automotive industry in canada: hazards and standards
TRANSCRIPT
CAW-TCA Canada
CAW is the largest private sector union in Canada.We’re opposed to NAFTA and the FTAA: Quebec City demo
CAW-TCA Canada
Automotive Industry:
Automotive Assembly: Big 3– General Motors– Ford of Canada– DaimlerChrysler
Automotive Parts: eg.– Woodbridge Foam– Lear Seating– AG Simpson
CAW-TCA Canada
Safety Hazards:
safety: – lockout and machine guarding– falls– mobile equipment
ergonomics:– back injuries– repetitive strain injuries
CAW-TCA Canada
Message from CAW President Buzz Hargrove
There are too many deaths from the lack of proper lockout procedures and effective machine guarding procedures in CAW workplaces across the country.
CAW-TCA Canada
Metalworking Fluids
Skin diseases Respiratory diseases
– occupational asthma– hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)
Variety of cancers– skin– digestive system (oesophagus, colon,
rectum, stomach)– larynx
CAW-TCA Canada
Laws and Standards: Ontario Provincial LawCAW Collective AgreementsCSA and corporate Standards
CAW-TCA Canada
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act,Industrial Establishments Regulationswww.ccohs.cawww.canoshweb.org/
CAW-TCA Canada
CAW Collective Agreements provide detailed requirements more detailed worker h&s rights requirements
than the law: eg. full time health and safety worker reps chosen by union, paid for by company
more detailed education and training requirements than law requires (eg. $3 million per year CAW H&S Training Fund: Big 3)
more detailed specific requirements than law requires
CAW-TCA Canada
Jim O’Neil, CAW SecretaryThere is absolutely no excuse for
employers to fail to provide safe and effective lockout procedures. Whenever they neglect this duty, they must be confronted and made to comply with the law. Whenever this failure results in a serious injury or death, they must be prosecuted or financially penalized and in some situations jail terms should be sought
CAW-TCA Canada
David Ellis died at 18lack of machine guarding. Fine & jail term for employer: 21 days
CAW-TCA Canada
Types of Hazardous Energy
Electrical energy Kinetic energy Potential (stored ) energy Chemical energy Thermal energy Radiation
CAW-TCA Canada
Ergonomics: union contract
Education and training of all workers: 4 hours Education and training of union leadership:
one week Full time ergonomics representatives in plants
or region, chosen by union, paid for by companies
National ergonomic coordinators, chosen by union, paid for by companies.
CAW-TCA Canada
Ergonomics Process: union contract Identify priority jobs through risk factor
checklists, health records and worker complaints
Eliminate or reduce risks by changing work methods, machinery, tools, and work station design
Implement and test the changes Document changes Follow-up to make sure they work.
CAW-TCA Canada
Bargain Health Standards and Protections for Chemicals Bans and toxics use reduction
(integration with environment) Most stringent requirements:
– Ontario regulations– U.S. OSHA PEL– ACGIH TLVs– GM OEG
CAW-TCA Canada
Metalworking Fluids Law and ACGIH TLV: 5 mg/m3
Contract: – existing equipment: 1.0 mg/m3
– new equipment: 0.5 mg/m3
– enclose and ventilate– substitution: vegetable oil for conventional fluids– Ford has done the best in terms of substitution,
engine plants in Windsor.
CAW-TCA Canada
Asbestos Worker deaths have made law more
stringent: 0.1 fibres/cc. But even this level is associated with
lifetime risks:– 5/1,000 lung cancer– 2/1,000 asbestosis
We bargained banning of asbestos as part of a dozen or more carcinogens banned
Stringent requirements for asbestos removal