The New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health (NYCOSH) has selected Pitta & Baione LLP for its 2018 Workers’ Resource Guide. NYCOSH is a non-profit 501c3 organization that describes itself as “a membership organization of workers, unions, community-based organizations, workers’ rights activists, and health and safety professionals. NYCOSH uses training, education, and advocacy to improve health and safety conditions in our workplaces, our communities, and our environment. Founded in 1979 on the principle that workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths are preventable, NYCOSH works to extend and defend every person’s right to a safe and healthy workplace.”
In addition to advocating on behalf of workers at large, NYCOSH receives funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to conduct outreach, education, and enrollment services to certain 9/11 responders: workers employed by New York City and New York State, communication workers, building and construction trade workers, and union veterans. On the Sixteenth Anniversary of 9/11, NYCOSH Board Chair Lee Clarke commented “Sixteen years after the disaster, this work remains important to workers who responded to 9/11 since thousands who were involved in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations have yet to enroll in the WTC Health Program.”
NYCOSH also employs Liam Lynch as Program Coordinator for the WTC Health Program. Prior to joining NYCOSH, Liam worked as an Outreach Specialist at District Council 37, AFSCME (DC 37) educating members about the WTC Health Program. DC 37 is the largest public employee union in New York City, representing over 125,000 members across 51 active locals. In September 2017, Pitta & Baione LLP partners Christopher Baione and Matthew Baione participated in a LaborPress panel alongside Liam Lynch on 9/11 health and compensation benefits.
Pitta & Baione LLP applauds the tremendous effort by NYCOSH to raise awareness about Zadroga health and compensation benefits available to victims of 9/11 toxins exposure. It is estimated that only 20% of the 500,000 victims of 9/11 toxins exposure have enrolled in the WTC Health Program. As discussed in our earlier blog post, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF) requires WTC Health Program certification of health conditions in order to be eligible for compensation (with limited exceptions). Since the 9/11 VCF is due to expire on December 18, 2020, time is of the essence to apply for 9/11 health and compensation benefits.
Pitta & Baione LLP is proud to be featured in the 2018 NYCOSH Workers’ Resource Guide, and looks forward to continuing our mission: to provide dependable counsel for deserving clients. It is our honor to advocate on behalf of members of the armed services, FBI agents, police officers, firefighters, volunteers, construction workers, sanitation workers, corrections officers, court officers, labor leaders, public and private sector employees, business owners, corporate executives, and members of disadvantaged communities. Some of our clients were born in the 9/11 exposure zone, some moved there, some immigrated there from millions of miles away, some commuted there everyday for school or work, and, of course, many served as responders to the worst terrorist attack in United States history.
Our clients have served their country in all walks of life – they’ve fought in wars, saved lives (sometimes sacrificing their own), ran into burning buildings, bandaged the wounded, cared for the sick, hauled debris, served food to responders, delivered medicine to seniors, protected our courts, kept our communities safe, built and maintained buildings, laid loved ones to rest, and provided for their families. We count among them our friends, family members, and countless hardworking Americans who share our values.
Photographs Courtesy of NYCOSH and LaborPress
