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The best way to control a hazard is to eliminate it. If a hazard can not be
eliminated all together, there are several other ways to limit worker exposure
to the hazard. Some of these ways are more effective than others. When all
of these different hazard control methods are put in a chart, going from the
most effective to the least effective way to control the hazard, the chart
portrays the "hierarchy of hazard controls" (below). It is considered good
occupational safety and health practice to follow the hierarchy of controls. To
read the whole document on Controlling Hazards, click this link or the control
chart below.
eliminated all together, there are several other ways to limit worker exposure
to the hazard. Some of these ways are more effective than others. When all
of these different hazard control methods are put in a chart, going from the
most effective to the least effective way to control the hazard, the chart
portrays the "hierarchy of hazard controls" (below). It is considered good
occupational safety and health practice to follow the hierarchy of controls. To
read the whole document on Controlling Hazards, click this link or the control
chart below.
| FIX THE WORKPLACE, NOT THE WORKER! |
| OIL INDUSTRY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE WORKERS SAFETY CONCERNS! |
US withdrew from talks with American Petroleum Institute and the Oil
Industry. The process was too severely weighted toward the oil
companies. I would urge you to read the US NEWS release and the API
NEWS release and judge for yourselves. The Oil refineries have helped
us with more than one issue in the past. We should be there for them
now. Some of the problems our brothers and sisters are having in the
refineries will be familiar to you out in the oil patch. Stay Tuned!!
Industry. The process was too severely weighted toward the oil
companies. I would urge you to read the US NEWS release and the API
NEWS release and judge for yourselves. The Oil refineries have helped
us with more than one issue in the past. We should be there for them
now. Some of the problems our brothers and sisters are having in the
refineries will be familiar to you out in the oil patch. Stay Tuned!!
| EMERGENCY OIL SAFETY MEETING PITTSBURGH JUNE 15 AND 16 |
The recurring theme of this meeting was "13 Fires, 19 deaths, 25
injured" and was repeated by every speaker. These deaths occurred in
the refining and offshore side of our business in April and May of this
year but even we are affected here in the central valley with the passing
of a contractor two weeks ago. We were brought together as a call to
action to try and force the oil companies to open the contract and
negotiate meaningful language on standard safety regulations across
the industry. Vice President Gary Beevers opened the meeting Tuesday
morning letting us know why we were there and was followed by a
panel discussion with members who dealt directly with some of the
incidents mentioned above and was very moving. President Leo Gerard
spoke next and was pretty low key for Leo but the next speaker more
SEE VIDEO "REFINERY FIRES & FATALITIES
than made up for it, United Mine Worker President Cecil Roberts came
to the podium and got everyone going with his "We are Fed Up, we are
Fired Up and we are going to Stand Up" sermon, for lack of a better
word. As we know the safety and death rates might be even worse in
the mining industry than in the oil refining industry. Both presidents
pledged cooperation addressing these issues before congress and
the American public and followed up their speeches with a press
conference.
The rest of the meeting was composed of providing those in
attendance with some tools to bring back to our locals with action items
to set in place as we go forward with this campaign. I will have a lot
more to say about this at our next monthly meeting as we intend to
reactivate our CAT teams to get this information to our members. We
need to stand with our brothers and sister's in the refineries and offer
our support as they have helped us in the San Joaquin Valley in the
past.
In Solidarity
Jim Boss
injured" and was repeated by every speaker. These deaths occurred in
the refining and offshore side of our business in April and May of this
year but even we are affected here in the central valley with the passing
of a contractor two weeks ago. We were brought together as a call to
action to try and force the oil companies to open the contract and
negotiate meaningful language on standard safety regulations across
the industry. Vice President Gary Beevers opened the meeting Tuesday
morning letting us know why we were there and was followed by a
panel discussion with members who dealt directly with some of the
incidents mentioned above and was very moving. President Leo Gerard
spoke next and was pretty low key for Leo but the next speaker more
SEE VIDEO "REFINERY FIRES & FATALITIES
than made up for it, United Mine Worker President Cecil Roberts came
to the podium and got everyone going with his "We are Fed Up, we are
Fired Up and we are going to Stand Up" sermon, for lack of a better
word. As we know the safety and death rates might be even worse in
the mining industry than in the oil refining industry. Both presidents
pledged cooperation addressing these issues before congress and
the American public and followed up their speeches with a press
conference.
