FEB - Bath Iron Works

BIW CREST TeamsCREST (Corporation for Re-Employment and Safety Training) isan IAM initiative designed to providejob re-entry and safety training.Employers and employees work together toinfluence greater safety, efficiency and productivityand help ensure a healthier, moreproductive work force.CREST began its work at BIW in late2008. Today, we have 17 joint subcommitteesincluding one second shift, oneergonomics, seven trade and eight areagroups. Subcommittees review injury data,look for ways to impact safety circumstancesin their area and engage with fellowemployees on related topics. They raiseawareness of what they do by highlightingtheir activities through communicationmeetings, posters and newsletters. Somegroups have suggested tooling or processchanges based on their findings, and someare involved in the 5 Star Complianceprogram when they do area or deckplate“walk abouts.”There is also a union/company CRESTSteering Committee which reviews injuryinformation as well as procedures, newproducts and equipment and area modificationswhich may impact safety The steeringgroup determines if new subcommitteesare indicated and defines ground rules andfunctions for the groups.Starting this year, the LS6 and salary subcommitteeco-chairs will report to the steeringcommittee with a short summary oftheir activities, their goals and any roadblocksthat they have encountered.The value of the subcommittees, accordingto Laura Mathisen (D10),DirectorEnvironmental, Health and Safety, is that itprovides an avenue for deckplate mechanicsto bring their safety ideas forward. Shesaid, “These are the people that know themost about work impediments or safetyissues, and this is a forum where the door iswide open to their suggestions.In a recent meeting of the PO1 CRESTSubcommittee, the group reviewed a laminatedbadge-sized check-list for front linesupervisors to use when introducing a new,returning or loaned employee to the group.The PO1 CREST team includes, l to r: Tim Vear, Charlie Hallett , Steve “Bubba” Davis, RussellLarrabee, Shawn Randall, Denny Cole, John Payne and Chris Saxby. Missing from the photo:Rhonda Cousens, Willie Dulac, Mike LeMay and Lenny Roy.Typical questions include:• Where are the building exits andmuster points, tool crib and the closestAED?• How and when will the individual beintroduced to the rest of the group?• Are there any work limitations?• Are there any unique safety concernsin the area?• Who can be contacted about a safetyconcern as well as any other employeerelatedconcerns?At the end of the session, every memberat the table had a chance to recommend atopic for future discussion, summarizesomething that was said earlier or make afinal comment. Bubba Davis (D10) said,“CREST is a very positive forum for talkingabout things that impact our ability to workproductively. There is pride within thecommittee about what we have been able todo and our ability to talk about a wide varietyof topics. ”Laura Mathisen noted that in addition toCREST, there are also long-standingLS7/management and BMDA/managementcommittees that address many of the sameissues within their areas and which havemade many contributions over time. Lookfor snapshots of other CREST subcommitteesin upcoming issues.Existing LS6/management CRESTSubcommittees include the following:Trades• Structural• Preservation Technicians• Electricians• Pipefitters• Outside Machinists and Machinists• Outfit• Rigging, Heavy EquipmentOperators, Material Clerks, StageBuilders and Crane OperatorsArea• Hardings• EBMF• PO1• PO2/Ultra Hall• Hull 504• Hull 505• Facilities• WarehousingOther• Ergonomic• Second Shift BathBIW NEWS | February 2010 | 9