HEALTH & SAFETY
Negotiators Win Increased Protections
Your elected negotiators won new training programs,
as well as improvements in existing programs, to help
keep you safe on the job. Bargainers also maintained
many of our programs and initiatives that exceed state
and federal guidelines. A variety of complex health
and safety issues were addressed by the negotiators,
including ergonomics, emergency response, material-
handling, chemical safety training updates, trailer
inspections, new BEV core team involvement, Artificial
Intelligence and others.
Emergency Response Teams Equipment
Improvement | 197A
The importance of Emergency Response Teams
(ERT) at the facilities cannot be underestimated.
Your negotiators recognized this and secured the
commitment that our ERT core team will conduct an
equipment evaluation for required equipment and
missing equipment and develop a plan to replace what
is needed.
Local Ergonomics Committees Properly Supported |
171A
In the continuing eort to reduce injuries to our
members, the negotiators obtained a recommitment
from the Company to provide an Ergonomist on the
National Joint Committee Health and Safety (NJCHS)
to support our Local Ergonomic Committee.
Enhanced Focus on Changing Technology and ECPL
Placarding | 94C
The negotiators are keenly aware of the importance of
Energy Control and Power Lockout (ECPL) practices
and placarding to the membership. Recognizing the
ever-changing technological landscape, the committee
insisted that the National Joint Committee Health
and Safety explore placarding best practices and
incorporate them into the ECPL program.
Enhanced Dock Lighting Inspections | 94C
The Company will ensure that each manufacturing/
parts distribution facility will develop and implement
inspections for exterior lighting providing proper
illumination for our members’ safety.
Chemical Safety Improvements | 100C
The negotiating committee expressed concerns
regarding the many dierent chemicals the
membership is exposed to especially with the new
technological processes in manufacturing. As a
result, the Company agreed to update and distribute
chemical supplemental sheets and develop/deliver a
Chemical Safety Refresher.
Trailer Inspection | 94C
Realizing the importance of trailer inspections for the
safety of our members, the negotiating team secured
commitments to research and benchmark industry
wide trailer inspections securing the best practice
for the membership. These best practices shall be
presented by the NJCHS to the Manufacturing and
Non-Manufacturing Safety Councils for adoption.
Isolated Worker Safety | 194A
The safety of members performing work in isolated
conditions was a concern of the negotiating team.
It was agreed that the NJCHS will explore and pilot
technologies to reduce isolation work exposure and
improve the safe execution of isolated work across
the facilities.
Safety Messaging | 94C
Safety communication is mutually important for
both the Union and the Company. Understanding the
importance of standard messaging throughout all the
facilities, it was agreed to explore multiple messaging
process improvements.
Artificial Intelligence Technology Research
| 94C
Protecting the health and safety of the membership is
the first priority of the negotiating team. To that end,
the negotiating team expressed concerns regarding
the influence of AI technology in the workplace.
Therefore, it was resolved that research by the NJCHS
into AI technology and how it relates to worker safety
and its application to facility operations was obtained
by the negotiators.
Voluntary Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Training | 94C
In an eort to boost the health and safety of the
membership, the Company agreed that all facilities
will oer, on a voluntary basis, Friends and Family
CPR training to the workforce.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Core Team | 95C
The negotiating team is very aware of the changing
manufacturing technology and the challenges
these new processes present to the occupational
health and safety of the membership. To that end,
the negotiators secured NJCHS membership to the
BEV Core Team. This team is responsible for battery
electric vehicle safety programs including ensuring
the safety of our membership.
Research Funding | 44C
The negotiators remain committed to the Health
and Safety of the membership and secured a
recommitment from the Company to initiate and
fund research into Breast Cancer Prevention
Studies and Opioid Use Disorder. Additionally, the
Company will initiate and fund research into the
Health and Safety of workers exposed to Epoxy
Resins, Thermal Decomposition Products and
Isocyanates. Lastly, to participate in the study
of Engineered Nano Materials with The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH).
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