August 2010 CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call

CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call
Conducted Monday, August 30, 2010 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (PDT)

• Participants:

Bob Schwager, President, CWA Local 9417
Rick Delao, President, CWA Local 9431
Robert Harris, CWA Local 9588
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues

Bob Schwager, CWA Local 9417 , discussed the recently-developed “CWA U-Verse Technicians Field Safety Guide.” Written by Bob and other members of the California Central Valley Council's Occupational Safety and Health Committee , this publication covers important safety and health/working condition issues related to working in attics including:

Conducting a pre-job survey
Gaining access to the work area
Walking and working surfaces
Heat stress
Electrical hazards
Illumination
Dust and puncture hazards
Personal protective equipment and
Musculoskeletal stress (ergonomic considerations).

Also, Bob indicated the committee will be writing and adding sections on defensive driving-motor vehicle operations and workplace violence.

In the future, the guide will be printed in a pocket-sized format and made available to affected technicians.

David LeGrande suggested we look at potential funding sources within CWA for the purpose of providing the guide to represented technicians located throughout the U.S.

• CWA Local 3212 Member Fatality

David LeGrande provided an update re. the January 13, 2010 fatality of William Britt Hunt (a member of CWA Local 3212 employed by AT&T ). His death occurred while he was winding telecommunications cable on to a cable winch. During this operation, the cable wound around his feet dragging him into the winch. Unfortunately, AT&T had assigned Britt to perform this two-person job alone.

In June, 2010, OSHA completed its fatality and workplace investigations of the AT&T West Rome Service Center , Rome , Georgia . In turn, OSHA issued citations against AT&T for several safety violations at the Company Service Center . The citations focused upon incorrect storage of liquid propane containers, incorrect placement and identification of fire extinguishers, and electrical hazards.

In addition, specific to the fatality of Britt Hunt , the OSHA compliance officer made the following recommendations:

• Written procedures for the operation of assigned work with RL-10 reel equipment should be established to ensure all affected technicians understand the methods to safely operate equipment (“either in one man or two men crew”) operation,
• Procedures be developed to allow technicians to take the necessary time in recovering the telecommunications cable/wire necessary to perform the job in a safe and healthful manner,
• All crews operating this equipment (i.e., the RL-10 reel) should be re-trained and re-evaluated using procedures or work rules that include all methods of cable/wire recovery.

Following the issuance of the citations and recommendations, in coordination with CWA District 3 and the Union 's Safety and Health Department, Caleb East, President, CWA Local 3212 filed a request for Party Status , ensuring CWA would be involved in all activities associated with the final resolution of this case. As expected, AT&T contested and requested OSHA vacate the citations. In a recent meeting with OSHA, AT&T, and CWA Local 3212, a settlement of the case was agreed to (Although due to lack of appropriate communication between OSHA and Local 3212 , local representatives were not able to participate in this meeting between OSHA and the Company . As an alternative the union was able to attend a brief summary meeting with OSHA . Subsequently, AT&T has abated the hazards listed in the citations and the case has been closed. Going forward, CWA District 3 leaders and activists will have the task of bringing the identified OSHA recommendations to the attention of the Company ).

In memory of Britt Hunt, CWA District 3, Local 3212, and the Union 's Safety and Health Department, CWA will continue to actively seek a satisfactory resolution of the OSHA case.

• CWA Local 4100 Member Fatality

In April, 2010 , Kevin James (a member of CWA Local 4100, Detroit, Michigan, employed by AT&T ), was killed while performing aerial telecommunications cable repair work on a telephone pole when an overhead electrical line fell on him causing his death. Greg Wynn, President, CWA Local 4100 , has been working with other CWA Locals, CWA Staff, Michigan OSHA, and AT&T to ensure this case is handled thoroughly and properly. David LeGrande added he has been working with Greg, CWA Representative Bryon Capper, and the Michigan OSHA compliance officer to move this process along. Upon completion of the Michigan OSHA investigation, information will be provided to all District 4 locals and CWA staff . Also, this information will be reviewed with involved AT&T management.

• CWA Heat Stress Campaign

David LeGrande reported on the status of the Union's Heat Stress Campaign . The CWA fact sheet “ Extreme Heat” and heat stress survey have been developed and distributed/posted on the Union 's Safety and Health web-page . Thus far, some 800 surveys have been completed and company heat stress policies and OSHA and NIOSH heat stress guidelines and recommendations have been collected. At present, sponsored by the Union's Telecommunications Strategic Industry Fund , the Safety and Health Department is identifying scientists to analyze collected data and write the reports specific to these findings.

In addition, within Districts, 3, 6, 7, and 9, the Safety and Health Department will be identifying and working with district staff and selected local union safety and health activists in a mobilization effort to distribute and collect specific information from affected members. In turn, these members will provide additional input regarding working conditions and solutions in their geographic area. Together, collected information will be used by CWA to improve member working conditions and regulatory and legislative requirements upon represented employers.

• National /Regional/ State Regulatory/Legislative Issues

9/11 World Trade Center Legislation:
In May, 2010, H.R. 6594, the James Zadroga Medical Monitoring and Treatment Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee . However, the bill was not passed by the required margin of the full House of Representatives. During September, 2010, CWA , the AFL -CIO , other unions, COSH, and public health organizations will re-initiate efforts to have this legislation enacted by U.S . Congress.

Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety Health Act, H.R. 5663:
David LeGrande mentioned the Act is expected to receive consideration by legislators during this Congressional session. CWA, other unions, the AFL -CIO, COSH and public health organizations are working collaboratively to make this happen. As the legislation begins to receive additional Congressional attention, more information will be provided.

• The legislation covers both mine and general industry safety and health issues. Specific to general industry workplaces, issues include:
• Increasing employer civil and criminal penalties for job safety and health violations,
• Requiring correction of serious workplace hazards during the period of time when employer contest/appeal is pending,
• Enhancing whistleblower protection for workers who raise job safety and health concerns and report injuries and illnesses, and
• Providing victims of workplace injuries and illnesses as well as family members the right to participate/be heard in OSHA investigations.

• CWA/USW Occupational Safety and Health Training-

David LeGrande provided an update re. the status of the five-year (2010-1015) $7 million training grant recently awarded to CWA and the USW by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). To date , CWA District Vice Presidents as well as Public, Health Care, and Education Workers Vice President Brooks Sunkett and IUE-CWA President Jim Clark have been asked and have appointed occupational safety and health activists to serve as trainers under the grant. Representing District 9 will be:

Rick Delao, CWA Local 9431,
Robert Harris, CWA Local 9588 (both appointed by District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp) and,
Joan Lichterman, CWA Local 9119 (appointed by Public, Health Care, and Education Workers Vice President Brooks Sunkett).

• Date of the Next CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-
  The next CWA District 9 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call is scheduled for Monday, November 29, 2010 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (PDT).