Oil clean up workers are getting sick. BP is not providing high quality respirators for everyone. By using the conventions of journalism, the misuse of science, after-the-fact lawyering, appealing to macho vanity of some workers,and plain ol’ bs to all workers, BP is getting away with this.

But you might be able to do something about it.

I’m a Vulcan. I keep my emotions in check. But this just pisses me off. I’m going to try to do something about this. My first step is to create a Facebook group called BP, We Demand Respirators for ALL Clean Up Workers

Join the group, bing you’re done. Now you can go watch Justified.

I’ll explain other steps we can take later, but my logical side will first describe how this blatant disregard for human health happens on this planet.

Two days ago Michael Whitney of FDL’s Work in Progress did a story about oil clean up workers getting sick. In his story he quoted the BP CEO who suggested that maybe they got sick from food poisoning. (I’m not making that up. FOOD POISONING. Maybe he thought that they were eating the Klingon delicacy Gagh.)

So today the AP runs a story about workers getting sick. Gulf spill workers complaining of flulike symptoms. Since I’m not supposed to use more than five words from the AP story I’ll just describe the story.

• Workers get sick. Studies quoted.
• Experts investigating. Sick individual referenced. Law suit filed.
• Story ends with quote from Exxon sick worker who coughs and gasps like a "drowning man"

The AP writers had to provide a story that is fair to everyone, especially the multi-billion dollar corporation. One expert must be balanced against another. Corporate executives are balanced against critics. In the world of political reporting we often see lies "balanced" against the truth.

The corporation injects doubt into or seals anything that can be seen as damaging. Is there 100 percent proof that they got sick from the oil/Corexit? No? Time to investigate more! Was there a legal case that succeeded? Sorry, it’s sealed! (Hey, how do you go about unsealing a case?)

Now we could wait around for the studies to be done (and then disputed) and the lawsuits to be filed (and then sealed) or we set up a counter narrative now.

We don’t give them the option of IF they will provide respirators but WHEN. We evoke the Precautionary Principle for our rational.

"When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically."

-Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle

Now I’ll tell you what other steps I’m taking to move this story narrative forward.

Find the leverage points. What pressure exists that they will respond to right now? OSHA rules? Homeland Security rules? Did you know that the government has created plans to clean up after terrorists blow up an oil well?

I found the guy who served on the committee that deals with terrorist oil spills! He also wrote the classic paper, "Respiratory Protection on Offshore Drilling Rigs" I think he is our expert to protect the health of the workers.

His name is Dino Mattorano and he is a Commissioned Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, he’s tasked to the EPA now. He’s worked for the CDC. He has three adorable kids. (photo link)

I wrote the Commander asked him:
Why haven’t respirators been required and supplied by BP? Are they ignoring standards and practices by not requiring them to be worn or not supplying them?

My next step, after I find out the right kind of protective respirator gear, is to find out who makes it, how much it costs and then contact them.

Next we find out the person in charge of clean up supplies procurement at BP. We’ll contact him and say something like, "Hey, Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said workers were being given "any safety equipment" needed to do their jobs safely. Commander Dino Mattorano of the US Public Health Service said that the best respirator is XXX.95A/ZZZ. I just talked to Art Foonman of Respirators R Us and he says he has 5,000 in stock right now and can get another 5,000 in a week from the manufacturer. He needs a purchase order and a location to ship them for distribution to workers."

When he tells me to go pound sand I’ll ask him if I can get his response on the record and alert the AP reporters who did the story. They always like to know the follow up of their stories.

You know this is the kind of stuff that governors are supposed to do. Protect the people, serve the public trust. They seem to be focusing on the wrong things. I’m just a brain in a box, but getting respirators for ALL clean up workers seems the logical thing to do.