Iamaw Views on Safety

IAMAW Views on Safety

The response of the American people to the terrorists attacks of 9/11 was felt one of compassion and resolve. Almost all Americans were associated in one or other manner in assisting the Nation come out of the dangerous impacts and become strengthened. It was curious to witness the way some hurried into the burning building and saving lives of their fellow workers, friends and strangers. While many measures have been undertaken to safeguard the security of Americans and continuance of the way of life, the workers confront stringent security policies on the job and sometimes loss of civil rights. (Worksite Security: IAM Headquarters)

The International Association for Machinists and Aerospace Workers -- IAM& AW as well as other institutions are watchful of the legislation and presidential orders against possible violation of bargaining and civil rights. They found the workplace security to be more embarrassing to the workers than the threat from the terrorists. The concerns that widely affect the workplace in United States were the threats to the workers in terms of "workplace violence, emergency planning, building evacuation, building and facility security, biological and chemical threats, decontamination and worker training." (Worksite Security: IAM Headquarters) The IAM Safety and Health Department has assured to extend its continued support and assistance to its worker members, local and district lodges in entailing necessary guidance and training on the concerns of workplace security. (Worksite Security: IAM Headquarters)

It has been the coveted objective of IAM& AW and the IAM Safety and Health Department to entail its members, representatives as well as all the fellow workers with correct and updated information. Their contention is that every worker deserves a safer and healthy workplace. In absence of a reach to the latest information, workers and their families are considered vulnerable to the potential risks involved with injury and chemical reactions. Entailing the relevant information on the web page the IAM& AW is striving to accomplish such objectives. More detailed information is also made available with the District or Local Lodge representatives. (Safety Web Links)

During the past years the Occupational Safety and Health Department has been keener on safeguarding the requirement of the member workers. The Department persistently becomes more responsive to the occurrence of accidents and also responds instantly to the pending OSHA inspections and citations. The philosophy of the Executive Council that is adopted by the staff, however, predicts that it is through the education and training of worker that accidents can successfully be avoided, the lives of the workers can be protected and workplace safety and health of the workers is ensured. It has therefore, accorded much importance to training of workers and the Grand Lodge accordingly have been associated with training of the workers by conducting training programs being financed by the Federal Government. Such programs include training of innumerable number of workers in chemical awareness, emergency response and general safety processes and regulations. (The Safety & Health Mission)

The concept of adult education and applied in the grant-funded programs were very acceptable to the workers. The training program also include ergonomics and an assessment of both joint labor management and membership training program that is imparted to the locals, districts and employers. So as to organize such training programs, the IAM Corporation for Re-Employment and Safety Training or IAM CREST has been founded as a non-profit corporation. IAM CREST also entails the services of Vocational Rehabilitative Counselors to the member workers those have been injured while on duty. The injured workers are being assisted for returning to work by such professionals with extension of necessary accommodation facilities. The acts and rules in respect of occupational safety have always been a mater of great concern to the association.

It is therefore, imperative to work with close coordination of the Legislative Departments, the AFL-CIO, CLC and other North American unions on tracking the proposed bills. The Association strives to arm the members with relevant information against the vulnerable work processes, unhealthy products and illegal practices in the work place through the materials available in Internet and several other electronic media. The objective behind this is to detect the most advantageous information and have that easily reachable to the member workers by means of the application of new technologies. The provision of services and support in respect of the prevailing apprenticeship programs are being handled by the Apprenticeship Department. The significant activities of the Department include monitoring of school-to-work programs and proposals for restoration of the voluntary skill standards. (The Safety & Health Mission)

