Hold the Pull: HTP continues to give presentations at the PG&E apprentice and pre-apprentice classes in Livermore. On August 16, Dane Moore and Mike Van Egmond met with a group of 16 pre-apprentices along with two members from SMUD, one of which will be selected to replace outgoing HTP member Spike Roberts, who recently retired from SMUD. The replacement will be selected at the September committee meeting.
On August 19, three members of HTP travelled to Wells, NV to give a presentation to the linemen there. Fred Aboud and Jeff Turk did the presentation, and Brett Hardy from Mt. Wheeler attended in order to hone his presentation skills. Safety stewards who are interested in participating as speakers are brought along to group meetings to observe or give their safety message. Many stewards who have never spoken in public have learned to organize and give speeches under the mentorship of other peer committee members, and discover that they are good at speaking in public once given some exposure and opportunities to develop the skill.
Keep the Clearance: The KTC committee met on July 6 and reviewed two upcoming speaking engagements with Trees Inc. in Stockton and Angels Camp. Rosario Garcia, Carlos Rodriguez and committee chairman Ray Banfill went over the details of the program and then PG&E Vegetation Manager Richard Yarnell went over PG&E safety expectations for the group. Issues that arose concerned management appreciation for the work performed safely instead of focusing on injuries. Another problem was the complaint that the company was not issuing protective gloves, a problem the union addressed with Trees Inc. management. Five more meetings are being scheduled in 2016.
KTC continues to place Close call reports on the IBEW 1245 website. Anyone can report Close Calls anonymously on either the website on the Safety page, call their business representative or report at unit meetings.
Control the Pressure: CTP conducted their committee meeting on August 17. Over the last four months, as issues have arisen with PG&E, committee members or safety stewards are urged to file a Corrective Action Program (CAP) report and submit a copy to the committee so they can track the efficiency and progress of the CAP program. So far, four CAP items have been reported, with two completed and two in progress. All complaints or safety issues will be filed as a CAP going forward.
Stewards in Ukiah are concerned about lack of cell coverage in outlying areas, as well as no communication in rental trucks. The issue is still being addressed with Company. The employee who raised the issue has been put in a truck that is not a rental and has a radio. Communications coverage is still not 100%. Stewards have also expressed concerns about single man changing valves, after an incident occurred involving a gas crew getting burned while changing a valve.
There was also an incident with a PG&E crew hitting ‘sense’ line in a regulator pit. The locator was disciplined, the operator was fired, and the foreman and fitter were given DMLs. CAP was filed on AMCs not working properly, and the vac truck was not used to excavate in the regulator pit.
The inclement weather policy was brought up, relating to 108 degree weather in one work area. An MEO had his crew cab up to get out of the heat and got flack from the foreman. He wants clarification on the Hot Weather Inclement Weather Policy.
CTP members will travel to Fresno to give a presentation to two PG&E Division gas groups. It is estimated that approximately 50 gas personnel will be in each group. Committee members Roy Cabral and Adam Weber will give the presentations.