September 2010 District 6 OSH Conference Call

CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call
Conducted Thursday, September 2, 2010 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. (CST)

Participants: Cindy Mills, President, CWA Local 6012
Miguel Carrillo, President, CWA Local 6110
Darlene Kirchgessner, President, CWA Local 6128
Wolf McCann, Vice President, CWA Local 6132
Kristie Veit, CWA Local 6137
Paul Laughlin, Vice President, CWA Local 6200
Charlie Jenkins, Vice President, CWA Local 6202
Claude Cummings, President, CWA Local 6222
Jim Eberhart, President, CWA Local 6225
Phillip Ramirez, President, CWA Local 6229
Erin Hall, President, CWA Local 6316
Jason Burns, President, CWA Local 6401
David Bagwell, CWA Local 6507
Tim Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer, CWA Local 6508
Charlie Torres, CWA Staff Representative
David LeGrande, CWA Occupational Safety and Health Director

• Participant Reports/New Issues

Tim Andrews, CWA Local 6508, reporteda near heat stroke case involving a represented telecommunications technician. This incident occurred while the technician was installing telecommunications equipment. Although the tech was hospitalized, Tim indicated he was recuperating. As additional information becomes available, Tim will provide it to Charlie Torres and David LeGrande.

Several participantsnoted heat stress issues including: Miguel Carrillo, CWA Local 6110, indicated members were suffering heat stress health problems as a result of an AT&T policy prohibiting technicians from starting their vehicles and turning on the air conditioning until they have completed their administrative work following the completion of work. Already over-heated from performing their job, this additional stress has led technicians to develop health symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. David LeGrande suggested affected technicians should report these medical conditions and receive necessarymedical treatment when these incidents occur. Charlie Torres asked Miguel (and other activists on the call) to document heat stress cases and related potential causes and provide this information to both David and him. In turn, he will bring this matter to the attention of District 6 Vice President Andy Milburn for appropriate action.

Following this discussion, Claude Cummings, CWA Local 6222; Darlene Kirchgessner, CWA Local 6128; Paul Laughlin, CWA Local 6200; Kristie Veit, CWA Local 6137; Jim Eberhart, CWA Local 6225; and Phillip Ramirez, CWA Local 6229, cited numerous member heat stress cases and concerns advocating for quick action before a member suffers a fatality or near fatality. Other participants agreed encouraging necessary contractual, educational, regulatory, and political action.

Before moving to the next agenda item, participants emphasized the primary cause of identified problems is AT&T’s MSOC program which is intended to increase performance measures and worker productivity. In turn, they emphasized the need for CWA to take the necessary action to change these Company policies to serve the interests of affected technicians and CWA.

Charlie Jenkins, CWA Local 6202, indicated members (including himself) had experienced severe safety and health dangers as a result of being stung by insects/bees while driving Company trucks/vehicles. During hot weather, technicians must drive the trucks with the windows down- these vehicles are not equipped with air conditioning- often resulting in bees flying into the moving vehicles and stinging technicians while they are driving. In some cases including Jim’s, medical treatment was required. It was suggested this issue be brought to the attention of AT&T, grieved as necessary, and reported to OSHA. David LeGrande said he would speak with federal OSHA representatives about this situation and report back.

• CWA U-Verse Technicians Field Safety Guide

Recently, the CWA California Central Valley Council developed the “CWA U-Verse Technicians Field Safety Guide.” This publication covers important U-Verse technician 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, the council 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.

The guide has been provided to Charlie Torres and other CWA district staff with workplace safety and health responsibilities. Interested local union safety and health activists should request this information. Also, the Union’s Safety and Health Department will be working to make the guide available to CWA leaders and safety and health activists throughout the U.S.

• CWA Local 3212 Member Fatality

David LeGrande provided an update re. the January, 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 onto 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 completedits fatality and workplace investigations of the AT&T WestRomeServiceCenter, 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” operations),
• 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 WorldTradeCenter 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 6 will be: Randy Rodriguez, CWA Local 6222.

Upon completion of training sessions in September and November, trainers will initiate trainingsessions among CWA members.

• Date of the Next CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call-

The next CWA District 6 Occupational Safety and Health Conference Call is scheduled for Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 8:30- 10:30 a.m. (CST).