REVELSTOKE SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEE MINUTES - February 10, 2000 Held: February 10, 2000 Co-Chairman: Chris Becker Members in Attendance: Management: D. Zatko, D. Barrett, E. Palasz Union Reps: C. Becker(BLE), B. Gardali(UTU), T. Volpatti(B&B), J. Wells(BMWE), J. Meloro(BMWE) Guests: S. Sabatini, Field Safety Coordinator C. Kane, Occupational Hygiene Specialist B. Black, BMWE Safety & Health Rep G. Stockford, RTC Meeting called to order at 0835. Minutes of January 13th meeting read and adopted. SAFETY ACTION PLANS: Field Ops - 2000 Safety Plan rolled out. E/S - 2000 Safety Plan rolled out - Hazard Identification/Inspection - Blocking Training - 3 year cycle 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. Action(0002) Trucks are being done. Committee to monitor. MOTION TO CARRY 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(0002) Single unit trains are occurring although have not encountered any problems. Committee to monitor. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9909-01: G. McCartney requested the S&H Committee for any assistance with the problem of improper vehicles supplied. Reported inadequate motors, seats, etc. Action(0002) E. Palasz reported letter has been sent (attach(i)) Waiting for response. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9909-02: P. Mason reported a problem with the Hot Box Detector Alarm system readouts. He indicated they could be shortened eg, when there are no defects, why does it repeat it, take out the 'subdivision'. Action(0002) S&C Technicians are investigating. C. Becker to send letter to G. Mulally, Manager S&C Services. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9912-01: Suggestion re applying reflectorized tape on switch handles. Action(0002): E. Palasz reported approval for testing has been received from R. Dashko. Tape will be applied. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9912-02: J. Wells requested committees' recommendation for the company to provide washers/dryers to allow employees to clean work clothes which have been contaminated. Jim cited the Canada Labour Code as basis for this requirement. Action(0002): J. Wells has sent letter (attach (ii)) to G. Pozzobon, General Manager (Engineering) for response. MOTION TO CARRY Item 0001-01: Review and adopt S&H Committee Terms of Reference. (Action 0002) Committee reviewed and adopted. MOTION TO DELETE Item 0001-02: W. Patruachuk reported on concern with High Visibility Vests worn by Machine Operators. It has been reported that these vests could be caught on levers, potentially causing a dangerous situation. Action(0002): Sergio will arrange for a bulletin to be issued alerting employees of potential hazard. Note: vests do not have to be worn inside cab of machine. MOTION TO CARRY CORRESPONDENCE & BUSINESS ARISING: Nil INCIDENT REVIEW |-----------------------------------------------------------------| |Incident |Type |Location |Cause |Prev.Measures | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| |Bleeding off air, |MIR |M.143.00 |Ice breaking |IRR | |piece of ice fell |FOPS |Golden Yard | | | |striking hand | |01/23 0945 | | | |--------------------------------------------| |Coupling air hose |MIR |M.143.00 |Poor coupling |IRR-discuss | |parted, kicking |FOPS |Golden Yard |of air hoses |proper procedures | |back,striking leg | |01/27 | | | |-------------------------------------------| |Slipped and fell |MIR |M.127.1 |Slipped on |IRR - ensure | |on ice |FOPS |Shuswap Sub |ice |firm footing | | | |01/29 | | | |--------------------------------------| |Throwing switch, |MIR |M.0.3 |Hands slipped |IRR-ensure | |hand slipped off |FOPS |Shuswap Sub |off switch |firm footing, | |handle, falling | |02/04 |handle |firm grip of | |to ground | | |switch handle | |--------------------------------------------| |Stepped in gap btwn rails, twisted knee |FRA |M.101.40 |Snow covered, |IRR - ensure | | |LTI |Shuswap Sub |stepped into |firm footing | | |E/S |01/17 |gap | | |------------------------------------| |Cleaning switches |FRA |M.32.3 |Overexertion |IRR | |pain in lower back |LTI |Shuswap Sub |while | | | |E/S |01/19 |shoveling | | |----------------------------------| |Using spike maul, |MIR |M.120.8 |Spike maul |IRR | |hit tie plate |E/S |Shuswap Sub |glanced off | | |rock flew up, | |01/26 |joint bar | | |striking mouth | | |-----------------------------------------| SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (Incomplete) SHR9908-01: Tunnel muck reported in MacDonald Tunnel creating walking hazard. Action(0002) Track time is good - West portal to Bay 3 is complete. Committee to monitor under Sub-Committee. MOTION TO DELETE SHR9908-02: Unit 9126 - excessive noise squealing (Macdonald Tunnel) Action(0002) Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has completed testing in the MacDonald