REVELSTOKE SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEE MINUTES - August 12, 1999


Held: August 12, 1999, Revelstoke, B.C.
Co-Chairman: Larry Bennetts

Members In Attendance:

Management:  D. Zatko,
Union Reps:  T. Volpatti(B&B), J. Wells(BMWE), Wade Patrauchuk(BMWE),
             C. Becker(BLE), L. Bennetts(UTU)

Introduction: R. Mellish(UTU) to replace L. Bennetts.
Guests: M. Pielak, Field Safety Coordinator, Kelly McGarry, FOPS Assistant

Meeting called to order at 0837 by L. Bennetts.  Minutes of July, 8th meeting
were read and adopted.


SAFETY ACTION PLANS:

Field Ops - Safety Awareness Meetings scheduled for July 14/15/16. (complete)
          - Yard Safety meetings to do.(Complete)
          - 2 day four hour safety meeting in Revelstoke in October to do.
          - 3 day AFHT safety meetings to do at Field and Kamloops in OCT/NOV.
          - Site Inspections to do in early Oct.
          - Mid Year Safety Plan Review - scheduled for August

E/S - Ongoing - meeting objectives.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Item 9901-06:   W. Patrauchuk reported that BTMF trucks that have
                Johnson Boxes installed (reverses drive shafts) do
                not have back up alarms.        MOTION TO CARRY
Action(9907)    H. Jarche to check with G. Grant to getting trucks
                repaired locally.                       MOTION TO CARRY
Action(9908)    To date W. Patrauchuk reports no action on this matter
                D. Zatko to elevate to R. McIlveen.


Item 9902-03:   C. Becker would like to see report submitted re
                investigation on signal irregularity Jan 13
                (McCracken).
Action(9907)    G. Mullally, Mgr S&C, advises report has been
                completed and available soon.       MOTION TO CARRY
Action(9908)    D. Zatko to progress with G. Mullally
                                                MOTION TO CARRY

Item 9907-01:  G. Meloro reported there are no warning signs posted
               on the inside of the shops to warn of the pit area.
Action(9907):  S. Sabatini indicated that according to Labour Canada
               this area must have guard rails or chains.  Rohan
               Gosine / R. McIlveen to advise.
Action(9908)   5 Signs indicating Confined space and Yellow (one foot
               wide) lines have  painted on the floor.
               Resolved                        MOTION TO DELETE

Item 9907-02:  L. Bennetts advised the Committee his term as
               Co-Chairman will be up for renewal in August.
Action(9907):  Committee to determine new Co-Chairman.
Action(9908)   Chris Becker accepts the position of new Chairman.
                                               MOTION TO DELETE


CORRESPONDENCE & BUSINESS ARISING:  Nil


INJURY REVIEW REPORTS:  Committee discussed and recommended that this
item be changed to review current injuries/incidents on the site. This item
will be changed to Incident Reviews.  Committee reviewed all current
incidents.

Item 9908-01: Two derailments and one personal injury reviewed.

SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (Incomplete):

SHR99-07-01:  Revelstoke yard - deep holes left by Tie Gang along
              shop lead.
Action(9907)  D. Harder will investigate.            MOTION TO CARRY
Action(9908)  Holes have been filled                 MOTION TO DELETE



SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (New):

SHR9908-01:  Tunnel muck reported in MacDonald Tunnel creating
             walking hazard.
Action(9908) Vac truck is at the tunnel but the problem is
             sufficient track time to do the work. AND
             Suggested that a higher capacity truck be purchased.
             Elevate issue to SAM's as this is a growing problem
             that is not going to diminish without added emphasis
             on time allowed and larger capacity vacuum truck.
                                                 MOTION TO CARRY

SHR9908-02:  Unit 9126 - excessive noise squealing (Macdonald Tunnel).
Action(9908) Transportation Safety Board (TSB) to be conducting testing
             in the Macdonald tunnel and also up Notch Hill on
             August 15-18, 1999.  D. Zatko to request report from the
             TSB.                                MOTION TO CARRY

