Peer Trainer Program making CSEA stronger Every worker not only deserves a safe and healthy workplace, it is their righy by law. CSEA’s Peer Trainer Program focuses on the most hazardous job duties that workers face such as road construction and maintenance, confined space entry, emergency response and working with dangerous chemicals. All workers need to be trained to do their work safely. CSEA’s Peer Trainer Program recognizes that a cooperative labor/management program using the skill and expertise of employees who are doing the work already is the best way to reinforce safety measures with other workers. This cost-effective, labor/ management initiative creates an internal safety and health training structure that allows for a site-specific, compliant training for workers by workers. It’s one more benefit of belonging to a union. National leader CSEA was recently successful in obtaining funding through two, five-year grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The union’s Occupational Safety and Health Department and member activists have a national reputation as leaders in worker safety programs. “No one should die on the job, especially in accidents and mishaps that can be avoided with awareness and training,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “This is all about preventing worker injuries by showing people how to do the job safely.” The first program — Hazardous Waste Worker Training — will allow the union to maintain and grow the Peer Trainer Program on a statewide basis, including training on permit required confined space, hazardous waste operations and emergency response, trenching, hazard “It’s a whole different thing than when sombebody from outside the union tries to teach you. When it’s one of your brothers in the trenches, you’re more receptive because you know they get it.” — Tim Hoffman, a peer trainer and Town of Brookhaven Blue-Collar Unit activist. communication and other important procedures. The second initiative is the Hazardous Material Disaster Preparedness Training Program, which focuses on sanitation worker safety, work zone safety, emergency action plans and muck and gut (cleaning up after extreme weather events). CSEA will also be a part of a special project involving Latino and Brazilian workers — training organizers of Worker Centers to train day laborers and volunteers on safely cleaning up after extreme weather events. All of these efforts are targeted toward CSEA members who perform the most dangerous job tasks and suffer the highest fatality rate. Just as important, they strengthen the union and build our power by making our members better educated about potential hazards and safer on the job. Be vigilant, be aware, make sure management cares Imagine that you are employed in a wastewater treatment facility and you are directed to enter a sewer to make emergency repairs. You are concerned about the potential of toxic gases in the sewer. You and your co-workers haven’t had a confined space training course in at least five years, the personal protective equipment at your work site that is still present has seen better days and there seems to be no formal procedure for handling emergencies while you’re in the sewer. Worse, you must make the repairs on your own thanks to understaffing. When you question management about these issues, the response may be “don’t worry — we’ve always done it this way,” or a threat of discipline. Whether it’s confined spaces, sanitation, highway maintenance or numerous other jobs, too many CSEA members find themselves entering dangerous work situations every day for reasons much like the scenario above. It sometimes leads to death. Your employer is responsible for protecting you on the job, but in situations in which the employer is failing to protect workers, you have the right to protect yourself. If you are faced with an assignment that may place you in imminent danger and believe that your employer is not sufficiently protecting you, immediately contact your unit or local president, CSEA labor relations specialist or CSEA occupational safety and health specialist to assess the situation and make changes. You and your union representatives can work together to ensure that your employer is following state Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) regulations on proper equipment, procedures and training, including work site inspections, technical assistance and labor-management issues. CSEA also provides numerous health and safety training opportunities that will help increase your knowledge and ensure your employer keeps you safe. Remember, just because a work task has always been done a certain way doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe. Your employer is responsible for your safety on the job, and we must ensure they are accountable. — Janice Gavin October 2015 The Work Force 9
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