Open Letter to Mr Jordan Barab

Dear Mr Barab,

You have an amazing opportunity before you. You can be a hero, simply by refusing to continue OSHA's opposition to the recommendations of NIOSH, the CDC and the Surgeon General.

We now know that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. The obvious standard of safety is a zero tolerance for tobacco smoke (and its hundreds of toxins) in the workplace.

Every year that you delay costs the lives of 10,000 to 20,000 American workers. What a horrible legacy to leave from the most important job of your career! Yet, you could change that  to a positive legacy, by being the hero who finally sets OSHA on the right track, and puts an end to the shameful corruption that is making OSHA a national disgrace.

Specifically, the OSHA guidelines part 1910 H (Hazardous Materials) needs to be changed to include hazards in the workplace that cause death and disease after chronic exposure, not just immediate exposure. This would include hazards such as asbestos and secondhand smoke.

Sincerely,

Barren River Smoke Free Communities Coalition