Labor, management boost work site safety LOWVILLE — For years, there was nothing or no one to stop a disgruntled person from walking into the Lewis County Office building carrying a concealed weapon, intending to harm county workers, with the exception of a separate courthouse entrance. Workers, especially those who dealt regularly with upset people, were concerned. “We did not like it because anyone could come in with anything,” said Senior Probation Officer and CSEA member Ellyn Losada. “Our front door was open to anybody.” Now, Losada and her co-workers are feeling more at ease after CSEA and management jointly developed a workplace violence prevention program that improves building security. Out of compliance More than a year ago, CSEA informed county officials they were out of compliance with the state’s Workplace Violence Prevention law because the county lacked a compliant prevention program. Soon after presenting a program about the law to county officials, CSEA activists and staff, including Lewis County Local and Unit President Kip Turck, met with county officials to propose that labor and management work together. The county established a joint labor-management workplace violence prevention committee. CSEA drafted a new prevention plan for the committee, including sample checklists, reporting forms and a risk assessment procedure. The committee also met regularly. Doing the right thing Turck, a working supervisor for the county’s Solid Waste Department, said the committee progressed because of a joint understanding that “we needed to make changes.” And they have. The committee completed the county’s new workplace violence prevention plan, including regular walk-throughs and risk assessment, worker training and new procedures to mitigate workplace violence risks. “They took it very seriously and wanted to do things right,” CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Josh Kemp said. The biggest change so far is the reconfigured entrance to the Lewis County Office Building. Everyone entering the building must now go through the courthouse entrance, CSEA Lewis County Local and Unit President Kip Turck, left, speaks with court officers and CSEA Central Region Judiciary Local members Lynda Spinks and Josh Hardesty, who screen visitors to county buildings. where they are screened by CSEA-represented Unified Court System court officers with a magnetometer and x-ray screening for bags. “We feel a lot better,” Losada said. “We can diffuse an angry person, but we can’t just diffuse an angry person with a gun, so certainly we feel safer.” Other safety upgrades and training is planned. Turck said CSEA has been very pleased with the county’s cooperation. “The county has been very supportive of this entire process,” he said. “It’s still a work in progress, but we’re still going to meet to chip away at everything involved in making our workplaces safer. We’re taking baby steps and working together, but that’s the important thing.” “This is a great example of how things can get accomplished when we all work proactively together,” said CSEA Central Region President Colleen Wheaton. “We should never have to address workplace violence concerns as a reaction to people getting injured or worse.” Visit www.cseany.org/osh/ violence to learn more about workplace violence and how to ensure your employer complies with the state law. — Mark M. Kotzin See pages 9 & 12 for more about workplace violence prevention. Elmira sanitation workers save life ELMIRA — After falling and lying outside unconscious in the snow for more than five hours overnight in frigid 10-degree weather, 73-year-old Joseph Myers of Elmira might have been minutes from death if CSEA City of Elmira Unit members and city sanitation workers Mike Waters and Ed Wood hadn’t been picking up trash. Waters was out on his morning route, driving a sanitation truck at about 6:30 a.m., when he first noticed Myers on the ground. “I just happened to look over and notice him there,” Waters told the Elmira Star-Gazette. “He slipped underneath his car.” Waters immediately went to Myers, called 911, and stayed with him until rescue workers arrived. Meanwhile Wood, who was driving another sanitation truck on the opposite side of the street, noticed Waters on his phone bending over the man. Wood went over to see how he could help. He then moved both trucks out of the way so that emergency responders could reach Myers. Waters and Wood covered Myers with their jackets to help keep him warm until help arrived. Waters helped the rescue workers move the stretcher over the snowy sidewalk. The ambulance took Myers to the Elmira city sanitation workers Mike Waters, left, and Ed Wood, right, are being honored with saving the life of a city man. Photos by Ray Finger, Elmira Star- Gazette. hospital, where he was treated for frostbite and released several days later. Still, Waters was told that Myers was in real danger lying in the cold. “They said if he was out there about another 20 minutes, it wouldn’t have been good,” Waters told the local newspaper. Waters and Wood were commended by their supervisor for their assistance in saving Myer’s life and received certificates from the City Council for their life-saving efforts. CSEA President Danny Donohue commended the workers in a posting on AFSCME’s blog. “Their heroic action saved this man’s life, but also serves as a reminder of the commitment and dedication we take to work every day. They went the extra mile and saved a life,” he said. — Mark M. Kotzin May 2015 The Work Force 13
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