REVELSTOKE

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE

MINUTES – January 9, 2003

Held:                January 9, 2003

Co-Chairman:            S. Bell

Members in Attendance:

Management:            S. Bell, T. Marinier, B. Riches, E. Palasz

Union Reps:            A. Stewart (BMWE), B. Gardali (UTU), J. Meloro (BMWE), P. Bede (BLE)

Guests:             B. Rota

Meeting called to order 0835.  Minutes of December 12th meeting read and adopted.

SAFETY ACTION PLANS

Field Ops –      Fit Testing for gas masks underway.

-          4 hour safety meeting held in December

-          Site Inspection – Taft bridge

E/S – N/A

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Item 0103-04:  P. Bede inquired re possibility of increasing speed restriction for new potash cars from 15 to 20 mph.

Action (0301)    Elevated to Policy Committee.  Stan Bell to contact S. Sabatini to determine Risk Assessment.  T. Marinier indicated as far as E/S is concerned, there are no track issues.  Issues are with Mechanical and Accident Prevention.                                          MOTION TO CARRY                                                                                                                                                                                   

Item 0111-02:  P. Bede requested switch stands be identified with mileage or location.

Action (0301)    Golden is complete.  B. Free has supplied information from the RTC office.  Clarification at Ross Peak is still required.                                                      MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0201-04:  R. Mellish requested light be installed at Chase (westend)

Action (0301)    Estimate from Contractor received and work to install 2 lights (switch & track) will

                        proceed.                                                                                   MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0204-03: P. Bede questioned re requirement of installation of sliding derails for setting off units at Rogers, Chase, Ducks and Moberly.

Action (0301)    Tim Marinier advised at Rogers a switch point derail will be installed.  Further installation –

                        Chase – hinged derail with crowder – ordered for track #1.

                        Ducks / Moberly – hinged derail w/crowder - ordered                 MOTION TO CARRY                                                                                                                                    

Item 0207-04: K. Jones reported decals missing on signal masts at Stoney Creek West (and possibly other locations – Beavermouth?

Action (0301)    S&C Supervisors S. Peters advises there is no rule or regulation governing these signs.  He did indicate the decal for Stoney Creek West was too big for the signal and will require a special plate to be made.   Beavermouth -  (S&C Supervisor) R. Cave advises he will get a new one made for Beavermouth.                                                                        MOTION TO CARRY                                                                                                           

Item 0211-05:  Request from Locomotive Engineers to be supplied with headlamps.

Action (0301)    Stan indicated he would like to follow up with some feedback from the lamps that are out on the property before considering issuing to Locomotive Engineers.   Some concern with switching, having a clear understanding with regard to use of switch lamps, some employees are not carrying their switch lamps, durability and cost factors, etc. MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0212-01:  W. Hayman inquired with regard to progress on mid train SBU’s for tailend remote coal trains.

Action (0301)    S. Bell advises request has been made to the CCROU for their support to test a coal set with mid-train SBU.                                                                     MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0212-02:  W. Hayman questioned the permanent slow orders for sidings on the Shuswap Subdivision.  Will this ever be upgraded from the 20 mph?

Action (0301)    TMS Palasz advises the wear limits are exceeded on the rail in the sidings.  There has been request for new rail but due to budget restraints, was denied.  The sidings are to stay at 20mph until track is up to spec.                                                               MOTION TO DELETE

Item 0212-03:  W. Hayman has concern with Pearson St. crossing where a motor home recently was caught on the crossing and the gate came down – can the traffic flow be re-aligned on Victoria road by installing a flashing stop sign (the same as MacKenzie Ave)?  Or is there some other solution before an accident happens.

Action (0301)    S. Bell to investigate with City.                                                   MOTION TO CARRY

CORRESPONDENCE & BUSINESS ARISING

1.   Correspondence received from S. Sabatini with regard to mandatory pre-departure checklists.  Will wait to hear further.

2.   SOFA stats are in for 2002 – improvement noted in reduction of fatalities.

INCIDENT REVIEW

Incident                                         Location                Cause                                           Prev. Measures

Run Thru Switch

NON
FRA

Golden Yard

12/02/02  1725

Failure to ensure switch

lined for movement

Investigation / discipline

Rolled over ankle

MIR

FOPS

Rev Yard

12/13/02  1045

Foot landed on old tie which shifted

IRR – Ensure firm footing

Run Thru Switch

NON

FRA

Rev Yard

12/14/02  0645

Failure to ensure switch

lined for movement

Investigation / discipline

Inhalation of fumes

MIR

FOPS

Laurie Sheds

12/20/02  1755

Stalled unit in Laurie Sheds

Gas masks to be issued to RTE’s

Run Thru Switch

NON

FRA

Rev Yard

12/23/02  1900

Failure to ensure switch lined for movement

Investigation

Inhalation of fumes (2)

LTI

FOPS

Connaught

12/28/02  1220

RTC allowed train to enter before tunnel purged

RTC re-educated on proper purge instructions/gas masks

Motor vehicle accident

E/S

Glacier camp

12/24/02  0630

  Driving to work contacted

  parked flat bed trailer

Employee did not see the

trailer. 

SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (Incomplete)

SHR 0112-07:             Snow conditions while operating on heavy grades – suggest advanced clear to stop signals on all heavy grades.

Action (0301)    New CTC system is scheduled over the next few years – Committee should advise of all requests for changing (in priority order) to S&C for consideration.

                        Mountain Sub – Signal 899M Ross Peak

                                                - Signal 885M Intermediate Ross Peak

                                                - Signal 955 Intermediate Illecillewaet

                                                - Signal 1015 Downie

                                                - Signal 745C Intermediate Griffith

                        P. Mason developing list for Shuswap. P. Bede will have for next meeting.

                                                                                                                        MOTION TO CARRY

SHR 0202-06:            Do we require local exhaust ventilation in B&B welding shop (for welding).

Action (0301)    B. Tully to advise further.                                                          MOTION TO CARRY

SHR0211-02:            Backtrack crossover switch 89.3 Mtn – Ross Peak – tough to throw.

Action (0301)            TMS Sadek to advise.                                                                        MOTION TO CARRY                                                                                                                      

SHR0212-03:              MU cables laying around on the ground at Ducks, Chase and Squilax

Action (0301)    TMS R. Miller indicated while the cables are not on ground he will investigate with                  J.    Creighton to have a permanent rack installed.                MOTION TO CARRY

SHR0212-04:  Field Bunkhouse – phones ringing in wrong rooms.

Action (0301)    S. Bell advises Real Estate have been notified to contact Telus and get them back in to

                        rectify the problem.                                                                   MOTION TO CARRY            

SHR0212-05:  Revelstoke Yard (west) – piles of ballast from drainage trenches and between tracks.

Action (0301)    TMS Palasz advises this is a result of the new tie program and the run-outs of the new turnouts installed.  In both cases the regulator operator tried to dispose of excess ballast by running it out in the devil strips.  To resolve the issue, the material will have to be picked up with a gradall and re-regulate the ballast or vacuum truck as time permits.            MOTION TO DELETE           

SHR0212-07:  Mile 84-85 Shuswap Sub south side - various sticks eye level with unit window sticking out.

Action (0301)    A.Stewart advises work has been completed.                              MOTION TO DELETE

SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (New)

SHR0301-01:  Booking-in room – too hot.

Action (0301)    Kimrick employee on site (01/08) and notifed to check.                MOTION TO DELETE

REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES

- Mount MacDonald Tunnel – fit testing and issuing of gas masks – 43 to date.

-          Emergency Evacuation Plan – N/A

DISTRICT SAFETY ADVISOR REPORT – n/a

NEW BUSINESS:

Item 0301-01:  A. Stewart  requested clarification on rules with regard to UTO (Unidentified Track Occupancy)

Action (0301)            Refer  to GOI Section 1 (page 10).                                          MOTION TO DELETE

Item 0301-02:            A. Stewart reported concern with regard to complacency when working on multi-track.

Action (0301)            Committee recommended this topic be reviewed at safety meetings and job briefings.

                                                                                                                        MOTION TO DELETE

Item 0301-03:            A. Stewart reported a recent problem with the propane switch heater hose at Squilax (west).

Action (0301)            E. Palasz will check with Switch Maintainers.                              MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0301-04:            P. Bede reported the reflective tape on switch handles – back tracks Shuswap Sub is wearing.

Action(0301)            E. Palasz will arrange replacement.                                         MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0301-05: P. Bede advised that due to the new Trainman Trainees that will be out training in the near future will result in crews utilizing the second unit more.  As a result he requested carbon dioxide tester and/or leaving the second unit on line.

Action (0301)    S. Bell to investigate.                                                                 MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0301-05: P. Bede reported problems encountered at Mile 34 Mtn. Sub.

(Kicking Horse bridge project).  The washroom for construction workers is located too close to the track – request to relocate. ES Foreman on site is giving all clear to train crews but in actuality the track has not been clear on occasion.

                        Trespassers (ice climbers) are on right of way and are also tripping the slide fence.

 Action (0301)   T. Marinier to follow up with Stan Sadek.                                   MOTION TO CARRY

Item 0301-05: B. Riches reported he was recently called in the early hours account a train at Albert Canyon encountered 3-4 inches of snow and had requested an ES crew to come and clean out the switch. Brad reminded the Committee that ES no longer has a night crew and this would have resulted in at least a 2 hour delay for men to get out to Albert Canyon to clean the switch.  There is a broom and shovel available.

Action (0301)    B. Gardali and P. Bede will remind train crews to make an honest effort to clean out switches themselves.                                                                                    MOTION TO DELETE

Motion to adjourn 1030.  Next meeting February 13, 2003.

L. Sali for

S.W. Bell/ B. Gardali