Records of the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health

Records, 1973-2000. Bulk, 1978-1989.

Size: 5 ft.

Catalog number: MSS 1138

Processed by: Rick Stattler, March 2004

©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

The Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (RICOSH) is a private non-profit group working in partnership with trade unions and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to improve workplace safety through education and regulation. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened in 1971. Rhode Island organizers were inspired by local committees in Philadelphia and Massachusetts that attempted to ensure enforcement of OSHA regulations, and began meeting to form RICOSH in late 1976. The organization hired its first staff member in 1977, Dave Snapp in the position of Coordinator. It rented its first office in 1978. Jim Celenza, who has been active in RICOSH since joining its board in October of 1977, is presently the Executive Director. RICOSH published a newsletter over the years, under various titles: "Rhode Island Health and Safety News" (1978-1982), "RICOSH Job Safety and Health" (1983-1997) and "The RICOSH Quarterly" (2001-present).

The bulk of these files date from 1978 to 1989. Some of the OSHA reports on various job sites date back to 1973, predating RICOSH. Some of the files contain records as late as 2000. This collection documents an important movement in American labor history, as workers became increasingly concerned with long-term health and safety issues in the workplace. The collection offers detailed information about a variety of hazards including asbestos, toxic chemicals, lead, and video display terminals. A central focus was securing compliance with "Right to Know" laws regarding chemicals. The collection includes files on 42 specific work sites, including OSHA reports, "Right to Know" petitions from workers, background research, and other material. Also of interest are the Executive Board minutes and notes, which appear fairly complete from 1976 to 1994, and which include far more of the flavor of the institutional dynamics than most minutes. The organization's periodic outreach work to immigrant communities can also be seen throughout, particularly in the early board minutes, the Hispanic jewelry workers outreach in 1981, and a Refugee Employment and Training Subcommittee in 1984-1985.

This collection is not fully processed. The original folders from RICOSH are still in use, often with cryptic headings. Files have been alphabetized by folder title, but still mostly need to be rehoused in acid-free boxes and folders. Ideally, newspaper clippings should be copied onto archival paper, and staples and paper clips should be removed.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) lobbying efforts (3 folders)