Dream job turns into a nightmare for university
lab worker

NYU union fights for better lab safety after one member's health is ruined

Preparing cadavers for dissection in a college of dentistry anatomy lab isn’t a job that just anyone could love. But for Michelle De Paola, it was a perfect step on her way to a career goal of becoming a funeral home director—something she had wanted to pursue since high school.

Unfortunately, the same job that seemed so attractive ended up destroying De Paola’s career dreams and ruining her health after she was unknowingly exposed to toxic levels of formaldehyde during her job at a New York University laboratory. “Now I can’t even go to work in an office of a funeral home” because of the risk of more exposure to her damaged lungs, says the 28-year-old former member of the Union of Clerical, Administration and Technical Staff (UCATS) at NYU. Even a year after her exposure, her health has gotten worse in many ways as she continues to deal with asthma, diabetes, hypertension and other ills. De Paola ended up resigning her position at NYU so she could concentrate full time on regaining her health.

As if the overexposure to a nasty substance wasn’t enough, NYU did not remove her from the lab even after she reported symptoms that included loss of taste and smell, headache, and sinus and respiratory symptoms. Only when the union insisted did the university require her to stop working in the lab. It turned out that De Paola was exposed to formaldehyde at a rate seven times the allowable limit.

“NYU provided no medical evaluation as required by OSHA [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration],” says Wendy Hord, a health and safety expert with the New York State United Teachers. “Most outrageously, when an employee reports significant irritation of the eyes, the kind of symptoms that would raise red flags, OSHA requires medical evaluation with possible removal. Without the proper respirator, it’s unbelievable that NYU let her continue to work.”

Following the incident, UCATS filed a complaint with OSHA. The agency cited the university for 12 safety violations in the dental center lab and imposed a $79,000 fine. NYU contested the OSHA citations and reached a settlement with lower fines. “These fine reductions are indicative of the power employers currently have over the federal government,” says UCATS president Steve Rechner. “You can’t count on federal agencies to uphold the rights of union workers.”

Nevertheless, the union continues to fight to make sure De Paola’s tragedy is not repeated. UCATS has used the incident as evidence of the need to strengthen health and safety language in its contract and has formed a health and safety committee to address problems through NYU’s labs and facilities. Even after quitting her job, De Paola continued working with the union on health and safety issues. And she’s thankful for the union’s ongoing support, including a $500 grant just before Thanksgiving from NYSUT’s relief fund for members experiencing financial hardships.

“I knew my union was there for me, but I never knew the strength I would get from it,” she says.