Local 1245 Safety Committee
REPORT FROM MEETING OF JUNE 26, 2008
Present: Al White, Art Torres, Mike Gomes, Bob Burkle
Absent: Tom Greer, Sergio Munoz, Ralph Armstrong
Old items:
Confined space rescue
Remains open for further discussion.
Backhoe buckets used for lifting
Awaiting discussion notes from PGE safety committee report.
Near Miss Program
This item remains open while the reports of near misses begin to come in.
PPE safety article
Remains open.
Accident reporting
Remains open
Review of Policy document for Safety and Health Committee
Remains open.
FR clothing
Remains open.
New Items:
New job classification of “resource coordinator”
This item was not discussed and remains open.
Safety Communication Network
This item needs further development. The method of including all of the signatory employers and developing a data base needs to be refined.
Use of non-qualified workers to remove grounds
This item was not discussed and remains open.
Round table topics:
Accidents
Santa Clara: A lineman was injured when a chain binder handle popped up and hit his hand. While tying down a Panther on it’s trailer, he thought the binder was fully closed, but when the load shifted, the handle came up. The chain binder was thrown away and a different tie down method was used.
MID: Employee suffered a broken leg, when he fell off roof while trying to flip a service wire around the edge of the roof.
NEAR MISS
An employee removed a ground connector from the 12KV while the other end was still connected to the conductor. The employee wanted to find another place to attach the ground and forgot to remove the jumper from the phase before moving the pole end. The employee felt a slight sensation from the 69KV overbuilt, but was not harmed.
NEAR MISS
A 12KV switch was closed into a cross phase, after work had been done that changed a corner. No employees were hurt, but a large customer was out of power and production was harmed.
NEAR MISS
A crew was ordered to open mid span jumpers. When the crew experienced a significant arc, they questioned their control center. The control center told them all is well, so do it. They attempted it again, but could not break the arc. They again questioned the control center and stated they would build a set of disconnects and use a load break tool. Upon opening the disconnects, it was discovered that the control center failed to see an open switch on that circuit, and the opening procedure actually was dropping load, instead of just breaking a parallel. A section of town was out of power for a time.
Fatality: PG&E
A person was found sitting on a set of double arms, his back against the pole, after making contact with a live 12KV or 21KV line. The person was attempting to steal the copper wire. When rescue personnel attempted to move him, it was discovered the person was burnt internally throughout his torso and limbs. He died the next day.
Injury: MID
An employee was knocked out after hitting his head. An investigation is under way to determine how it happened.
Discussion: FR Clothing
SMUD is beginning a new one year contract for FR clothing. Each person receives an $800 allotment to spend as they wish on clothing from a list of approved items. Each employee is expected to meet the requirements of their FR policy with their choice of approved clothing. The money is considered income and counts toward retirement.
Next meeting is scheduled for July 30, 2008 at 8:00 a.m.
Local 1245 Safety Committee
Ralph Armstrong, Chair
Posted: July 11, 2008