A new joint Web site has been launched by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH and the Bilbao-based European Agency for Safety and Health at Work that has the structure and presentation of the Web site of the European Agency, that plays a significant part in creation of a global portal to the workplace safety and health information. It has direct links to the European Union information thereby forming a rich resource base for information on occupational safety and health information in the United States. The common Web site is hoped to entail the occupational safety and health community with enhanced reach and sharing of the rich resource database of European and American OSH expertise and research. Dr. Max Lum, the Director of the Office of Health Communication, NIOSH, opined that in the present day global economy such collaboration and partnership is not just only a necessity but also an essential ingredient. Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Director of the European Agency propounded that the online network of the Agency already incorporates the health and safety organizations from Australia, Canada, USA and Japan and the partnership of NIOSH enhanced the network to become a forefront international hub for the information of safety and health. (NIOSH, European Agency Launch Joint Web Site as Global Portal)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health -- NIOSH has suggested against wearing of contact lenses by the workers at the time of working with chemicals that entails an eye irritation or injury hazard during the year 1978. Presently, many a groups like American Optometric Association, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Chemical Society, and Prevent Blindness America, have issued new instructions that removed the previous limitations of using contact lenses amidst the industrial environment. Such new instructions have been evaluated by the NIOSH along with the literatures available on the adoption of contact lenses in a chemical environment and the prospective absorption and adsorption of chemicals by contact lenses. (Contact Lens Use in a Chemical Environment)

The policies with regard to the use of the contact lenses of the companies have also been evaluated by the NIOSH and subsequently it was found that injuries occurred in some chemical manufacturing firms. Some of these companies stressed upon the restriction of using contact lens in their working environment and some others have reduced their restrictions. Irrespective of the fact that the sufficient data on injury are not availably generally to substantiate that the wearing of contact lens are to be restricted at the time of working with hazardous chemicals, yet it is imperative that adequate protection is always essential in this respect. Several laboratory studies have concentrated on absorption and adsorption of acids, bases and other solvents by contact lenses, reveal that contact lens uptake and release of chemicals to eye tissue is not prone to be a major concern for workers wearing contact lenses.

However, one similar study indicated that the chemicals like isopropyl and ethyl alcohol may entail risk to exposed workers wearing contact lenses. The resistance of contact lenses to chemical exposures in workers has been examined by researchers in all such studies. Under some environments it is seen that wearing of contact lenses entails the workers a greater choice of eye and face protection along with improved visual accuracy. The vulnerability of contact lens wearers in comparison to non-wearers involved with chemicals could not be fully revealed. Presently, the OSHA suggests against contact lens use when associated with acrylonitrile methylene chloride, 1, 2 dibromo-3-chloropropane, ethylene oxide, and methylene dianiline. Such suggestions are considered to be the outcome of the best professional experience. NIOSH recommended a set of guidelines to allow wearing of contact lenses while dealing with hazardous chemicals under some limitations instead of totally banning the use of contact lenses by regulations. It has also been indicated that the contact lenses are not to be regarded as eye protective and wearing them does not decline the necessity for using eye and face protection equipment. (Contact Lens Use in a Chemical Environment)

IAM & AW is also laying stress on ergonomics to ensure workplace security. The ergonomics is the mode of consideration on the design of tools and equipment, the layout of workplace and the all round organization of the work. The objective of the ergonomics is to make the job fit to the person instead of making the individual to fit the job. It is normal to anticipate that people adapt themselves to fit into whatever system has been adopted. However, the human body does not always permit to become flexible in adapting to everything. People differs inherently and certain limitations. The reaction and behavior of each person is specific in certain ways that do not always suitable to the conventional concepts of the way the work should be done. The inherent ideology behind ergonomics is to acknowledge the anatomy, physiology and psychology of people and design the work for that. The right person at the right place enhances the welfare of both employee and also the workplace efficiency levels. (Understanding Ergonomics)

The advantages of the ergonomics in design of tools equipment and workplace include decline in injuries, illness, errors, defects and cost; reduction in the turnover and absenteeism of the employees; enhance the ease-of-use, morale and satisfaction; progress quality and productivity and encourage innovation. It is evident that the designing of workplace taking into account the differences, limitations and responses of the employees are quite beneficial for both the employees and the bottom-line. Ever since, the first tool of the stone age, humans have indicated to discover better modes of working, taking advantage of human intellects and providing way out for human differences, limitations and reactions. The ergonomics is often considered as 'human factors' that simply takes into account the realities that people are different in various ways, people have limitations, people have responses which are predictable, relative difficulties and advantages of people and machines, the cumulative trauma disorders. (Understanding Ergonomics)

