Articles by Garrett Brown MPH, CIH

Factory certification schemes pose danger to safety & health profession

May 9, 2013
The integrity of the occupational health and safety profession is under threat as it is being drawn into “certifying” that sweatshop factories in global supply chains in the developing world are safe and meet international standards for protecting workers on the job.


Read More

Fatal flaws of foreign factory audits

“A spectacular failure” to improve conditions
February 1, 2013
CSR monitoring has been a spectacular failure at improving working conditions.


Read More

"A global supply chain of death traps"

Tragedies will continue "until workers' health and safety actually come first"
December 10, 2012

Words fail at times like this – another garment factory fire in Bangladesh; 112 dead and 150 injured; another round of despair and anguish for the workers and their families; another round of denials by international garment brands that they bear any responsibility; another round of promises by the brands and their contractors that they will “do better” while refusing to acknowledge that it is their “profits first and foremost” production system that has led to fire after fire after fire.


Read More

Corporate Social Responsibility: What is it good for?

May 2, 2011

It happened again in Bangladesh in December 2010 - a fire in a garment factory killed 29 workers and hundreds were injured as they were suffocated, burned alive, trampled in stairwells, or leapt to their deaths from the 9th and 10th floors - because four of seven exit doors were locked.


Read More

I2P2 will not be the end of human civilization

March 29, 2011
I must say that I'm amazed at the near-hysteria of some of your readers about having an OSHA leadership that actually tries to do its job rather than just process VPP applications and praise corporate declarations of their "commitment to excellence."
Read More

"No sweat": In the Dominican Republic

October 1, 2010

The Alta Gracia Project pays more than twice the prevailing wage for garment workers, has a member-controlled trade union, and has made workplace health and safety a priority.


Read More

Corporate Social Responsibility

May 7, 2009
It’s easy to “do the right thing” when times are good. But when times are tough, the truth emerges.
Read More

Perils of a schizoid business model

September 2, 2008
Millions of workers in China’s contracted factories, in the “export processing zones” in Central America, Asia and Africa, and in the maquiladoras on the U.S.-Mexico border continue to work in dangerous, unhealthy workplaces.
Read More

The two faces of Cal/OSHA

October 1, 2007
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health — Cal/OSHA — leads a schizophrenic existence. On one hand, the agency is considered by many to be the “premier state plan” among the 21 states with state OSHAs. On the other hand, it's been too starved of resources over the past decade to be able to rush to the rescue of the state’s 17 million workers.
Read More

ISHN Global Watch: China proposes worker protection law

May 24, 2007
China is now finalizing a new “Labor Contract Law” to protect workers in the global economy’s “biggest factory floor,” but the proposal is hitting a wall of opposition from transnational corporations who are threatening to move their operations to other parts of Asia.
Read More

Multimedia

Videos

Image Galleries

ISHN's Favorite Cover Images

Take a look at some of our favorite cover images!

THE MAGAZINE

ISHN Magazine

May 2013 ISHN cover

2013 May

The cover story of ISHN's May issue is about how lower exposure limits lead to conservative sensor settings. Also, check out some tips on how to avoid heat stress and advice on how to improve hand hygiene.

Table Of Contents Subscribe

THE ISHN STORE

ANSI/ASSE A10.1-2011 Pre-Project & Pre-Task Safety and Health Planning

This standard establishes the elements and activities for pre-project and pre-task safety and health planning in construction.

More Products

Clear Seas Research

Clear Seas ResearchWith access to over one million professionals and more than 60 industry-specific publications,Clear Seas Research offers relevant insights from those who know your industry best. Let us customize a market research solution that exceeds your marketing goals.

ISHN Webinars are an easy, effective and convenient way to get educated and informed on the latest industry trends and topics. All Webinars are FREE unless indicated. For more information, check out our Events page!

STAY CONNECTED

Facebook logo Twitter YouTubeLinkedIn