Government, Humanity, Immigration
Toxic Labor
Leer en Español
A warming planet is creating a booming and loosely-regulated disaster restoration industry fueled by immigrant labor. Without protection, workers are exposed to lethal toxins making them sick long after the cleanup.
Links to all stories below.
Government, Humanity, Immigration
Toxic Labor
A warming planet is creating a booming and loosely-regulated disaster restoration industry fueled by immigrant labor. Without protection, workers are exposed to lethal toxins making them sick long after the cleanup.
Climate, Government, Immigration
Inside an industry fueled by climate change
Who’s responsible for the safety of workers who rebuild American cities after natural disasters? It’s a complicated answer.
Government, Immigration
Birth of an OSHA policy
With terrorism in mind, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration created a policy to oversee companies that clean up and build anew after disasters. Decades later, it’s failing to protect workers who respond to climate-fueled catastrophes.
Government, Immigration
Florida’s anti-immigration law targets disaster relief workers
Many disaster restoration workers like Fredy, who drive to disaster sites together in small teams, could be charged with a third-degree felony. These workers avoid going to hospitals out of fear.
Climate, Humanity, Immigration
Podcast: Toxic Labor
In the absence of federal or state data showing how many disaster restoration workers get sick every year because of their labor, we document for the first time how prolonged exposure to dangerous toxins affects the health of workers who clean and rebuild American cities after natural disasters. This is a special episode by Futuro Investigates, in collaboration with The Center For Public Integrity and Columbia Journalism Investigations.