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FILE NAME Painters and Allied Trades PAINT DATE 1979 Apr DOC PAINT063 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Article from Painters and Allied Trades Journal Apr 1979 Part 2 Health & Safety Taking the Message to the Public Frank Burkhardt IBPAT research director advocated IBPAT's involve- ment in health and safety issues during a KWGN program aired last month in Denver complain Appearing as the guest on the station's Right It program Director Burkhardt faced questions and from two interviewers Greg Guinan KWGN vice president and public afmanager and Eric Schmidt KWGN news anchorperson Noel Jordan of Denver University's Mass Media Department moderated the hour program Burkhardt supported the need for stances is deciding who will live and who will ie The methods employed by gov- ernment in benefit analysis were also hit hard by Burkhardt They do not take into account the hidden costs he pointed out to the interviewers and to the viewing public A Mansville vice president has estimated that occu- pational health problems are costing the United States public 35 billion dollars each year he explained And 108 billion will be spent caring for those who will die of asbestos diseases in the union vs. union health and safe ; ty cost and protection Burkhardt indicated that non- union workers fear job loss which makes them less likely to about health and safety issues Con- sequently most OSHA complaints about health safety issues are against union contractors This puts a heavy burden on the union contractor while the worst offender the union contractor can use inadequate worker protection as means of cutting costs : Burkhardt would like to see sanc stronger health and safety standards for the nation's working men and women and advocated the im- portance of IBPAT's own efforts next 10 years alone he added But these figures do not find their Iway into the cost benefit analysis of the government to strengthen the worker's hand through research education and The inflationary impact of health and safety regulations that supposedly make products too expen- tions against contractors who do not provide safe and healthful work Using benefit analysis . . . is deciding who will live and who will die sive is also stated emphasized Burkhardt who provided examples from the paint and allied trades in- He or support for those who do also feels that more stringent en dustry switch forcement of OSHA standards in the management cooperation Burkhardt criticized the Govern- ment Services Administration GSA and the Office of Management and Budget OMB for efforts to institute _. The switch from lead paints to titanium paints is a prime example of a safer cheaper- product he said He also pointed out that an abrasive blaster's air- overdue union sector is long both for the protection of workers and the public's pocketbook and provide for fair competition by un ion contractors who are making the benefit analysis into the health fed hood with an conditioner at- effort to protect their workers . and safety standard setting procedure Nowhere in the OSHAct is costbenefit analysis required Burkhardt stressed that using benefit analysis to obstruct regulation of hazardous conditions and sub- tached costs about 4.00 per day per worker but can increase the worker's efficiency 10 to 15 percent Finally Burkhardt pointed to many changes that can be made by man- ufacturers without additional cost The appearance of Director Burk The public has a right to know Government Benefit Analysis -Putting a price tag on YOUR life . when they are compelled to make safe products Drywall taping com- maintains Burkhardt heal We can't have effective heal pounds containing asbestos were considered irreplaceable just a few short years ago- we began to refuse to work with them Then suddenly substitutes were found . . and the substitutes cost no more than the asbestos forced without the support of President public reminds General ! S. Frank Raftery The public be informed along with our bers about the costs and conserely quences of unsafe and unhealth work conditions They do not take into account the hidden costs ing product But they wouldn't have done it if they hadn't been forced to do it Other topics covered in the Right It program were OSHA's beginning how it got its controversial reputation and how it is working to do a better job how IBPAT's occupational safety and health training program is providing essential information to IBPAT members and the crucial issue of KWGN is to be commended their foresight and fairness in concluded ing this show possible concluded General President Raftery The have a shown high regard fora and fair airing of all opinions IBPAT expects to participate similar programs on television radio throughout the country coming months Copies of the KWGN program be available on inch video tap For more information contact IBPA Research Department 1750 York Avenue N.W. Washington DC 20006 , by by Assista Assista Occupa , Do you \ worth findir health ;