Prison Workers Exposed to Toxins From E-Waste Recycling Work

By: Michael Rey
Topics: News

Prison employees and prisoners in work details may have been exposed to dangerous toxins while working on a for-profit electronic waste or "e-waste" recycling program that is managed by Unicor, the government owned company that employs inmates across the country.

Investigative website FAIRWARNING.ORG reports today that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has quietly paid about $1 million to settle a grievance over hazardous duty pay for employees of an Elkton, Ohio, prison with one of the recycling plants. On one occasion, an air test at the eastern Ohio institution found cadmium levels 450 times higher than federal safety limits.

There are eight Unicor-managed recycling plants in prisons across the countries. Workers break down consumer electronics like televisions so their parts can be sold for scrap or reuse.

Fairwarning also reports that the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General is expected within days to release its report on a years-long investigation of the recycling operations -- including accusations that prison officials ignored basic workplace safety precautions.

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by truth4you October 22, 2010 1:46 AM EDT: Sir weather it was early years or not, Know the truth, there is not a day that there is not broken glass that still contaminates the staff and inmates,each and every day staff and inmates are exposed not only to the cadmium and lead but what other exposures are there the agency will not tell the whole truth of what other exposures there is; is it a big cover up? Ask the question about 9/11 most of the dust was computer dust from the billions of computers that was in each cubical not just construction dust, why are so many sick and dieing and now the same is said, with the institution where it all began the others will be soon following. Many have died not just inmates and staff but others. Is it still safe? only those that work in it and around it know the real truth. You stay your course and do the right thing protect those that work with you,the real truth sir is coming out
God Bless You. Take it from some one that knows the real truth..........not the cover up statements.............; Reply to this comment


by WR3A October 6, 2010 6:30 PM EDT: While I have not liked the prison competing with my private recycling business, I must say that the Elkton exposure occurred in the early years of "e-waste" recycling, before a lot was known about the risks. Cadmium is present in fewer than 5% of the units that come in, and a well-trained program can now set those aside so they are not processed by hand. As of today, I'm actually more worried that the prisons are SO safely managed that a private business cannot compete with them. A federal employee now inspects each computer before it is de-manufactured... I can't do that in the private sector.; Reply to this comment