BP Spill Responders Told to Forgo Precautionary Health Measures in Cleanup

At What Cost? BP Spill Responders Told to Forgo Precautionary Health Measures in Cleanup

Venice, Louisiana -- Local fishermen hired to work on BP's uncontrolled oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico are scared and confused. Fishermen here and in other small communities dotting the southern marshes and swamplands of Barataria Bay are getting sick from the working on the cleanup, yet *****BP is assuring them they don't need respirators or other special protection from the crude oil, strong hydrocarbon vapors, or chemical dispersants being sprayed in massive quantities on the oil slick.****

Fishermen have never seen the results from the air-quality monitoring patches some of them wear on their rain gear when they are out booming and skimming the giant oil slick. However, more and more fishermen are suffering from bad headaches, burning eyes, persistent coughs, sore throats, stuffy sinuses, nausea, and dizziness. They are starting to suspect that BP is not telling them the truth.

And based on air monitoring conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a Louisiana coastal community, those workers seem to be correct. The EPA findings show that airborne levels of toxic chemicals like hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds like benzene, for instance, now far exceed safety standards for human exposure.

For two weeks, I've been in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama sharing stories from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which devastated the community I lived and commercially fished in, with everyone from fishermen and women to local mayors to state governors and the crush of international media.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/riki-ott/at-what-cost-bp-spill-res_b_578784.html

Eff BP! The EPA should make them buy protective gear from their massive profits.

Do something for them for Gawd's sake! BP should be yanked out of control. Their vital scientists and employees should be yoked to a scientist from a university or whatever group who they can work with in order to explain the shite. Then they might get some new ideas. Open the damn door to other people.

Yes this is draconian. The situation is long past the crisis point and into some unknown area. The working group at the site can't be too big. If they will let scientists near the gusher with their undersea equipment, they might learn a lot about the problem. Then they could call on special groups around the globe with knowledge in deep sea drilling and engineering for ideas.

And should be treated as such under the Patriot Act.

I fucking HATE them!

if the air is so toxic that it causes long term damage.

Local fishermen hired to work on BP's uncontrolled oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico are scared and confused.

I don't know, when I read that innocent folks are forced into a situation that makes the "scared and confused," I feel bad that this is happening to them...

I think that was what struck me most about the 60 minutes report last night. As harrowing as his escape was, the engineer who told his story seemed most affected by the betrayal by BP. They told them that what happened, could never happen... and it did.


I have a friend that used to draw maps in Alaska. Working around oil men for a long time gave my friend a definite distaste for the breed. My friend said to NEVER trust oil men. They play fast and loose and you can't trust anything they say.

It is amazing what addiction to greed can do to people and to a planet.
I feel for the workers who are being used and abused. I feel for our planet that is being used and abused.


:cry: