Workers aiding in the cleanup of toxic materials at a train derailment site in Ohio are falling ill with migraines and nausea, leaders of the nation’s largest rail unions have revealed.
The revelation came in the form of a letter from labor leaders to the White House and Ohio’s governor on Wednesday that claimed workers may have been willingly exposed to harmful chemicals at the direction of Norfolk Southern, the company that owns the derailed freighter.
Within hours, the letter led to a meeting between the presidents of the aforementioned union heads and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Washington Wednesday to discuss the February 3 derailment – and its potential repercussions.
Officials confirmed Thursday that the meeting centered around potential improvements to rail safety, as well as the 40 workers ordered to the clean-up site in East Palestine, Ohio, last month, and their aforementioned symptoms.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern continues to face scrutiny over the incident. The company’s CEO, Alan Shaw, is poised to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee next week, amid calls for renewed rail safety regulations.
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Workers aiding in the cleanup of toxic materials at a train derailment site in Palestine, Ohio (pictured), are reportedly falling ill with migraines and nausea, union leaders have claimed
The revelation came in the form of a letter to the White House and Ohio’s governor on Wednesday that claimed workers may have been willingly exposed to harmful chemicals at the direction of Norfolk Southern, the company that owns the freighter that derailed last month
His company has publicly promised to clean up an estimated 30,000 truckloads of toxic waste wrought by the wreck, while vowing to invest in East Palestine ‘for the long-term.’
However, workers do not believe this to be the case, according to Jonathan Long of the Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern continues to face scrutiny over the incident, Alan Shaw, is set to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee next week, amid calls for renewed rail safety regulations
In letter addressed both Buttigieg and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine directly, he said that several have accused the company of cost-cutting the cleaning effort at workers’ expense.
The union boss further revealed that of the 40 rail workers sent to the clean-up site in East Palestine last month, several have already began exhibiting the aforementioned symptoms – which are sometimes associated with chemical poisoning.
He added that his team has received multiple reports that workers are not being provided the proper personal protection equipment to help clean the wreckage, nor are they being given the necessary respirators, eye protection, or protective gear.
‘I received reports that Norfolk Southern neither offered nor provided these Workers with appropriate personal protective equipment, such as respirators that are designed to permit safely working around vinyl chloride, eye protection and protective clothing such as chemical restraint suits, rubber overboots and rubber gloves rated for safely working around the spilled chemicals,’ Long wrote, shedding light on the conditions the workers have been subjected to.
‘When some of the Norfolk Southern Workers inquired about the appropriateness of their personal protective equipment and the safety of their working conditions, they would receive little or no response from Norfolk Southern officials,’ he added.
Long went on to reveal that one worker even approached him personally after experiencing nausea and severe headaches during the clean-up effort – which has already seen about 1.8 million gallons of liquid waste water and 700 tons of solid waste hauled off the site.
Long wrote that the worker came to him after ‘he called his supervisor and requested to be transported off the derailment site due to concerns of his safety caused by the exposure to the chemicals which were causing him nausea and migraines.’
Long revealed that the supervisor stated he would get back to the employee, but he never did. ‘The Employee was left on the job site,’ Long wrote.
‘Many other Employees reported that they continue to experience migraines and nausea, days after the derailment, and they all suspect that they were willingly exposed to these chemicals at the direction of NS,’ the union head went on to add.
‘This lack of concern for the Workers’ safety and well-being is, again, a basic tenet of Norfolk Southern’s cost-cutting business model.’
Union bosses claimed that 40 rail workers sent to the clean-up site in East Palestine last month, several have already began exhibiting the aforementioned symptoms – which are sometimes associated with chemical poisoning
Region 5 administrator Debra Shore of the Environmental Protection Agency said Saturday the agency ordered Norfolk Southern to ‘pause’ shipments from the site of the February 3 derailment in East Palestine but vowed that removal of the material would resume ‘very soon’
Long went on to reveal that over the past month, while still receiving numerous complaints from the workers aiding in the clean-up, he has been in negotiations with Norfolk Southern brass over paid sick leave, ‘but those negotiations were going nowhere.’
The official revealed in his letter that Norfolk Southern had agreed to pick up the paid sick leave to BMWED Members – but only if the union would withdraw a letter in opposition to an experimental automated track inspection program and issue a letter in support.
