MWAA Monthly Safety Meeting

Attended the Dec. 10Th MWAA safety meeting last week. Again I inquired about future smoking policy for IAD. Seems there legal department needs more time putting text together for smoking policy change. Nick Carr (MWAA) says it won't be till end of first quarter. (4/09)
-Nick informed the group, the ramp tower has complained to him about NOT understanding radio communications with some carriers trying to taxi or tow aircraft. Not MM.
- There has been an increase in vehicle accidents. MWAA safety officers will increase visibility and enforce AOA driving rules with tickets.
-No cell phones, electronic devices, blue tooth, I-pods while driving on the ramp. Pull over, STOP, then talk. Talking on the company radio is O.K. when driving. That distraction is O.K!
-5 mph around plane, 15 max on the road. Use the AOA roadway, it is the SAFER place to be.
-Stay clear of Lounges & Lounge roadways, docks.

With the upcoming inauguration, the airport expects to close a runway and use it to park airplanes. An estimated 4 million visitors in DC for the week. Metro will be locking station bathrooms. There are estimates of one bathroom for every 6000 people. I'll bet those Port A Pottys on 606 are destined for the celebration.
Nick Carr MWAA Safety Officer will be replaced next year by Dean Pound (MWAA).

At the big U safety meeting last month, I asked our station manager Sherri K. if she would provide a smoking kiosk for employees. After displaying her annoyance, she tried to squelch the issue stating the MWAA fire marshal's new smoke free policy. I explained she was incorrect, and noted the fire marshal will allow smoking inside an enclosure and meets his criteria.

-100 ft from fuel lines
- must be fully enclosed
-etc

She did state it was not a top priority of hers, nor would she allocate large sums of money to comply. And made it a point employees will be disciplined if caught using passenger kiosks upstairs. Forward me dated photos of white shirts.
I believe a hut like down the GQ shop could work. To be continued...

For the second time this month the company has postponed local safety meeting. New date 23rd, 12noon, Tuesday.

For the LINE, stay focused on your task , take the time to follow the paperwork, be professional & safety conscience. Any issues I can be reached at 2-7557. Still looking for safety team members, all shifts.

If you need contract proposals sheets they are available in Bob's and Tom's mail box. Bring them to the January 14 Th meeting. We are fortunate to have Bob on the negotiating team. This is our chance to get back what we have lost.
Also on the web iadsafety.blogspot.com Thanks for listening, Tom

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM

Many aircraft parts contain this chemical such as Boeing green primer paint. This product contains a chemical (hexavalent chromium) known to the state of California to cause cancer. The CAL OSHA standard of no more than 5 micrograms in the work area was adopted by federal OSHA in 2006. But this is to be phased in over the next four years. For the best interest of your health and co-workers do not sand primer paint. To apply use a paint brush - much safer than spraying. (??? I know what about our past exposures???) If you do sand FR primer, a respirator should be worn. This may be difficult since no one at IAD is respirator qualified and qualification comes with company physical every five years, annual questionnaire and mask leak check. Contrary to all this - stores does stock respirators with all the attachments. Sanding outside is preferred, inside dust can be agitated by walking or dispersed by shop air. Shop vacs will be required to have HEPA filters. ( C16 shop does not have these) Be sure to wash your hands before eating, drinking, and smoking. Other products such as stainless steel contain chromium properties. Do not grind or weld stainless unless in a well ventilated area. Once again a respirator should be worn. This information was passed on to me by SFO IBT Ground Safety members, Ralph Ortiz and Mike Keating after attending a National Safety Council meeting late this year. After being informed by the IBT, our company was unaware of this existing hazard or its lowered standard. (initially 52 micrograms 1970, to present 5 micrograms 2006) I posted an article from Ralph Ortiz , SFO IBT Ground Safety Chairman on all the union boards 12/08. If you remember the drama movie, Erin Brockovich made in 2000, was based on her finding Hexavalent Chromium in the towns water supply. An example of 5 micrograms in the air; crushing an aspirin in the palm of your hand blowing the dust into a stadium the size of a football field. More on this as I find out. Tom