USW Testifies Before U.S. Senate On Refinery Job Safety

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.oilandgasonline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID=%7BE9A4FAC8-4B0F-4842-8F25-150B843E224E%7D&Bucket=Current+Headlines&VNETCOOKIE=NO

USW Testifies Before U.S. Senate On Refinery Job Safety
7/12/2007

Washington, DC - A job health and safety specialist for the United Steelworkers (USW) joined other witnesses before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to review lessons learned from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation into BP’s catastrophic Texas city refinery blast in 2005.

Kim Nibarger of the USW Health, Safety and Environment Dept., testified that the Senate Committee needs to consider legislative consultations with the USW that contemplates federal enforcement penalties and accountability requirements around the current federal ‘Process Safety Management (PSM)’ standard to make certain it keeps workers safe at oil refineries and chemical processing facilities.

USW President Leo W. Gerard reinforced the senate hearing testimony by citing the PSM standard that was developed and implemented through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1992. “The PSM standard in the oil refinery industry is the most important tool workers and employers have to assure a safe workplace, and we need to strengthen its enforcement application in all petro-chemical industries.”

Nibarger, a former refinery worker himself, testified that the “PSM provides workers, their families and the communities where they live, the security of knowing that their companies are operating in a safe and responsible manner. Without regulatory oversight and the enforcement of the PSM standard, we cannot make that statement.

“The lessons learned from the 2005 BP Texas City accident investigation have shown us all that the knee jerk employer reaction of firing workers for alleged mistakes is not the solution. A series of management system failures were identified as the root causes stemming from years of focus on profit without adequate consideration on safety.”

The USW job safety specialist was part of the union investigative team following the Texas City accident that killed 15 workers and injured 170 others. He described a joint implementation schedule begun in June with BP management and union leaders at each of five refineries of a 10-point safety initiative developed for refinery staffing, new management structures, joint process safety culture, internal maintenance plans and better designed work schedules.

FULL story at link.

[razors edge]

1. Was wondering when the report from this would come out.

There had to be problems on managements part for such an incident to occur.

I'm the plant manager for a moderate/small family owned petroleum company who has employed teamsters for on site production for more than 43 years. I sit on contract negotiations with the largest Teamsters local, local 20. The longest serving plant manager before me was able to keep his job for three years, I just passed 13.

One thing though, I have learned from extensive investigations of these type of incidents, that it is almost never a single failure that causes them. And the actual cause is almost always covered up with a limited hangout type scenario. Its cheaper in the long run for those involved. I don't play that game and for that I pay a high price with mid level management, but the owners know who to go to for the truth, so I am still here after many of the cover-up artist have long since abandoned their posts. I was deposed last Thursday about an incident that happened 20 months ago, and the Insurance Agent was dumbfounded how my statements did not match the statements of those who are no longer with the company. Go figure.

Your union advocacy here is prolific and focused to a point where I find myself wondering if you are the only person posting under OS. I am in awe of your focus but at the same time I am curious as to how you maintain that focus in light of all the other issues, but perhaps I have missed your posts on other issues.

My Teamsters are the best, we made them that way together, they understand that we all stand alone from the companies other operations and we stand or fall together, regardless of affiliation. These men our my best friends and we often help each other in person projects, home remodeling etc.

I don't see the animosity you describe with most every post, and I don't want to. Maybe I'm more a union advocate than their steward because I work behind the scene to avoid the company missteps prior to them taking place, when possible.

Maybe there is a union/management relationship in this world that you would find mutually beneficial and without controversy.

Don't take this post as a criticism of your work, to the contrary, I benefit from the union involvement and rely upon it to get my job done, so I can go home to my family in one piece, the same way I demand for them. Maybe, if nothing else, you can take it as fellow DUer promising to keep the faith from the other side of the table.

[Omaha Steve]

2. The one and only OS!

I am the only person behind all the Omaha Steve posts. Most times my posts are not my work, but articles from papers etc... So my own views may differ from what is online. I do also post the bad stories about labor, and I'm sure most people here know that is not my view of labor. But I do want the forum t be fair on the issue.

I also post a lot of animal rights stories, the environment, GLBT, disability, political, and breaking news.

I posted my photo with Cindy Sheehan back in May: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Omaha%20Steve/5

The story of her visit to Omaha: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Omaha%20Steve/4

I'll post about myself and story in the near future. I just finished being the subject in a ground breaking labor decision at this time. :-) My second in one lifetime. I've been waiting for the news to be posted before spilling the beans.

Warmest regards,

Omaha Steve

[razors edge]

3. Warmest regards to you too Steve..

But don't be afraid to get some sleep from time to time, it's good for you.

I got your back at my plant, from the lower managers post. :hi: