Without protective gear, oil cleanup crews say they’re getting sick

The World

Some of the workers who have been hired by BP to help clean up the massive Gulf oil spill say they’re getting headaches, dizziness and nausea after coming in close contact with oil and other chemicals from the spill.

Many of those workers are fisherman who lost their jobs after the spill made fishing unsustainable.

Following the reports, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking the agency’s help in providing medical treatment. While BP sent the workers to a training class, the fisherman say they haven’t been given any protective clothing or gear for the cleanup. Melancon joins us to talk about what he believes needs to happen next for cleanup crews on the Gulf coast.

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