Jonathan Kantrowitz

Political activist, health nut

Biotech Workers Safety Questioned

March 16, 2010 at 9:59 am by Jonathan Kantrowitz

In the first Federal trial of its kind in the United States, Pfizer biotech worker Becky McClain will get her day in court to challenge the dangerous and unhealthy conditions which she alleged that Pfizer Inc. subjected her to while working at the Pfizer Groton Connecticut facility as a molecular biologist. McClain is suing for free speech and retaliation by Pfizer. Her case is being heard in Hartford CT Federal Courthouse today with US Federal Judge Vanessa Bryant.

McClain was the health and safety officer at the Groton, Connecticut Pfizer plant. She raised serious public health and safety concerns over her working conditions while working on stem cells at the facility. Pfizer, the largest drug company in the world with revenue of $48 billion a year allegedly refused to address her safety concerns despite repeated requests from McClain.

McClain alleged she was exposed to infectious genetically engineered viruses making her sick while the company ignored her safety complaints and refused to provide her with a safe work environment. McClain went to the workers comp system and was told that the Connecticut workers compensation system did not have jurisdiction to order Pfizer to release the records that were involved in her exposure on the job. These records provided identification in her exposure in her case making it impossible for her to show the causes of her injuries on the job. McClain was lucky enough to know that she had an exposure but other workers may not have similar opportunities to know where and when they were exposed. Workers in the industry are not provided information about where and when they may have received their exposures in the industry.

This case also shows a major flaw for workers in the biotech industry who have to prove where they got injured in order to receive workers compensation. The ability to prove where you have been injured when working in biotechnology industry due to the lack of standards, labor of regulation by OSHA and other government agencies and secrecy and confidentiality agreements required of all employees has been severely impacted. Workers high tech industries such as biotech and nanotech are unable to prove where they got injured and as a result, they are not eligible for workers compensation and end up going to SSI and other Local, Federal and State agencies for their medical care and compensation. The means a whole category of workers in these new technology industries are unable to get medical coverage and compensation under the present workers compensation structure. This cost shifting and limiting of the liability of Pfizer and other companies has resulted in government agencies having to take care of the corporation and insurance companies liabilities. This is a important and growing issue for the American people as well as the public health care questions.

The company also allegedly retaliated against McClain for making complaints to OSHA about these serious public and worker health hazards and eventually fired her.

Background Information On The Becky McClain Case
Becky McClain, former Pfizer molecular biologist

http://blip.tv/file/2061380

Dangers in Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Lack of Safety Oversight and Lack of Worker Rights

http://www.workersmemorialday.org/documents/McClain.htm

Becky McClain vs. Pfizer Inc.

http://i.bnet.com/blogs/mcclain-complaint.pdf

Trial Set for Pfizer Scientist Who Alleged Virus Was Loose in the Lunchroom

http://industry.bnet.com/pharma/10006036/trial-set-for-pfizer-scientist-who-alleged-virus-was-loose-in-the-lunchroom/?tag=main;content

Pfizer Scientist blames Pfizer for Illness On The Job

http://www.theday.com/article/20100119/BIZ02/301199973/1044

Multinational Criticized Over Worksite Safety

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/10/113_53466.html