10 Percent of Flight Attendants Reported Injuries or Illnesses in 1998

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Note: A few paragraphs down .. "They are concerned about radiation 
exposure" .....

10 Percent of Flight Attendants Reported Injuries or Illnesses in 
1998,According to Survey

Toxic Cabin Air, Oversized Carry-On Bags, Deafening Engines, Faulty 
Beverage   
Carts Prompt Appeal for Stronger Safety and Health Protections  
Flight Attendants to Alert Passengers to Dangers Beginning Friday   
Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles  

Protest at FAA in Washington, DC  

WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey conducted by the 
Association of Flight Attendants of injury and illness logs at 11 
U.S. airlines showed that out of 31,024 flight attendants, 10 percent 
reported an injury that required medical attention beyond first aid 
or caused them to lose time from work in 1998. 

"Flight attendants need OSHA protections," said Patricia Friend, 
president of the Association of Flight Attendants. "We work hard and 
deserve the same protections that other American workers enjoy." 

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), confirms that 
aviation is a dangerous industry. The BLS reports there were about 
1.2 million workers employed in the "transportation by air" category 
in 1998, and the industry- wide rate of recordable injuries and 
illnesses was higher (14.5%) than in construction (8.8%), agriculture 
(7.9%), or mining (4.9%). 

Flight attendants suffer injuries related to operating poorly 
designed food and beverage carts, slipping on galley floors, handling 
or being struck by heavy carry-on baggage, falling on icy walkways, 
and sustaining cuts and burns from galley equipment and oven racks. 

They are concerned about radiation exposure, particularly this year 
when solar storms are expected to reach a peak, and possible exposure 
to HIV and hepatitis since flight attendants must provide in-flight 
emergency medical treatment including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation 
and assistance during childbirth. 

Most American workers are protected by standards set by the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration flight attendants are 
specifically excluded from OSHA coverage. 

The FAA, which regulates aviation safety, has largely ignored the 
occupational safety and health issues of the predominantly female 
flight attendant workforce. 

Flight attendants at airports in Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, and 
Chicago will leaflet passengers about the dangers they face in the 
airplane cabin from 10 a.m. to Noon on Friday, April 28th. A protest 
will be held in Washington, DC outside the FAA's headquarters from 12 
to 1 p.m. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626                                      

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html