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CROWLEY IBU MEMBERS---- THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK! |
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| Posted by Darryl (darryl) on May 11 2009 | |
| News >> Crowley Marine BU |
So before I go any further, here is my question to you;
What would it take to get you and/or your co-workers to "Think Safety" 100% of the time? In other words what will it take to make the Company's Safety Policy, Your Personal Safety Policy?
I would like you to think about that and get back to me with some ideas or answers.
The fact of the matter is that right now in Valdez while 90% of the time we are all some of the most safety minded workers I have ever seen. There is that lingering 10% where we can do better. As long as the Safety Policy here in Valdez remains "The Company's Safety Policy", "Crowley's Safety Policy" or "Alyeska's Safety Policy" we are doomed to fail in at least some way at some time. Until the "Safety Policy" or "Safety Culture" becomes YOURS, MINE and OUR's and we take that to heart it will not function at 100%.
The time for us to start acting on and thinking about this is not after the next incident. Crowley has a pretty darn good foothold here in Valdez with Alyeska, we have been here from the beginning and we have the equipment, the personnel, the experience and the professionalism to do this job better than any other company in the World, and our IBU membership has one hell of a lot to do with that fact, BUT like anything else our foothold can erode over time if we are not diligent in its upkeep. None of us want to be standing next to a shipmate or have them standing next to use when either of us is the cause or in any way involved in the next incident whether it results in personal injury or environmental damage and one thing that can make it much worse all together is when afterwords both you and your shipmates know it was preventable. Lets be honest, we all know dam well that lightening does strike and there is not one darn thing we can do about that. That is not what the Company or anyone else is talking about, what is being talked about is whether you should be out all by yourself in a lightening storm putting up a big metal TV antenna on the roof of your house. At that point there is something you can do or not do to prevent being struck.
I, right here and right now will fully admit that I could do more and do better than I have in the past and that is a fact. I have never had a personal LTA, spill or anything else but there were times when I could have been just a little bit safer or slowed down and stepped back just for a minute before continuing into a project and made really sure that I was doing everything right and the safest way possible. I would also, right now like to request that anyone and everyone that I work with assist me in doing a better job when it comes to safety by pointing it out to me if you ever see me rushing in or doing anything else that could be done in a safer manor. I believe that that simple act by a shipmate is the single best tool we have, the "Buddy System". Contrary to what I may have told you in the past, I am not perfect and I can always use a shipmates help or advice. In the last year I have run into to many of us that look down on someone when they remind us of or mention safety practices. The fact is that we are paid a good wage for the work we do here for Crowley and let me assure you that especially right now in the current situation, the company is specifically paying us a good portion of that wage to just plain be safe? Let your shipmates know that you want to work with them as a team when it comes to safety, make sure they know that you will never look at any suggestion that keeps you, the vessel, the environment or them safe in a negative manor, and that just the opposite is true and you will always welcome it. I don't know about you, but as a whole I like my job and want to keep it, so in turn I want Crowley to keep this contract. We as IBU Members can help Crowley stay in Valdez the way it is now and in the future through positive communication and team work! I look foreword to your ideas and suggestions. Above obviously were a few of mine.
Carl L Jones / IBU PSR Shop Steward / Valdez
Last changed: May 11 2009 at 2:53 PM
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