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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