https://popular.info/p/in-botched-dei-purge-osha-trashes
'The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered the
digital and physical destruction of 18 publications on workplace safety
practices, according to an internal February 7 email obtained by
Popular
Information. The email says the publications have been removed from the OSHA
website and tells staff that any physical copies should be "disposed of or
recycled."
The purge appears to be part of the Trump administration's effort to terminate
any activities associated with "diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility," or DEIA. The email advises OSHA staff that "[i]f you have
wallet cards that include language, or can be interpreted, on DEIA or gender
ideology, please dispose of them as well."
Popular Information has obtained archived versions of most of the deleted
publications. Almost all of them are not associated with DEIA topics but appear
to have been targeted because they include a DEIA-related keyword used in a
completely different context.
For example, one of the purged publications is "OSHA Best Practices for
Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of
Hazardous Substance Releases."
Popular Information was able to obtain an
archived version of the publication through the Internet Archive. The 104-page
document — a collaboration between dozens of government agencies and NGOs — was
published in 2009 to detail the steps "employers need to take to protect their
EMS responders from becoming additional victims while on the front line of
medical response." DEIA issues are not discussed.
On page 94 of the publication, however, the words "diversity" and "diverse" are
used in a context that has nothing to do with race or gender. The publication
notes there is a "diversity of state-specific certification, training, and
regulatory requirements" for "EMS agencies" and "diverse conditions under which
EMS responders could work." Similarly, on page 96, the publication notes, "EMS
responders are a diverse group" and "risks vary with their primary and
secondary roles."
"Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal
Disorders," is a 44-page publication released in 2009. It provides
"recommendations for nursing home employers to help reduce the number and
severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in their facilities."
It has nothing to do with DEIA. On page 10, however, it notes that "development
of MSDs may be related to genetic causes, gender, age, and other factors." The
single use of the word "gender" appears to have flagged the publication for
deletion and destruction.
Another purged publication, "Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respiratory
Protection Standard," contains the sentence, "[t]he new computer software
reflects the concept of government leadership through collaboration with
diverse technical organizations." It has nothing to do with DEIA.'
Via Kevin O'Brien.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