SHR9908-03:  Field Bunkhouse - unsanitary eating conditions due
             to dishes not properly cleaned.
Action(9908) Although a health issue, it is probably best taken up
             with Bunkhouse Committee.  It is the responsibility of
             each employee using the facilities to ensure that the
             dishes and utensils are properly cleaned.  There are
             no plans at this time for a dishwater.
             D. Zatko to attend meeting 11:00 August 13th at Field
             with the bunkhouse Committee to address several issues
             among them; to prioritize the Barry Ford position paper
             from Calgary.  Will also discuss with the bunkhouse staff
             the addition of:  a) Screens for windows B) more dish racks
             c) drain boards & d) additional dish clothes.
                                                           DELETE

SHR9908-04:  Near Miss - Beavermouth. Workmen in the siding unaware
             of train traveling on the main track approx 25 cars
             away with both bell and whistle engaged.  Workman was
             pulled off track by fellow employee.
Action(9908) Incident forwarded to ES for appropriate action.
             RTC should be notified immediately who can contact
             Foreman or Supervisor in charge. Mike Pielak to
             progress with Barry Singer.                   DELETE

SHR9908-05:  Signal #503D west end Annis and east siding Carlin hard
             to observe account covered by brush.
Action(9908) R- R. Miller, TMS for handling.
             Brush removed date.             MOTION TO DELETE

REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES:  Nil

DISTRICT SAFETY & ACCIDENT PREVENTION REPORT:

Mike reports that ES has been issued the revised HIGH VISIBILITY POLICY.
ALSO Mile read the new policy on NIGHT WORK.

Mike and ES representatives discussed the recent face mask fit testing
and ES to identify the required masks for the task and the number of
employees fit tested. Posters for mask requirements were given to ES
reps.

Air Monitoring testing has been completed in the MacDonald Tunnel,
Laurie Sheds, Termite Welding/Grinding.  A comprehensive Diesel
Fume Test will be undertaken soon.  All results will be compiled
in a report and distributed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Item 99008-01  Chris Becker introduces Letter with respect to Knorr brake
               handles on CP 8500 series locomotives.  To make incremental
               reductions is very difficult and could result in over
               reductions and stalling and cycle braking and therefore
               a safety concern. Small travel of the automatic brake
               handle of great concern.

Action(9908):  D. Zatko to progress through the appropriate MS department
               with recommendations as set for in the letter.

Item 9908-02:  Chris Becker advises that in Revelstoke Yard the switches
               are paint with the incorrect numbers eg  5,6,& 7 should be
               painted with the correct number to correspond to the correct
               tracks.

Action(9908):  Progress with Ed Palasz.

Item 9908-03:  Wade P. reports the  TP&E are leaving behind all kinds
               of scrap and debris which should be cleaned up.  Last
               year there was good focus to clean-up but this year things
               have appeared to regress to very poor house keeping.

Action(9908):  D. Zatko to progress to Barry Singer for an action plan.

Item 9908-04:  Jim Wells has requested a HYDRAULIC rail puller for Salmon
               Arm and Revelstoke TM forces.  Tests at Golden have concluded
               that the pullers work very well and cost in the neighborhood
               of 7500 CAN.  This item arose from the report of burning
               rope emission that was presented at this meeting and the
               pullers will eliminate the hazards and PPE requirements
               associated with the burning rope.  Jim Wells also to
               report back on any exception in the burning rope report.

Action(9908):  Elevate to SAM Roy McIlveen.

Item 9908-05:  Larry Bennetts questions, with the onset of winter, the practice
               of using single units and the associated safety concerns if
               a total failure happens and the possibility of a total outage
               of our communication system.

Action (9908):  D. Zatko to request information from the NMC in this regard.


General comments: - Chris Becker extended his thanks, on behalf of all committee
                    members to Larry Bennetts for his many (13+) years of
                    service on the committee.
                  - Chris has requested that the minutes be sent to
                    (nmunroe@cablelan.net)  so the they can be posted on
                    the BLE Bulletin board. Granted.
                  - For the last couple of meeting there has been little
                    if any participation from the ES management and
                    no participation from the S&C ranks.

Item 9908-06:  Wade P., need to identify walking areas to improve footing around
               switches etc. Chris B. identified the area just south of the
               golden admin building where the locomotives are shopped and a
               two foot drop off.  Need about 200 ft of fill in this area.

Action (9908): UTU/BLE reps to identify areas of concern and copy
               ES ID OM02500.

Meeting adjourned 1130.  Next Meeting 0830 September 09, 1999.


D. A. Zatko




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