La. health, environmental secretaries ask OSHA to investigate oil spill cleanup conditions

La. to OSHA: Investigate oil spill cleanup safety

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana health and environmental officials are asking federal safety officials to make sure workers cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are being protected.

Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine and Environmental Quality Secretary Peggy Hatch say that daily reports of injuries and illness have them worried that workers don’t get proper protection. They asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday to investigate.

The secretaries say BP may bring 3,000 more cleanup workers to Louisiana, and the agencies want to ensure that all get the training, protective equipment and supplies they need.

Doctors in Louisiana hospitals have reported that some cleanup workers have sought treatment for respiratory problems, headaches and nausea.