Transmission
Eastern/Western Joint
Safety
Committee Meeting
Members Present:
Mark Amendola Dave Stallings Jerry Poggemeyer
Robin Downs John Ortiz Larry Blumenthal
Claus Langer Tony Arnold Jon Garcia
Jim Wiley Don Ogden Ed Wagher
Sylvia Gaspar Steve Hale Tom Oskin
Guests:
Steve Bean
Lisa Jenkins
Lee Stewart
David Taylor
Dennis Zukowski
The meeting was called to order.
TIE-INS:
Prior to work occurring bonding cables will be used to protect pipe, leaving Cathodic Protection in place, extra step to check current going thru pipe, also pipeliners and CP will test. This procedure was used during the replacement of pipe to line 4000. There are circumstances where we do not want to de-polarize the ground.
Robin feels we need to add to Tie-In procedures to check for A/C current. This will be done as well as mentioned at the DOM Peer Team Meeting.
CRANE OPERATION:
Lisa Jenkins attended the meeting to help clarify questions regarding certification. It was determined that certification was required to operate the nine Boom trucks located throughout Transmission.
Qualifications: over the age of 18, Class B license, physical, written exam, physical mobility (hands on) test. Certificate is good for 5 years. Employees are tested on Company equipment. Employees have 12 months to pass all parts of the exam, once one portion has been passed, not necessary to take again as long as remaining tests are completed within the 12 month period. The certificate is required to operate cranes, anyplace, anytime, no exceptions. This falls under the jurisdiction of the DOT and is a legal requirement.
The Company provides employees with an instructor, as training is needed. Class is to instruct and aid in passing the tests, this is not a training class. The certification can be used throughout the state. Once the 5 year period expires all tests must be taken again, unless 1000 hours of operation is documented for each year, in this case the physical agility portion will not be necessary. Lisa will check to see what qualifies as documentation otherwise all tests are required at end of the 5 year period. Website: www.nccco.org explains all requirements.
The number of individuals and who is to have the certification will be determined by local management. Class A license is required to drive the Boom Truck, Class B and certificate required to operate. If an individual is practicing or operating a crane and is not certified, a certified person must be present, observing and able direct person operating the crane.
If a Class A license is needed, John Slykhuis does the training and can be contacted.
Employees can determine if contractors have certification if they are operating cranes. Employees can check and review to determine if contractors are adhering to any requirements. Employees can also check and verify that all contractors have the requirements to do any ops quall task and/or have the proper training to do their assigned task.
PIPELINE TECH
TRAINING:
Employees would like to see hands-on training for the grinder and torch added to the Pipeline Tech training. It was done at one time but not any longer. Lisa will look into.
NEW EMPLOYEE
MANUAL:
Dan Hughes and John Ortiz put manual together for Blythe personnel new to the Company or Transmission. John reviewed; much of the manual is generic and could be used by other facilities. The West side would like to incorporate use of the manual at each of their facilities. The Safety Committee members can be instrumental in putting together manuals for each of their locations.
Tom Oskin created a similar manual and is in the process of making copies for several at his base. He will take the manual to next Western Safety meeting.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
PINS/FIRE TRAINING:
It had been previously determined that it was up to local management to decide if pins would be pulled or left in during tie-ins. Robin feels it should be added to tie-in procedures that at least two fire extinguishers have pins pulled during a tie-in. Claus has already notified his supervision that pins will be pulled during tie-ins. Jon will review during the next Safety meeting for the West that pins will be pulled during tie-ins.
Per Lisa hands-on fire training has not been in place for several years but Transmission will be implementing the training Distribution uses for the Pipeline/station tech classes.
Claus mentioned there are facilities where hand-on training can be conducted. The training can be arranged through the Safety Committees and done amongst the groups but not as formal training. We would need to invite the Fire Department to be on hand during the informal training.
It was also mentioned that we are running into language barriers with some of our contractors. The Company has begun formal meetings with contractors; this can be reviewed at the meetings.
LACK OF NEAR MISS
REPORTS:
Robin has not seen near miss reports come through lately. Committee members need to remind co-workers of the need to report near misses. Remind everyone the form is still available, this tool needs to be utilized. Per Ed Wagher if you fill out a Near Miss, forward a copy to him, otherwise he doesn’t always get one. You can go to the Safety website and complete without having to go through your supervisor. The name of the person who experienced the near miss is not required. Lockout/tagout was an issue at several locations this past year but near miss forms were not filled out. If you’re debating if it’s a near miss, go ahead and fill it out, you may be passing on some useful information.
X-RAY PIPELINES:
What is procedure on x-raying pipe? X-ray first then do the test? All welds requiring radiographic inspection that do not meet radiographic requirements are cut out. Hence all welds are radiographed before hydro if they are included in the test section and final installation. You can check Gas Standards & Procedures 187.0175 Inspection and Testing of Welds and 182.0170 Strength Testing.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
When taking prescription drugs supervision is supposed to be notified but this is not covered anywhere. There can be a problem because of privacy laws. An employee is under no obligation to disclose information. The employee can be held accountable but cause can only be determined after the fact and only if a drug test is administered.
Ed will try to have someone from DMS attend our next joint meeting to explain and clarify any questions.
This is a good topic to cover during Safety Tailgate meetings. Let others know it’s OK to tell fellow employees they are taking prescription medication. Encourage others to be responsible, also remind co-workers there are options other than being forced to take sick leave or vacation time.
ROUNDTABLE:
Mark Amendola – Follow-up on A/C issue, SDGE has Gas Standard, no procedure for SoCal, will keep looking for Gas Standard. Will also check to see why Standard for SDGE but not SCG, we should be the same.
Ed Wagher - Safety Stand-down will be held Wednesday, May 2nd,
Transmission/Storage will be integrating new method of recording Job Observations, to use Fact Tool.
Currently Transmission using SCAMP audits will be moving to a system that will be downloaded to SAP. The new system will be used by everyone making it uniform.
Committee and sub-committee formed to determine if necessary to test for physical limitations when going from light to heavy lifting capacity.
Steve Hale -
Lee Stewart – Year end safety statistics out – looking good, amount of incidents have dropped. Thanks for all your work.
Claus – Would like his work groups to develop safety orientation manuals.
Jim Wiley - Newberry group celebrating four years accident free.
Jerry Poggemeyer – Eastern safety committee last years’ objectives: most of all items accomplished.
One item in particular “Bob said”, which all employees found very informative and helpful, was not repeated. We would like to look into having him return. Safety stand downs have been progressing, circle of safety still in effect, training for root cause satisfied, implemented safety recognition program, cell phone use reviewed, completed 4x4 training.
Someone was ticketed while pulled over on the emergency lane on the freeway, remind everyone to get off freeway when pulling over to use cell phone.
John Ortiz – Accident summary review – CHP is now taking cell phone use into account when determining the cause of an accident. Is this something that needs to be added to our accident review?
David Taylor – Congratulation to the group on last years’ record obviously, reflective on the drop in accidents. We had a 25% reduction aiming for another 10% this year. Great job, thanks to all.
Robin Downs – Once minutes are published, please share with co-works.
UPCOMING SAFETY
COMMITTEE MEETING:
EASTERN: Thursday, FEBRUARY 22ND, BLYTHE,