It has been visualized that the ergonomic policy activity around the nation continues to be attacked ever since President Bush put an end to the Federal OSHA Ergonomic Regulations. During the past several periods no OSHA concern has ever been considered as significant to the employees as that of ergonomic safety. However, a little has been made to rectify the absence of ergonomics standards in the workplace. In Washington the legislations have been made during the year 2003 to repeal the state ergonomics standard passed during the year 2000. The legislation additionally also did not allow the state to promulgate any new standard that is similar to this. The California Labor Federation is taking the matter with other unions to change the general industry Safety Orders 5110 providing that if two workers performing same type of job suffer from repeated motion injuries they are to follow the ergonomic standards. The labor demanded to replace current orders 5110 by proposing Section 3203. The Section 3203 is intended to wipe out the two-injury rule along with other rules which are restrictive that safeguards employers. Federal agencies like OSHA and EPA are assessing the number of regulatory suggestions that aim to restore health, safety and environmental protections. (Ergonomic, OSHA and EPA Update)

It has been the duty of the employers to entail a safe and healthful workplace for their respective workers. OSHA stands committed to ensure the safety and health of American workers by devising norms and enforcing the standards; entailing sufficient training on the related subjects and entailing the necessary education and access; instituting partnership seeking collaborations of workers unions and employers; and stimulating the persistent process of improvement in workplace safety and health. In view of the fact that sun entails special disasters for the workers engaged in working outdoors, it had become imperative to provide guidelines for assistance of the employers and workers to enable them stay safer through the summer seasons. OSHA acknowledged the fact that the combination of heat, humidity and physical labor can entail fatalities. The two most severe forms of heat associated illnesses are seen to be heat exhaustion normally known as dehydration and heat stroke that could be fatal. Warning on such symptoms and entailing quick action can make a difference in avoiding a fatality. (Tips for Working in Hot Weather)

OSHA advises on the modes of protecting the workers against the exposure to ultraviolet radiations, safeguard against working in extreme heat and the way to protect against Lyme disease and the West Nile virus. The OSHA prescribed Heat Stress Card that embodies tips and preventions to avoid many heat associated deaths and injuries. As per the guidelines the cards being laminated and fold up are to be provided free of cost to employers for distribution among the workers that provide the workers a quick reference on the heat related adversaries, warning signs, symptoms and rarely treatment. The OSHA also published a pocket card 'protecting yourself against harmful sunlight' that indicates the way to self-diagnose and determine the early symptoms of skin cancer. The card also indicates the general symptoms of skin cancer that can be caused by exposure to the sun. The publications of OSHA are freely distributed to employers and also allowed to be downloaded from the website of OSHA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also provides a good resource base through their websites for prevention of the heat and sun related hazards that may influence the workers. (Tips for Working in Hot Weather)

The business organizations following the standards stipulated by different agencies and government departments persistently bring changes to their workplace enhancing the safety and health of workers. It has become pertinent to check and assess the result of such changes in terms of improvement in the workplace security. The positive consequences of such improvement in the standards of the workplace are determined by the reduction in the injury and illness of employees, enhanced employee satisfaction, improved safe work practices, lesser absenteeism, declined compensation costs to workers and rates, enhanced productivity and improved workplace air quality. The effective assessment of the workplace safety and health improvements enhances the confidence of the employers and employees that result in the enhanced productivity and demonstrate that employee safety and health can be good investment. The employees are required to be associated with the selection of safety improvements and their quantification. (How to Evaluate Safety and Health changes in the Workplace)

Aviations maintenance is considered to be one of the jobs involving multifaceted and committed efforts. The effectiveness of such activity is finally quantified by the safety of the flying public; rely upon the communication and teamwork. The aviation maintenance operations are most effective when the workers function with an attitude of integration and communicating teams instead of a collection of individuals who are engaged in independent actions. Over the years the significance of the teamwork in the maintenance of environment has been widely acknowledged. The consequence of which is the evolution of the concepts like human resource management, maintenance resources management and other team related programs in the aviation maintenance community. The maintenance resources management is considered to be a normal system for enhancing communication, efficiency, and safety in airline maintenance functions. The efficacy in this respect is quantified in terms of the lessening of maintenance errors, and better individual and unit co-operation and performance levels. (Maintenance Resources Management)