Automotive Industry in Canada:

Hazards and Standards

CAW-TCA Canada

CAW is the largest private sector union in Canada.We’re opposed to NAFTA and the FTAA: Quebec City demo

CAW-TCA Canada

RSI Claims Increase after FTA

CAW-TCA Canada

CAW in Manufacturing

CAW-TCA Canada

Automotive Industry:

Automotive Assembly: Big 3– General Motors– Ford of Canada– DaimlerChrysler

Automotive Parts: eg.– Woodbridge Foam– Lear Seating– AG Simpson

CAW-TCA Canada

Safety Hazards:

safety: – lockout and machine guarding– falls– mobile equipment

ergonomics:– back injuries– repetitive strain injuries

CAW-TCA Canada

Health Hazards

Metalworking Fluids Solvents Isocyanates Carcinogens such as asbestos

CAW-TCA Canada

Message from CAW President Buzz Hargrove

There are too many deaths from the lack of proper lockout procedures and effective machine guarding procedures in CAW workplaces across the country.

CAW-TCA Canada

Joel Murray, GM Worker,died from lack of effective machine guarding

CAW-TCA Canada

Back Injuries, RSIs: overhead work

CAW-TCA Canada

Backs and RSIs:bending

CAW-TCA Canada

Repetitive Strain Injuries

CAW-TCA Canada

Metalworking Fluids:used to cool and lubricate

CAW-TCA Canada

Metalworking Fluids

Skin diseases Respiratory diseases

– occupational asthma– hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)

Variety of cancers– skin– digestive system (oesophagus, colon,

rectum, stomach)– larynx

CAW-TCA Canada

Metalworking Fluids:Cancer of the oesophagusBud

Jimmerfield

CAW-TCA Canada

Asbestos continues to killFrancis Huggett

CAW-TCA Canada

Closed in 1988,legacy of death lives on.

CAW-TCA Canada

Laws and Standards: Ontario Provincial LawCAW Collective AgreementsCSA and corporate Standards

CAW-TCA Canada

Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act,Industrial Establishments Regulationswww.ccohs.cawww.canoshweb.org/

CAW-TCA Canada

We bargain health and safety standards.

CAW-TCA Canada

CAW Collective Agreements provide detailed requirements more detailed worker h&s rights requirements

than the law: eg. full time health and safety worker reps chosen by union, paid for by company

more detailed education and training requirements than law requires (eg. $3 million per year CAW H&S Training Fund: Big 3)

more detailed specific requirements than law requires

CAW-TCA Canada

Machine Lockout and Guarding

CAW-TCA Canada

Jim O’Neil, CAW SecretaryThere is absolutely no excuse for

employers to fail to provide safe and effective lockout procedures. Whenever they neglect this duty, they must be confronted and made to comply with the law. Whenever this failure results in a serious injury or death, they must be prosecuted or financially penalized and in some situations jail terms should be sought

CAW-TCA Canada

David Ellis died at 18lack of machine guarding. Fine & jail term for employer: 21 days

CAW-TCA Canada

Types of Hazardous Energy

Electrical energy Kinetic energy Potential (stored ) energy Chemical energy Thermal energy Radiation

CAW-TCA Canada

The Hasps

CAW-TCA Canada

Map all lockout points

CAW-TCA Canada

Placarding and Mapping

CAW-TCA Canada

Air lock out valve

CAW-TCA Canada

Discussion Leader TrainingCAW Family Education Centre

CAW-TCA Canada

Ergonomics: union contract

Education and training of all workers: 4 hours Education and training of union leadership:

one week Full time ergonomics representatives in plants

or region, chosen by union, paid for by companies

National ergonomic coordinators, chosen by union, paid for by companies.

CAW-TCA Canada

Ergonomics Process: union contract Identify priority jobs through risk factor

checklists, health records and worker complaints

Eliminate or reduce risks by changing work methods, machinery, tools, and work station design

Implement and test the changes Document changes Follow-up to make sure they work.

CAW-TCA Canada

Bargain Health Standards and Protections for Chemicals Bans and toxics use reduction

(integration with environment) Most stringent requirements:

– Ontario regulations– U.S. OSHA PEL– ACGIH TLVs– GM OEG

CAW-TCA Canada

Metalworking Fluids Law and ACGIH TLV: 5 mg/m3

Contract: – existing equipment: 1.0 mg/m3

– new equipment: 0.5 mg/m3

– enclose and ventilate– substitution: vegetable oil for conventional fluids– Ford has done the best in terms of substitution,

engine plants in Windsor.

CAW-TCA Canada

Asbestos Worker deaths have made law more

stringent: 0.1 fibres/cc. But even this level is associated with

lifetime risks:– 5/1,000 lung cancer– 2/1,000 asbestosis

We bargained banning of asbestos as part of a dozen or more carcinogens banned

Stringent requirements for asbestos removal

Mexican artist

U.S. venue

Canadian talk

Common goal:

Protect workers.