Greater Boston home.

Now that school is nearly over, 23 million youth across the US will be heading to work for the summer, said Justin Caballero, a 17-year-old MassCOSH Teens Lead @ Work (TL@W) peer leader. Jobs are important but young people face dangers.

On April 6, MassCOSH joined with our allies, including Massachusetts Not 4 Sale Coalition and Gig Workers Rising (GWR) for a rally and the release of an illuminating report titled Death and Corporate Irresponsibility in the Gig Economy.

Good safe jobs are a right for all workers, but equally critical is the right to a safe, secure home. The current economic crisis caused by the pandemic has led countless low-wage and immigrant workers to face the very real possibility of not only losing their jobs but also their homes.

After over a decade of steadfast advocacy by labor advocates, a bill extending Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) protections goes into effect February 1, 2019.

For a variety of reasons, not every young person is able to obtain a college degree before entering the workforce.

MassCOSH releases statements regarding workplace deaths as we are made aware of them. Sadly, yesterday a worker lost their life on the job.

The recent death of long-time Natick employee Michael F. McDaniel Jr., is a stark reminder of the dangers our municipal public works employees face each day. It also highlights the urgent need for health and safety requirements that meet or exceed those in the private sector.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (MassCOSH) is greatly saddened to learn of the death of James Jacobs. While working for Otis Elevator Company on September 3, Jacobs was killed on the job at TripAdvisor's Needham headquarters.

Maritza, an enterprising, immigrant self-starter worried not only for her health during the pandemic but that of the children she cared for at the small daycare she founded and runs in East Boston. Like you, she had so many questions and had so few answers. How will this impact how we work?

With powerful testimonies from workers and labor advocates, legislators were urged to close a loophole in the states safety laws that has resulted in hundreds of public employee injuries and deaths.

Currently, Massachusetts private sector and executive branch workers are covered under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), but the law for other public employees is vague, causing widespread confusion about whether OSHA measures are required.

On March 14, reporters, agency and legislative officials, proud parents and youth filled the State House Members Lounge, eager to meet the winners of the 3 rd annual Safe Jobs for Youth Poster Contest.

This past April 28, Bostons observance of International Workers Memorial Day attracted a record crowd, in no small part due to a horrible tragedy that occurred six months prior.

The 2015-16 MassCOSH Legal and Medical Access Attorney Directory is our latest effort to ensure that all workers have the tools and resources to fight against unjust and unsafe working conditions and obtain medical care.

Many schools around Boston have trophy cases full or winning teams and record-breaking athletes. Yet these schools are now also home to equally deserving champions who are fighting to help staff and students with asthma breath with ease.

By Megan Woolhouse | Globe Staff March 06, 2014 A temporary staffing agency sued by its workers for not paying overtime failed to register to do business in Massachusetts and meet requirements of a year-old law regulating these companies, according to the state Labor Department.

On January 30th, in MassCOSHs new East Boston worker center office, temporary workers and community and labor supporters commemorated the anniversary of the Temp Worker Right to Know Laws passage with chants and testimonies.

This month, two fast-food chains paid the price for violating child labor laws: Chipotle was hit with a $1.37 million fine for more than 13,000 child labor violations at its Massachusetts restaurants and Wendys was hit with $400,000 in fines for more than 2,100 child labor violations.

Teens and Workplace Violence

MassCOSH Teens Lead @ Work (TL@W) peer leader Tiana Golding has seen the data and knows that young people suffer higher rates of injury on the job than adults.

The young workers who serve as MassCOSHs Teens Lead @ Work program Peer Leaders want to see a few changes in Boston Public Schools now that they are back to being in school buildings full time.

On September 23, with the new school year in full swing, Boston hit a baking 92 degrees. Peak summer heat is now regularly experienced when school is in session, creating sweltering classrooms for students and staff.

MassCOSH used our recent move to the VietAID Building (42 Charles St, Dorchester, MA 02122) to upgrade some technology we use in the office. One big change is that we have cut the cord to our phones and are now using an internet phone service .

Not in living memory have public school teachers faced such dangerous conditions on the job. Decades of neglect have left many school buildings in disrepair, making the COVID-19 pandemic especially concerning for school staff who are being asked to resume in-person learning.

Before a standing room only crowd, the Boston Zero Waste Task Force, a multi-stakeholder group made up of labor and business leaders, community and neighborhood groups, Zero Waste and recycling experts, and environmental and social justice advocates, held a briefing at City Hall today to release a set of recommendat...

On December 5, MassCOSHs Teens Lead @ Work (TL@W) took part in a Boston Public Schools Youth Community meeting with the Citys new Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. The meeting was organized by motivated and engaged students of the school system who are part of the Boston Student Advisory Council.

On May 16, MassCOSH Executive Director Jodi Sugerman-Brozan traveled to Pittsburgh to help lead an incredibly powerful workshop on opioid addiction and worker training interventions for resilience, suicide, and addiction.

With most of Bostons public schools built before World War II, 130 buildings are increasingly unable to abate the heat that comes with ever-warming springs and summers.

MassCOSH is very proud of the 22 young people who graduated from our Teens Lead @ Work summer programs on August 12.