United Steelworkers Rubber Industry Health & Safety. Jim Frederick USW Health, Safety & Environment Department

Transcription

1 United Steelworkers Rubber Industry Health & Safety Jim Frederick USW Health, Safety & Environment Department

2 USW Rubber Industry Health & Safety USW health, safety & environment department Employer Union relationship Government regulatory status (US) Health & safety trends in USW rubber industry workplaces

3 USW Health, Safety & Environment Department RESOURCES FUNCTIONS HSE Staff: 16 Emergency Response Team Staff: 3 Tony Mazzocchi Center Staff: 19 Local Union Trainers: 300 Occupational Medical Consultants: 2 Local Union Assistance Training & Education Bargaining Laws & Regulations Fatality & severe injury response Special Projects.

4 USW Health, Safety & Environment Department USW represents workers in a diverse set of industries Rubber Steel Paper Chemical plants Oil refinery Aluminum Glass Mining Cement Health care Service sector

5 USW Fatality Experience Year 2004 USW member death from traumatic 2005 injury every days USW Member Workplace Fatalities USW 47 member death from 44 occupational from occupational disease daily USW member fatality number through May 12, 2009

6 United Steelworkers USW Rubber Industry Health & Safety Employer Union relationship USW and major rubber industry employers Strained relationship on health & safety matters Much productive work continues at the local union plant level Presents opportunities to improve health & safety structure and function with local unions and language in collective bargaining agreements in upcoming negotiations Focus of employers on health & safety management systems Regulatory agency recognition Global health and safety programs Comparing workplace safety based on injury rates from plant to plant globally

7 United Steelworkers USW Rubber Industry Health & Safety Government regulatory status (US regulatory agency for rubber industry Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA]) Focus for past 8 years Voluntary compliance OSHA s Voluntary Protection Program (Goodyear & Bridgestone) Employer OSHA partnerships Less emphasis on compliance with and enforcement of OSHA standards & regulations Lack of focus on occupational health Opportunities and challenges for new administration

8 United Steelworkers USW Rubber Industry Health & Safety Health & safety trends in USW rubber industry workplaces Our members know that they are exposed to many safety hazards that cause injuries and numerous chemical exposures that cause occupational disease; however, Continued & increased focus by employers on worker behavior

9 What is happening in your workplace now that is causing/ contributing to your members being injured, made ill and/or stressed on their jobs? Forced overtime Extended working hours, shifts Under-staffing & downsizing Work overload Push for production Job combinations & multitasking Lack of maintenance Outside contractors Outsourcing & threat of outsourcing Fear of discipline for injury reporting Blame the worker safety programs GPS tracking Lack of Training.

10 Traditional health & safety hazards remain too Exposure to hazardous chemicals and biohazards Unguarded machinery Heat stress Mobile and fixed equipment Noise Electrical hazards Ergonomics Walking and working surfaces Radiation These hazards are found when worker injury occurs the nature and extent of the hazards are often specific to the industry However, the issues of organization of work and work restructuring as they relate to health & safety are major and primary concerns to our locals in every industry that we represent!

11 Greening Rubber Industry Reduction in waste streams Reduction in packaging materials Improved resource use/conservation

12 Much work remains to provide safe workplaces for our members

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