Safety Corner Janurary/Feburary 2005

A few facts of life:

  1. When those Company E-mails, print outs, policy statements, et cetera, appear before you and your signature is requested to show that you were fully covered, ask yourself on question – WAS I? CWA recommends the signing and dating of QWEST paper work but only after you are carefully covered and have at least a vague understanding as to what it means. Its your right, obligation, and job protecting responsibility to ask questions. If the person supposedly in charge cannot be fully informative - sign it – add a do not agree or understand disclaimer – make a copy for your personal records. At least that way an “employee refused to sign” plus a supervisor’s initials won’t appear to cover their failure to follow policy. If in doubt contact a steward – e-board member or local officer for further help.
  2. Two serious incidents happened recently:
    1. a train vs. vehicle accident
    2. an employee through attic ceiling personal injury.

Neither resulted in serious injuries – thank, God, but does point out the fact that we are in charge of our own well being and safety. If it feels “not right” it probably isn’t, so question it and seek support from other sources, meaning we the Union and we the Safety group. Don’t be intimidated into any work condition that your sixth sense warns is unsafe or that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. You will suffer the hurt and pain and the discipline if the present “punish first” managerial mindset decides that direction.

  1. Is your Supervisor playing the MOSHC Safety Line each morning? If not demand it! A lot of heads up info is presented and the recording option is a good place to express concerns. All items are in confidence. I know. I present it.
  2. Motor vehicle accidents are now Washington State’s biggest safety concern. Our state is highest in QWEST with 12 accidents per 1000 vehicles. Managements answer for a solution is time off discipline and if there is a past record possible termination so get your head into the job at hand – driving.

Don’t Drive:

Do the above or have a good job handy because that’s the direction the QWEST solution is heading.

  1. If the QWEST Safety manager visits you for a safety review use this visit to express any crew leader concerns. If no safety meetings, no safety line, no safety equipment readily available, etc, etc, etc is of concern to you – sound off. The Safety Manager’s responsibility is not only to observe you but to respond to your concerns. Use him.
  2. A remote detonated explosive device was used to destroy an R.T. near Vancouver, Wash recently. The “doers” were caught (two 19 year- olds) but what was scary is the interim between event and capture no warning was released by QWEST, at least according to my source of info. What was sent out was a page to “not talk to any of the news media” if one was approached concern an incident involving QWEST property. Fills one with a warm and fuzzy secure feeling.

You are your own best friend. If you don’t care enough about yourself to both follow and demand your basic safety policies and protections then you only let yourself down and hopefully your cavalier attitude will only reflect back on you and not cause problems for your fellow CWA’ers.

There is no person employed by the corporation who is in dispensable, just cut a few corners and find out.

Dennis Garrett
Local 7804 Vice President and Safety Officer
Regional MOSHC Representative.
253-640-1253

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