LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 25 - May 1, 2010 as Occupational Health Awareness Week in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, Each year a host of New Yorkers suffer from work-related
diseases such as lung disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, hearing loss,
pesticide poisoning and heavy metals poisoning; and
WHEREAS, To address this problem New York State's Occupational Health
Clinics were created by the Legislature in 1987 to offer specialized
medical diagnoses, high-quality care and support services for workers
with occupational diseases; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, the New York State Occupational Health
Clinic Network has regional clinics and satellite facilities, with a
primary focus on the provision of the highest quality occupational medi-
cine services, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of occupational diseases for the gamut of New York State's working popu-
lation; and
WHEREAS, Operating in conjunction with local, State, and federal
governmental agencies, unions and employers, the Occupational Health
Clinic Network has been instrumental in providing appropriate response
and treatment for a variety of public health challenges faced today by
the working families of New York; and
WHEREAS, The network currently coordinates and participates in a
federally-funded health response aiding over 27,000 workers and volun-
teers suffering from exposures experienced at the World Trade Center
site; as part of the public health response to bioterrorism, its clinics
have provided medical care as well as training services for thousands of
workers; and
WHEREAS, By employing multidisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses,
industrial hygienists, health educators, and social workers, the heart
of the clinic network mission remains to assist teachers, firefighters,
garment, transit, office and agricultural workers, that is, the range of
workers across New York and to play a critical role in ensuring the
health and economic viability of New York; and
WHEREAS, At this time the demand for the Occupational Health Clinic
Network's special services and resources has never been greater or more
urgent; in today's fiscal climate many adjustments have had to be made
but with the support of labor organizations and the employers they
serve, the Network's responsibilities are still being met; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 25 - May 1,
2010 as Occupational Health Awareness Week in the State of New York ;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.