Public Employee Press

Lee Clarke gets Silkwood Award

DC 37 Safety and Health Director Lee Clarke received the highest honor of the New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health June 2, the Karen Silkwood Award, which is named after the union activist whose fight over the hazards in nuclear power plants brought the issue to the nation's attention.

Clarke was singled out for her extraordinary work on behalf of the 9/11 community. Her efforts started immediately after the 9/11 attack, demanding on-the job protection for DC 37 cleanup and recovery workers and continued in the fight for health screening, funding for health programs and compensation for victims. She provided leadership and worked tirelessly until last year's victory in labor's nine-year battle to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act.

"I'm very privileged to be part of the safety and health movement," Clarke said as she accepted the award. "But more than that, I am privileged to work for a union that places such an important emphasis on health and safety."

NYCOSH also honored the work on behalf of 9/11 victims done by Linda and Joseph Zadroga, the parents of the law's namesake, Detective James Zadroga, a 9/11-responder whose death was attributed to his 500 hours of exposure at Ground Zero.