Building a union-based participatory action project to document industry-wide health, safety and environmental conditions for bargaining and policy

How can a small team made up of nuclear site workers, local union leaders, international staff, and consultants take on the daunting task of examining employer compliance with new comprehensive federal health and safety regulations at these U.S. sites? We will share experiences and learnings from a newly-launched union- led participatory assessment of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Worker Health and Safety Program regulation (10 CFR 851). This regulation specifies components of an employer health and safety program that must be incorporated at DOE facilities. The Gap Analysis and Training Needs Assessment Program (GATNAP), designed and launched by the United Steelworkers (USW) and the Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education, is examining program components on paper and as implemented to review their adequacy. GATNAP focuses on three priority areas: worker involvement, training, and union involvement. Based on GATNAP findings for each contractor/employer, local union members will recommend and advocate for revisions necessary to ensure compliance with the regulation and the protection of workers, communities, and the environment. We will present information on participatory processes used in both the design and implementation phases of GATNAP and the results to date.