Local 201 elected Health and Safety reps attend the 2007 Worker's Memorial Day commemoration at the State House on April 26th.

LEST WE FORGET: DEATH AT WORK
By Ted Comick, Local 201 H&S Director

     Last year, in Massachusetts, 76 men and women died traumatic deaths on the job.  While the majority of the victims were in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, there were two teenagers, eight workers in their twenties, and three in their eighties.  Most of the deaths occurred one by one and you probably never heard of them.  Only the mass catastrophes make it into the news and even they quickly fade from the screen and public attention. 
     But every year on Workers Memorial Day (normally April 28, but this year commemorated on Thursday, April 26), MassCOSH, the Massachusetts Coalition on Occupational Safety and Health, and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, along with similar unions and community groups throughout the United States, make sure that we don’t forget our neighbors, friends and fellow workers killed in the line of workplace duty.  And they don’t let us forget, either, the estimated ten times as many workers who die less spectacular but equally tragic deaths from occupational diseases including various cancers. 
     This year 150 union members, state workers (who have no OSHA coverage), conscientious state legislators, and family members of those killed on the job gathered in front of the Massachusetts State House to “Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living”. 
     Local 201 Health and Safety Committee members Steve Gauthier (Gear Plant), Jim Stafford (Utilities and Plant Services), and Tim McCormack (Logistics) traveled to Boston to represent their fellow workers in the noontime memorial and in the recommitment to fight for strong health and safety protections.  McCormack and Stafford told me they were deeply moved by the remarks of the families of the deceased workers.  “It puts everything in perspective.”  Gauthier mentioned the ongoing efforts to extend long overdue safety coverage to workers dispatched by temp agencies and to those working for the state.  “Trenching operations and toxic chemicals don’t become less hazardous because you’re on a day-labor assignment or you work for the DPW!”
     Local 201 has had a long history of fighting for its own members but also realizing we are not an island and would not long survive in a sea of disregard for other workers’ health and safety.  Those “other” workers are our families, friends and neighbors and we work in their interest as well.  As the old union saying goes, “An Injury to One is an Injury to All.”

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OSHA TEAM RECOMMENDS VPP "STAR" STATUS FOR RIVERWORKS

On Friday, April 21, in the 2-96 auditorium, jammed with members of the four unions of the Riverworks and GE management, the OSHA VPP audit team reviewed its findings from nearly two weeks of inspections and interviews in the Lynn facility. Dave Caswell, OSHA team leader, reviewed what OSHA felt were highlights of the Lynn prevention programs, as well as items that weren't up to snuff or needed improvement. Then Dave delivered the verdict: the team would recommend "Star" status, the highest category of VPP. (Less than 2,000 American worksites out of nearly 3,000,000 have earned this designation.) A standing ovation of relief, following two weeks under the microscope, and pride, for weeks and months and years of effort by many in the room, greeted the announcement.

The next three months will continue to be an arena of intense health and safety activity as the plant strives to close out "90-day" audit findings that could derail the "Star" designation if they are not done. Among the items that OSHA felt needed improvement were: preventative maintenance tracking, punch press training, trending of issues arising from planned safety inspections, such as blocked electrical disconnects, and better hazard recognition training for all employees.

The Riverworks accomplishments could not have happened without the work of hundreds of union activists and engaged management personnel over the years, but the performance of the Lynn crafts workers over the course of the audit in fixing problems often literally overnight was particularly noted and appreciated by company and union leaders.