In a recent PCM, we were told that if we were in an accident, then we would automatically become a member of the Safety Committee
scratch
we do that here as well. the driver that has the accident has his start time changed for the wednesdays that we meet early. at first, there was a lot of groaning and bitching about that move, but we found out that it payed large dividends. many of the drivers that were forced into attending have become much better drivers, are actually still part of the committee long past what was required, and several have made important suggestions and contributions to the overall safety program.
so while it sounds like a punishment up front, if handled properly, it can be a great learning tool.
dear dick
really, gets to smoke a cigar while walking the building??? how does he manage to do that considering that all ups buildings are smoke free zones, unless you are in a designated smoking zone???? i would really like to know.
i
How many hourly safety committee members get to accompany the keter auditors on their facility inspection tours?
what they did in our center was to train the safety committee members to do the audit once a month. keter came in and our center made the commitment to have the safety cochairs on each sort and shift, including the feeder department and mechanics, to do the monthly audit without management oversight.
on the days where we have a keter audit, there are usually two hour cochairs that work with them during the two days they are here. one time there were 6 hourly walking the building with keter. but usually at least two or three.
one interesting side bar, the frayed and bare wires were discovered by an hourly safety committee member doing the regular monthly audit the month following a keter building audit. at the time keter was at the building, the wires had already been damaged and frayed, but no one caught it.
in thinking about the unloaders that reach up and adjust the fans during the sort, and how sweaty they are, it is a miracle that no one was killed. it was that serious of an issue. one of the fans actually quit working because one of the wires had completely been chewed in half. none of the supply wires were protected by flexible conduit, which is a code violation, but no one had "discovered" that until the hourly caught the problem.
one last thing. all our shop stewards were on the safety committee. while area observations are done, none has ever resulted in any disciplinary action being taken. now, when a sup is by themselves and watching the driver, that is another story.
on area observations here are used as a behavior modification tool. identify problems, and offer solutions. that is what the safety committee is supposed to be.
for those of you that dont, you get what you allow. of course it is more pleasant a task when you have a management team that is supporting and sharing leadership roles instead of total domination of the system. but that is where the grievance system kicks in.
sorry to be so long winded.
d