REVELSTOKE SAFETY & HEALTH COMMITTEE MINUTES - September 9, 1999 Held: September 9, 1999, Revelstoke, B.C. Co-Chairman: D. Barrett (on behalf of D. Zatko) Members in Attendance: Management: D. Barrett, E. Palasz Union Reps: J. Wells(BMWE), W. Patrauchuk(BMWE), R. Mellish(UTU), G. McCartney(S&C), P. Mason(BLE), T. Volpatti(B&B) Guests: S. Sabatini, Field Safety Coordinator B. Black (BMWE Safety & Health Rep) Meeting called to order at 0845 by D. Barrett. Correction to Minutes August 12 as follows: Item 9908-03: Delete comment concerning good focus to clean up last year of TP&E scrap and debris (clean up last year was not good). Item 9908-04: Correction to cost of purchasing hydraulic rail puller should be $10,0000 US. Minutes of August 12 meeting read and adopted. SAFETY ACTION PLANS: Field Ops - R/T Safety Meetings to be scheduled for October. - Fall Site Inspection Trip to be scheduled for October. E/S - Safety Action Plan on schedule - Possible torch course 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(9909) E. Palasz reports that this item will be handled locally. Trucks will be installed with back up alarm during their regular maintenance schedule this fall. Committee recommended to monitor. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9902-03: C. Becker would like to see report submitted re investigation on signal irregularity Jan 13 (McCracken) Action(9909) G. Mullally, Mgr S&C, advises report has been completed and available soon. D. Zatko to progress with G. Mullally. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9908-01 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(9909): D. Zatko to progress through the appropriate MS Dept with recommendations as set for in the letter. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9908-02: Chris Becker advises that in Revelstoke Yard the switches are painted with the incorrect numbers eg 5,6,& 7 should be painted with the correct number to correspond to the correct tracks. Action(9909): E. Palasz advises some changes could be made but must have full agreement between all parties involved, (ie, Yard Crews, Yardmasters, R/T). He will coordinate inspection of yard with R. Merritt / C. Becker and advise Committee of recommendation. MOTION TO CARRY Item 9908-03: Wade P. reports the TP&E are leaving behind all kinds of scrap and debris which should be cleaned up. Action(9909) E. Palasz reports that R. LeGresley, Supervisor Distribution Crew, advises cranes are coming for clean up purposes. Committee to monitor. MOTION TO CARRY 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 $10,000 US. 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(9909): E. Palasz advised Committee that application for Appropriation monies has been recommended for purchase of Hydraulic Rail Puller. Will have to wait for approval. Committee cannot do anything else with regard to this item. MOTION TO DELETE 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(9909): D. Zatko to request information from the NMC in this regard. MOTION TO CARRY 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(9909): Committee recommended this item be left with Site Inspection Committee for their recommendation. MOTION TO CARRY CORRESPONDENCE & BUSINESS ARISING: Nil INCIDENT REVIEW: Committee reviewed 1 derailment and 5 injury reports. SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (Incomplete) SHR9908-01: Tunnel muck reported in MacDonald Tunnel creating walking hazard. Action(9909) Vac truck is at the tunnel but the problem is sufficient track time to do the work.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(9909) Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has completed testing in the Macdonald Tunnel. Waiting for report. MOTION TO CARRY SAFETY HAZARD REPORTS (New) SHR9909-01: Problem reported with boiler at Field Bunkhouse putting out too much heat, uncomfortable for sleeping. Action(9909) Complaint had been received being too cold, particularly in the washroom areas, so turned up boilers to warm up the hallways and washroom areas only. Bedrooms are on separate heat control. Unfortunately, cannot please everyone. D. Barrett to discuss with J. Creighton for a possible solution. MOTION TO CARRY SHR9909-02: Bridge at Craigellachie requires walkway. Action(9909) J. Creighton advises it is their intention to protect all structures this year as the requirement and funds permit. MOTION TO DELETE REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITEES - Nil DISTRICT SAFETY & ACCIDENT PREVENTION REPORT: Sergio reported that there will be a Root Cause Analysis completed on recent Lost Time Injury to a Conductor inhaling diesel fumes in MacDonald Tunnel. This will be an intensive investigation with all parties involved to hopefully develop recommendations to rectify any problem areas to prevent recurrences in the future. Sergio also reported there will be Fall Site Inspections, Mid Year Safety Plan Review for Field Ops and E/S. Mike Pielak and Sergio will be conducting informal field inspection with E/S over the next few weeks. Also, over the next 4-6 weeks he will be developing Year 2000 Safety Plans. NEW BUSINESS: Item 9909-01: G. McCartney requested the S&H Committee for any assistance with the problem of improper vehicles supplied. As example, Gord reported he recently received a new vehicle without a service box for his tools. If he were to install a service box with his tools, the vehicle would then be overweight and unsafe. This is an all too familiar problem with insufficient vehicles supplied for use as intended. Action(9909) S. Sabatini will investigate. Item 9909-02: P. Mason reported the 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(9909) G. McCartney will investigate, possibly could be just be a softwear correction. L. Sali for D. Zatko/C.Becker
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