Tunnel. Waiting for report. MOTION TO CARRY SHR9912-01: Ducks Back Track (off south track) - large amount of track material (rail anchors, tie plates) adjacent to track used to set off locomotives. Large pile of ties near area also. Action(0002) R. Miller advises clear walking area alongside track. Site Inspection Committee to inspect.MOTION TO DELETE SHR9912-04: Pins located on unit engine doors have bent over metal which is very sharp and snag clothing. Action(0002) Committee to monitor. MOTION TO DELETE SHR9912-09: Engineer seat unit 9681 reported does not adjust forward enough to permit normal reach to controls. Action(0002) D. Barrett reported to Central Locomotive Specialist. MOTION TO CARRY SHR0001-01: Signal Irregularity reported Signal 543 Mountain Sub displaying Clear - went clear to stop as train went by. RTC advised cause was an eastward train taking siding at Redgrave under a 564. Action(0002) Signal was functioning normal. The RTC neglected to advise crew of possibility of signal dropping as per RTC manual. MOTION TO DELETE SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (New) SHR0002-01: Revelstoke to Sicamous - no where to walk beside train if needed and too much snow on bridge paths. Action(0002) ES are aware of problem areas and advise plow and spreader were out on Jan 22. ES personnel are getting to the bridge walkways as are able.MOTION TO DELETE SHR0002-02: Mile 118.1 Mountain Sub - numerous trees leaning over and infringing on right of way. Action(0002) TMS Palasz advises trees cut down Jan 27. MOTION TO DELETE SHR0002-03: Scale at Revelstoke - stairs not cleaned, slipping hazard. Action(0002) Stairs have been cleaned and shovel provided for employees (Yardmasters) to remove hazard in future. Sand pails are located inside scale shack. MOTION TO DELETE SHR0002-04: Bunkhouse at Kamloops - excessive noise coming from Nightclub across street. Action(0002) RCMP contacted and advised 6 people were arrested. Patrolling and monitoring of area will continue. Committee to monitor. MOTION TO CARRY SHR0002-05: Fraine Signal Bungalow - snow on roof broke off and struck employee. Action(0002) S&C Supervisor R. Cave to advise. Suggestion that gas masks be moved to Rogers. MOTION TO CARRY SHR0002-06: Excessive diesel exhaust/coal dust in Macdonald tunnel. Action(0002) S&C report purges were normal. Cause believed to be excessive coal dust as a result of cleaning operation. Committee to monitor as Sub-Committee Macdonald Tunnel) MOTION TO DELETE SHR0002-07: Trees overhanging - Three Valley. Action(0002) TMS E. Palasz notified for corrective action. MOTION TO CARRY SHR0002-08: Bridge 18.6 Shuswap Sub - walkways on bridge full of snow. Action(0002) E. Palasz reports he is aware of problem and as time and people permit will get to it. MOTION TO DELETE SHR0002-09: Tunnels west of Clanwilliam - ice hanging from top of tunnels. Action(0002) E. Palasz is aware of problem and as time and people permit, will correct. Committee would like to remind employees not to put themselves in a safety hazard. MOTION TO DELETE REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES: Nil DISTRICT SAFETY & ACCIDENT PREVENTION REPORT: Sergio reported to Committee on recent incident at Glacier Bunkhouse of a possible Hydrogen Sulphide leak. Air/water monitoring were completed. Cause appears to have been a propane regulator covered with snow, allowing propane and its odourant, ethyl mercaptain, to entered into the building through the dryer vent. Report available for review. Diesel exhaust testing on the Mountain & Laggan Subs will be commenced shortly. The new Field Safety Coordinator for Revelstoke will be Terry Bergstrom. NEW BUSINESS: Item 0002-01: Committee discussed and adopted a new Sub-Committee for the Macdonald Tunnel to monitor maintenance progress, etc. Committee members D. Barrett, B. Gardali, T. Volpatti. Action(0002) None required. L. Sali for D. Zatko/C.Becker ******************************************************************** ******************************************************************** Item 9901-06 (attach (i) Subject: ES Road/Track Equipment:Examples Rev S&H Item 9909-01 Dave, As discussed, here are some specific examples from the field. We hope you can raise these issues within ES and report back to the Revelstoke Safety and Health committee. Information was obtained from TMS Revelstoke, and Gord McCartney, S&H Representative. The Revelstoke Committee believes that this issue is above the scope of the Revelstoke Committee. Sergio Sabatini Field SAfety-BC Here are the specs that we spoke about .I will start with my own assigned Vehicle Vehicles - 99, GMC 3500 crew cab ,with aluminum canopy ,basic hand tools and 1man GVW =4300kg insured GVWR =4113 kg ,350 ci motor that is border line for power and will suffer at the end of its life because of running at the top of its limit. Other