Day 1, Monday, July 28

The meeting started at 9 a.m. in the plant manager’s conference room.  In attendance were Tom Kingman, from the UAW, and Kasandra Tut, from GM, along with a cross section of UAW Leadership and Plant Staff.

 The safety tour started outside of the TDO dock and covered most of the exterior buildings on the plant property, including the power house.  There were a few violations found; for example:

·        No flashing lights on service cart

·        Driver did not check wheels on dock

·        Fall hazard – ladder on elevated platform

·        Tier truck driver left unit in gear and walked away to check on rack location

·        Chemical containers that were not labeled

·        Electrical cabinets not locked in metal assembly

The audit went thru the Waste Water Treatment area, then into the Press Room OO-PP lines, working our way thru Metal Assembly, winding back thru the Press Room from south to north.  That afternoon, the tour continued thru TDO, the Pattern Shop, Steel Stores, and CTL Line.  The day wrapped up back in the conference room with a plan of action.  

Day 2, Tuesday, July 29

Topics covered 7 to 8 a.m.:

·        Employee Safety Concern

·        Hazard Communication

·        HAZWOPER

·        Noise Control

·        Plant Emergency Plan

Topics covered 8 to 9:30 a.m.:

·        Walking and Working Surfaces

·        Asbestos

·        Walk Around Inspections

·        Confined Space

·        Health and Safety Training

 Topics covered 9:30 to 11 a.m.:

·        Conveyors

·        Machine Guarding

·        Vehicle Preventive Maintenance

·        Preventive Maintenance

·        Cranes and Hoists 

Topics covered from 12 to 1 p.m.:

·        Ergonomics

·        Lockout

·        Aerial Lifts

·        Material Storage and Stacking

·        Railcar and Truck Dock Procedures

Topics covered from 1 to 2 p.m.:

·        Elevators

·        Welding and Cutting

·        Piping

·        Accident Reporting

·        Sanitation

Topics covered from 2 to 3 p.m.:

·        Postings

·        SOP’s

·        Hand and Portable Tools

·        Grinding

·        Sling and Rigging

Day 3, Wednesday, July 30

Topics covered from 7 to 8:30 a.m.:

·        HIS

·        Medical Surveillance

·        Bloodborne Pathogens

·        Indistrial Hygiene

 Topics covered at 8:30 a.m.:

·        Electrical Safety

·        Mechianical Power Presses

·        Review of Technology

·        Stairs and Ladders

·        Fall Hazard

Safety Modules:  The auditors were drilling department heads about their particular modules.  I was impressed with everyone’s accountability. 

Everything was discussed from plant emergencies to spills, noise control, haswop, escalators, security, permits, welding, et cetera.

·        An incident investigation must be performed for every incident. 

·        Housekeeping was also a topic of discussion.

·        There is always a process to drive every SPO.

·        Must have 100% participation to identify                    hazard recognition. 

·        All outside contractors must follow all UAW/GM Safety Guidelines or call International Rep.

·        Our Lanyards are currently okay and safe to use.

·        Fall’s Kowledge Committee needs to meet more often.

·        Auditors expectations are to have issues resolved within one year from audit date.

·        Matrix drives this policy.

·        Plant Medical

·        Rigging and training must be an eight hour class.

·        Eswap:  Proper clothing required.

·        No cutting down on class time.

·        Need training records from Premier Cleaning.

·        Confined spaces – You need first name, last name, and must have First Responders as attendant.  We have to make sure that we have a process in place and one that works.

 WFG Audit

·        Air quality:  Anything that effects the air, vehicles, emergency lighting, et cetera.

·        Operating vehicles without lights working.  Somebody is not going over pre-op list.  Emergency lighting checked yearly.  Once unplugged, the light must work for 90 minutes.

 We continued our walk-thru audit throughout the plant and found several items that needed to be addressed.  I was surprised how we work here every day and don’t even notice things that are unsafe in our own work area.  Overall, we had three Needs Improvement and one Repeat.  I was pleased with the review considering the size of our facility.  The Joint Health and Safety Team will follow up with a report at a later date.  Meanwhile, remember - safety is everyone’s job.

In solidarity,

 Greg Golembiewski, President

GG:jmb/opeiu459/h&sauditjul08

Here are some interesting facts from the Level Field Institute I thought you would be interested in:

Safety

Despite the fact our highways are far more crowded, they are four times safer than 1960.

Efficiency

Over the past 10 years, Detroit has reduced the number of hours it takes to build a car by more than 20%, cutting 8 hours out of the 42 hours it took in 1995.

Fuel Economy

GM’s fuel economy improved by half from 1975 to 2005, even though trucks rose from about 20% of fleet sales to more than 50%.

 Our Environment

Auto emissions are 99% cleaner than the 1970’s.

 Jobs

GM alone employs more Americans than all foreign automakers combined. 

Think all cars are the same?  Take a look under the hood.

On average, 79% of the parts in each Ford, GM, and Chrysler are domestic.  That’s nearly 2 ½ times more than the average foreign automaker’s domestic content, which is 35%. 

What’s the difference between 79% and 35% domestic content?  About $95 billion in U.S. parts sales – and nearly 2 million U.S. jobs.

Research and Development is the future of the American auto industry.

This $17 billion industry translates into more jobs, more infrastructure investment, not to mention better, safer cars for all of us.  By showing our support for American autoworkers, we give automakers more reason to keep investing in this area.

WHAT YOU DRIVE,

DRIVES AMERICA.