Safe and Just Return To Work Toolkit

Tools for a Safe and Just Return to Work:
A Worker-Centered Guide

Herramientas para un regreso seguro y justo al trabajo

The Report

The Safe and Just Return to Work Report (en español) outlines measures that state and local governments --including governors, county and municipal officials, state and local public health and labor departments, and occupational safety and health officials --can enact in the immediate and longer term to protect the health and well-being of all residents. These efforts will help bring about a more inclusive and equitable economy and an end to health, social and economic disparities.

Key Elements of the Report

1. Effective and stringent health and safety protections, informed by science, backed by robust enforcement, and designed with meaningful input by workers, worker center/COSH groups, unions and employers;
2. A planned, detailed and meaningful system of screening, testing, contact tracing, proper isolation and epidemiological surveillance;
3. Guaranteed job protection and just compensation for those working, and for those who can’t;
4. Inclusion of and respect for meaningful worker and union involvement in all planning, protocols and decision-making regarding safety in the workplace and return-to-work;
5. Measures to ensure equity, inclusion and a path to end health and economic disparities. 

Created by Workers and Experts

With guidance from over 50 labor and community advocates, industrial hygienists, occupational health experts, attorneys, and physicians, this report was written to support your health and the health of your family, neighbors and co-workers.

Take Action

We hope you’ll use our action tools to spread the word and demand A Safe and Just Return to Work in your state. They include sample social media posts, graphics for social media, and a sample letter to the editor.

Worker campaigns for safe work during the pandemic

On Wednesday, May 20th National COSH hosted  a virtual Essential Worker Town Hall featuring worker stories, campaigns and a briefing on this report. You can watch the video or view the slides from that meeting.

For those who attended the town hall, there was a brief video malfunction so we missed Jeffrey Richardson from ATU talking about what their members are facing working during the pandemic. You can watch Jeffrey's powerful statement here.