The rest of the meeting was composed of providing those in
attendance with some tools to bring back to our locals with action items
to set in place as we go forward with this campaign. I will have a lot
more to say about this at our next monthly meeting as we intend to
reactivate our CAT teams to get this information to our members. We
need to stand with our brothers and sister's in the refineries and offer
our support as they have helped us in the San Joaquin Valley in the
past.
In Solidarity
Jim Boss
WHERE SHIPS AND
WORKERS GO TO DIE: The
Failure of Global Institutions to
Protect Worker Rights. This is a
must see video!
WORKERS GO TO DIE: The
Failure of Global Institutions to
Protect Worker Rights. This is a
must see video!
| RCA's USED FOR DISCIPLINE! |
An employee, working for Chevron, was recently terminated using
information attained in a RCA. For those of you that don't know what an
RCA is, it means Root Cause Analysis. As you can see by the term, the
purpose of this tool is to find work organization factors (i.e. Design,
Mitigation, Maintenance, Warning devices, Training, Procedures and
PPE) to find the root cause of an accident. Being, if the root cause is
found changes can be made to that system or factor to help prevent
accidents in the future. The company told us this information would not
be used to discipline an employee. This is no longer true. I would
submit at this time participating in RCA's voluntarily is not in an
employees best interest. Request a union steward when asked to
participate in a RCA if you have had a accident or otherwise been
involved in a safety related incident. More information on this issue will
come soon.
information attained in a RCA. For those of you that don't know what an
RCA is, it means Root Cause Analysis. As you can see by the term, the
purpose of this tool is to find work organization factors (i.e. Design,
Mitigation, Maintenance, Warning devices, Training, Procedures and
PPE) to find the root cause of an accident. Being, if the root cause is
found changes can be made to that system or factor to help prevent
accidents in the future. The company told us this information would not
be used to discipline an employee. This is no longer true. I would
submit at this time participating in RCA's voluntarily is not in an
employees best interest. Request a union steward when asked to
participate in a RCA if you have had a accident or otherwise been
involved in a safety related incident. More information on this issue will
come soon.
USW started it's Health, Safety and Environment Conference on
Monday 4, 2010. Monday and Tuesday were union only meetings.
President Gerard spoke on Wednesday to both union and company
representatives. He was to the point with the oil industry as they have
not shown an effort to truly involve us in our own safety. He gave a great
speech.
Monday 4, 2010. Monday and Tuesday were union only meetings.
President Gerard spoke on Wednesday to both union and company
representatives. He was to the point with the oil industry as they have
not shown an effort to truly involve us in our own safety. He gave a great
speech.
Chevron sent union representatives as per
the agreement to this conference. From
Local 12-6 (pictured right) was Jason Scott
and Jim Boss. Not pictured was Ed Crane.
Sent from Local 219 (pictured bottom left)
was Tom Casas, Stan Stewart and Ernie
Perez. To Chevron's credit, they did send
the agreement to this conference. From
Local 12-6 (pictured right) was Jason Scott
and Jim Boss. Not pictured was Ed Crane.
Sent from Local 219 (pictured bottom left)
was Tom Casas, Stan Stewart and Ernie
Perez. To Chevron's credit, they did send
two management representatives (pictured
below right), they are Tom Tulley and Dave
Reed. We do appreciate their participation
and involvement with our union and the
safety of our members and employees that
work in the oil fields. This is a subject the
Union and Company should be able to work
below right), they are Tom Tulley and Dave
Reed. We do appreciate their participation
and involvement with our union and the
safety of our members and employees that
work in the oil fields. This is a subject the
Union and Company should be able to work
together on. This is a good first step on the
part of Chevron. Thank you Dave and Tom!!
The break out sessions or workshops
were good but I think USW had to many
classes and did not give us the time
needed to study some of the subjects given.
This was the main criticism I place on the
part of Chevron. Thank you Dave and Tom!!
The break out sessions or workshops
were good but I think USW had to many
classes and did not give us the time
needed to study some of the subjects given.
This was the main criticism I place on the
evaluations I filled out. For the most part, the conference was a success
and I thought was set up good and provided a lot of good information to
take back and use in the work place and as a representative of my local.
Anyone interested in the workshops given and a report on the classes
taken by the union reps sent come down to the hall or better yet see you
at the monthly meeting!!
and I thought was set up good and provided a lot of good information to
take back and use in the work place and as a representative of my local.
Anyone interested in the workshops given and a report on the classes
taken by the union reps sent come down to the hall or better yet see you
at the monthly meeting!!