It appears that the jury is still out on whether or not the individuals charged with cleaning up the BP oil spill are adequately protected or even trained to undertake the task.

There are countless websites that attack BP and it’s training processes, even harking back to Exxon Valdez and the safety hazards during that spill. The fact remains clean up is necessary and employing displaced Gulf fishermen and other waterman is an effort to increase stability in the region. This effort should not go unnoticed and while the general public is enraged, it is important to think about where the anger comes from.

Traditional media protocol is to excerpt the most dramatic pieces of the story and run with it, knowing that the average reader/listener/viewer isn’t going to track down the full report and take a look for one self.

It has been reported that clean up workers are falling ill due to pollutants from the oil spill. Most of these complaints were of symptoms that cleared quickly resulting from exposed chemicals, very similar to the affects of cleaning one’s bathroom at home. The symptoms were mild.

The idea that BP public relations officials are instructing workers to not use respirators as to not draw attention to the significance of the spill/pollutant is preposterous. The public is very aware of how disastrous this spill was and there is certainly no hiding this fact. This sort of speculation makes sense considering the internal BP memos that have been leaked to the public, however if this is truly the case BP needs to fire these PR consultants immediately because they are failing the company.

BP’s best response to this disaster is to take care of their workers and take on accountability, responsibility and most importantly prevention. The proactive approach would be to give workers respirators and encourage their use. Regardless of the mild symptoms, safeguard the company from worker health issues down the line.

Get workers care and training. Be sure they are equipped to do their job properly and safely. Arm them with safety and health related equipment. A LifeGuard30 would be an ideal tool for workers to communicate with physicians or relay any past medical issues that may need to be addressed. Considering many of these cleanup workers may speak a foreign language, the LifeGuard30 would be an ideal tool for them to use on the scene as well as to ensure proper medical care based off of their personal medical record.

Reversing public perception of BP and it’s policies is going to prove a tough job, however the beginning and most obvious direction is worker care and regional rejuvenation. Currently BP has the first step by employing displaced watermen to clean up, however the next logical step is to show those workers, and the public that you care about their health, safety and well being.