NCOSH Announces 2023 Awards Recipients — Occupational Health & Safety

NCOSH Announces 2023 Awards Recipients

The advocates and organizations will be honored at the upcoming awards banquet.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Nov 21, 2023

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2023 awards, recognizing standout health and safety activists and organizations. The awards will be presented at the COSHCON2023 Awards Banquet on December 7, part of the National Conference on Worker Safety and Health.

David Williams of Step Up Louisiana is set to receive the Health and Safety Activist Award for his advocacy on behalf of workers at Dollar General, where OSHA violations for safety hazards have been a recurring issue. Williams has been a vocal figure, drawing attention to the risks Dollar General employees face daily.

The 2023 Health and Safety Trainer/Educator Award will go to Patricia Rizo from UCLA’s Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Program. Rizo leverages her experience as a former garment worker and educator to develop Spanish-language training tailored for low-wage, immigrant workers.

SEIU’s Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Organizing Committee will be honored with the Worker Power Team-Building Award. These service workers have rallied against substandard working conditions made worse by Phoenix’s extreme heat, spotlighting issues such as inadequate water access and insufficient rest breaks.

Kate Suisman of Safe Jobs Oregon/COSH is the recipient of the Worker Safety Champion Award. An accomplished workers’ rights attorney, Suisman has been instrumental in unifying Oregon’s health and safety advocates to influence substantial legislative changes, particularly for protections against extreme heat.

Additionally, the Motley Rice law firm will be recognized with the Movement Champion Award. The firm’s commitment to representing workers and communities affected by industrial toxins, as well as its support for NCOSH’s mission, underscores its dedication to legal advocacy with a social impact.

The three-day COSHCON2023 conference will be the organization’s first in-person event after several years. It will feature workshops, panels and keynote speakers aimed at strengthening the movement for workplace safety. More information is available on the NCOSH website.