Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
Going Universal - VPPPA Region I Chapter
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This e-version of The Leader is provided courtesy of <strong>VPPPA</strong> for members only. For reprint permission, please contact the editor at Communications@vpppa.org.<br />
i cAn honestly<br />
sAy, becAuse<br />
of VPP, the<br />
comPAny reAlly<br />
does cAre<br />
About eAch<br />
indiViduAl’s<br />
sAfety And<br />
well-being<br />
both At worK<br />
And At home.<br />
lead to accidents. This approach gives craft<br />
workers a personal stake in improving<br />
workplace safety.<br />
“We have seen the WTP evolve into a<br />
site that measures up to some of the<br />
greatest job sites in the world,” said<br />
Jesse Briones, laborer and craft safety<br />
representative. “Not only do workers have<br />
the opportunity to display the highest level<br />
of craftsmanship and safety, but we have<br />
created an environment where workers<br />
are empowered to be proactive, have a<br />
questioning attitude, bring fresh ideas and<br />
thus minimizing or eliminating injuries.”<br />
Getting people to change or to believe in<br />
something new can be difficult. Experience<br />
can lessen the burden and the goal of this<br />
workshop is to illustrate the benefits of<br />
supporting a strong safety culture. In<br />
2005, R.C. Briones, a labor foreman and<br />
Construction Safety Alliance member, said<br />
he would have put production over safety.<br />
As a second-generation construction<br />
worker, that was the expectation.<br />
“Unfortunately, because of my attitude, I<br />
was injured on the job and was out of work<br />
for an extended period of time,” Briones<br />
said. “It not only affected my career but my<br />
home life as well. My supervision wasn’t<br />
always supportive of safety programs or<br />
the safety fundamentals. I was wary of<br />
the whole VPP and safety program when<br />
I returned. I wasn’t sure if the company<br />
or the supervision had my well-being as a<br />
priority. When I returned to work, I was<br />
glad I did. I saw a complete turnaround<br />
with management, supervision and the craft<br />
workers on our site and they actually were<br />
making going home safe everyday a priority.<br />
There is a lot of interaction with the craft<br />
workers and management at all levels. Our<br />
unions have worked hard for years striving<br />
for safety excellence in the workplace and I<br />
believe VPP works hand-in-hand to achieve<br />
those standards. I can honestly say, because<br />
of VPP, the company really does care about<br />
each individual’s safety and well-being both<br />
at work and at home.”<br />
A steady improvement in the number of<br />
total recordable cases (TRC) days away,<br />
restricted or on job transfer (DART) cases<br />
and the days away from work (DAFW)<br />
from 2006 to February 2010 is shown in<br />
Figure 1.<br />
“I can definitely see a change,” said iron<br />
worker Kelley Kaloi, who has spent the<br />
last eight years at WTP. “Safety is better,<br />
quality is better and training is better. I can<br />
say this is due to the dedication of hard<br />
workers who want to change for the better<br />
and organizations like VPP.”<br />
4.00<br />
3.00<br />
2.00<br />
1.00<br />
0.00<br />
2006<br />
4.34<br />
2007<br />
3.80<br />
2008<br />
2.49<br />
2009<br />
1.87<br />
2010<br />
0.78<br />
total recordable cases<br />
(trc)<br />
2006<br />
2.99<br />
2007<br />
1.48<br />
“I have seen welcomed progress at the<br />
WTP during 2009,” said Field Safety<br />
Assurance Manager Miles Stauffer.<br />
“The project experienced several OSHA<br />
[Occupational Safety and Health<br />
Administration] recordable injuries during<br />
the first two months of the year. The work<br />
control process was undergoing a radical<br />
change to improve hazard analysis and<br />
controls and there seemed to be a division<br />
between the workforce and management.<br />
In June, the project achieved its first month<br />
with zero OSHA recordable injuries. This<br />
seemed to be a launching platform for<br />
improved performance at all levels. In<br />
September, the project started its record 78<br />
days worked without an OSHA recordable<br />
injury or illness. The Construction Safety<br />
Council and the VPP Steering Committee<br />
were combined, forming the Construction<br />
Safety Alliance, where I see open<br />
communication, ownership and a positive<br />
attitude by the members that have carried<br />
over to most of the workforce. I have seen<br />
the trust and morale improve as the site<br />
has embraced safety, not only as a project<br />
value, but as an individual value.” H<br />
*<br />
this workshop will be held tuesday, August 24,<br />
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., and will be presented<br />
by rosendo (r.c.) c. briones, laborer, wtP,<br />
bechtel national, inc., gilbert Alaniz, Jr.,<br />
carpenter, wtP, bechtel national, inc., and<br />
max hammond, site manager, wtP, bechtel<br />
national, inc.<br />
leARN mORe At the 2010 CONfeReNCe<br />
comparIson of Wtp<br />
constructIon sIte cases<br />
2006 throuGh feB. 2010<br />
2008<br />
0.55<br />
2009<br />
0.80<br />
2010<br />
0.00<br />
days Away, restricted or on<br />
transfer (dArt)<br />
2006<br />
2.31<br />
fIGure 1<br />
2007 2009<br />
0.09 2008 0.13 2010<br />
0.00 0.00<br />
days Away from work<br />
(dAfw)<br />
the leAder >> www.<strong>VPPPA</strong>.org 33