The government command for the BP oil disaster announced last night its “interim guidance” for recovery worker health and safety, including the (limited) use of respirators. The report was actually released by OSHA and NIOSH, the CDC’s workplace safety group, almost one week ago.
These recommendations come after more than 28,000 people signed Firedoglake’s petition to BP & OSHA demanding workers have access to respirators.

Fishermen contracted by BP in the recovery effort for its recovery effort have their wages capped at $200/day, reports Mother Jones’ Mac McClelland. That wouldn’t be terrible for fishermen, but getting assigned to work is based on a lottery system, making it difficult to get regular work. Worse yet, many fear the system is rigged for favoritism.