than that the truck seems ok. I also talked to General Motors Canada and found out the max GVWR for there 3500 and 2500 series trucks they were 9200lbs and 8600lbs. 94, ford f250 single cab/service box,basic tools and 1man=3910kg insured =3900 and Ford recommended GVWR =8600 lbs ,new f250s are rated at 6600 lbs.this vehicle was provided with a bench seat and hi-rail and rides like a tank and so was fitted with air seats to ease the back discomfort at after market cost. 98, Ford f250 super duty super cab /standard box /service canopy,basic tools and 1man GVW =4110 insured GVWR 3993 9? GMC top kick btmf truck service box 3men,basic tools,GVW =11970kg ,insured GVWR =11770 ,this vehicle was provided with bench seats an auto transmission ,hydraulic brakes and a extremely small motor which is too low of power for a truck of this size and load. 98 GMC crew cab GVW =5060kg insured @ 4500kg ,service canopy, normal working tools and 4men ,should haul 6men and materials for job as well small motor and basic seating . Unit 4715-81 tunnel suck truck The worst of all. insured GVW 15000kg can not exceed 9100 kg on rear axle. these are print outs from scale GVW =13795kg TOTAL TARE =12600KG VEHICAL NET =1195KG LOAD REAR AXLE =9340KG CANNOT EXCEED 9100KG The cavity where the load is stored was about 1/4 full This truck is supplied as a street sweeper -clean gutters ,drains, curbs of leafs,dirt,twigs,sticks,garbage, etc.A single axle with a large cavity is engineered proof that this truck is not meant to haul heavy products such as coal dust and grain mixed with water. There are many other examples out there but here are just a few more for you to look at, thermite welding trucks - 3ton trucks with cube boxes on them,bins all in the wrong places,bench seats dump trucks that don't side dump,only 1air seat and border line power under the hood. 4715-90 S&C line truck = rear corner mount boom ,no deck space ,again border line power . We had 2 delivered and one has been refitted already,as you would realize corner mount booms would also need out riggers and you don't find much fill 5feet from the rail most of the time . This is a brief list and only some of the problems that are out there are mentioned some of them are safety some are operational and all of them seem to involve money before or after purchase as well as the legal issues for the operators. Gord McCartney As for the BTMF trucks: - They are under powered, we literally crawl up steep grades holding up traffic etc. - The brakes are disc. The rotors literally shatter crack after going through a puddle after a long hill. - The seats are a safety issue for people with sore or "bad" backs. - Nearly every truck is exceeding the GVWR rating on both the front, rear and total axle rating. - The trucks can no longer operate the hydraulic equipment supplied account the PTO cannot drive the pump account they are worn out. The new version of the BTMF truck should eliminate all these issues however we won't see one this year. As for other trucks, a 3/4 ton truck is OVERLOADED when equipped with a tidy tank and dry-box. This is a fact. As for 1 ton crew-cabs with hi-rails and a canopy, they are OVERLOADED with a four man crew. This is a fact. To be honest with you, I'm a little tired of trying to get by with the equipment we have. Most BTMF trucks are breaking the law as soon as they drive onto the highway. ================================================================== Item 9912-02 (attach ii) Jan 18,2000 To: G. Pozzobon, General Manager From: J. Wells, H&S Revelstoke I am a member of the Revelstoke joint Health & Safety Committee. We have been discussing the matter of COSH regulation 9.44(4). I am sure you are familiar with this regulation. It refers to the control measure for dealing with your employees contaminated clothing. At the January 13th meeting of the Revelstoke joint Health and Safety Committee, I gave a presentation to the Committee. I presented the appropriate Material Data Sheets indicating that your employees are dealing with material that is hazardous when in contact with skin. I presented some of the actual materials used by your employees, ie lubricator material and diesel heat rope. I presented some samples of the contaminated clothing that your employees are wearing in the work place. On the basis of this presentation; it is the consensus of the Joint Revelstoke Health and Safety Committee that the Canadian Pacific Railway is not in compliance with COSH regulation 9.44(4). Your employees are wearing contaminated clothing in the work place. The committee respectfully requests your comment on this issue. Please reply to HHS1035 and OM02500. It would be helpful if you could reply before Feb 10,2000, this is the date of our next meeting. Jim Wells for Revelstoke Health and Safety
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