Public Employee Press

State safety agency cites DJJ for three major violations

For failing to protect its employees from severe hazards, the Dept. of Juvenile Justice received three citations Oct. 22 from the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau of the New York State Labor Dept.

In January, PEP reported on the hazards that violated the “general duty” [to maintain safe working conditions] section of the state safety law, including the lack of policies or procedures on workplace violence and employees’ exposures to bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis. Last month, PEP reported on the DJJ transport van that burst into flames.

In fact, the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. has been talking to the agency for years. “Almost every day, there’s an assault in these facilities,” said Principal Program Coordinator Guille Mejia.

Local 1457 Vice President Darek Robinson and President Alex Parker have been leading the fight for improvements.

“Without procedures in place, employees are left to their own devices. This is unacceptable in workplaces where assaults are part of the daily routine,” said Parker.

“For the past three years, we’ve been fighting DJJ on all these issues,” said Robinson. “Now our findings have been substantiated and PESH supports our fight,” he said.

Working with the local, DC 37 has made a Herculean effort to educate the agency. “Lots of work went into this,” said Safety and Health Director Lee Clarke. “The three citations clearly demonstrate that our members are at risk!”

Now, with the incentive of the general duty citations — an unusual step for PESH — DJJ has a chance to act responsibly.