Long slammed the move as ‘an underhanded attempt to further raise their profits under their cost-cutting business model.’ Long did not specify in his letter exactly how many of the 40 workers sent to the small village near the Pennsylvania state line have fallen sick.
Residents in East Palestine have reported going to the hospital over rashes following the spill. Addison Paparella, 15, was hospitalized last month after reporting had a tight chest and irritated lungs ‘due to chemical exposure’
Within hours, Transportation Secretary Buttigieg – who along with Joe Biden has faced scrutiny for his handling of the derailment – and Amit Bose, the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, would meet with 12 unnamed union bosses to discuss measures the federal government is taking in the wake of the incident.
Following the derailment last month, area residents were briefly ordered to evacuate after the crash before being cleared to return to their homes days later. Several have since reported experiencing unusual symptoms sometimes synonymous with poisoning – such as rashes and burning sensations when they breath.
Although no individuals were injured or killed in the accident, the derailment and its aftermath has thrown the entire small Ohio village and its surrounding towns into disarray.
In total, roughly half of East Palestine’s more than 4,700 residents were evacuated, as hazardous chemicals rapidly overtook the air, ground, and water near the small town.
About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in the small Ohio town
The train derailment on February 3 set off a fire that could be seen from miles away
After they were cleared to return, some residents told DailyMail.com that they are still feeling the effects of the toxic runoff, including rashes, shortness of breath, headaches and more.
Aside from the unconfirmed reports of sickness, the derailment promptly put the topic of rail safety to the top of public discourse, as well as federal questions about the regulations surrounding the transport of hazardous materials.
On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a new national bill to more strictly regulate rail safety.
The proposed guidance, dubbed The Railway Safety Act of 2023, includes a number of provisions to boost safety procedures to prevent future incidents, including ‘new safety requirements and procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials like vinyl chloride,’ a requirement for advance notice from railways to state emergency response officials about what their trains are carrying.
The Biden administration has been accused of being apathetic to the plight of the small Ohio community, where residents are reporting worrying symptoms
It further addresses the risk of wheel bearing failures by ramping up detection and inspection and requires ‘well-trained, two person crews aboard every train.’
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Mike Waltz is leading calls now echoing through Congress for Buttigieg to resign, due to his extremely delayed and alleged inadequate response to the 50-car train crash last month.
The Florida lawmaker also notes that the resolution comes after years of Buttigieg ‘neglecting his duties during a historic supply chain crisis, commercial flight crisis, [and] rail worker strike.’
Buttigieg was blasted for going on a Portuguese vacation following the Ohio train derailment last month instead of immediately visiting the site of the crash.
A rep for Buttigieg’s office confirmed Thursday that he and the dozen labor leaders had discussed potential improvements to rail safety.
Republicans introduced a resolution on Wednesday calling on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to resign and condemning him for being ‘AWOL’ during a series of infrastructure-related crises over the last two years
It comes after the latest debacle when the Biden administration bungled the response to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio last month
‘Over the last two years, Secretary Buttigieg has gone AWOL during multiple national crises,’ Congressman Waltz said in a statement introducing a resolution to remove Buttigieg from office.
‘From failing to immediately respond to last month’s major economic, environmental, and humanitarian disaster in East Palestine to neglecting his duties during a historic supply chain crisis, commercial flight crisis, rail worker strike, and so much more, Buttigieg has endangered and failed the American people time and time again,’ he added.
‘That’s why I am calling for his resignation.’
The resolution was co-sponsored by Representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado; Clay Higgins of Louisiana; Greg Steube and Bill Posey both of Florida; Claudia Tenney of New York; Ryan Zinke Montana; Mary Miller of Illinois; and Mike Collins of Georgia.
A resident displays a mannequin on their porch in East Palestine, Ohio, as cleanup from the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment continues
Meanwhile, several residents in East Palestine have reported going to the hospital over rashes following the spill.
Addison Paparella, 15, was hospitalized two weeks ago after finding herself with a tight chest and irritated lungs ‘due to chemical exposure.’
Her mother is now one of several citizens of the small village pleading for President Joe Biden to send medical help to the community.
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