BY JAY RESSLER
DETROIT - In a blow to worker safety on the job, the state
of Michigan agreed to more than halve its original fine against
Great Lakes Steel for a May 1997 accident that killed a worker.
The agreement was reportedly worked out at a July pretrial
hearing before Administrative Law Judge J. Andre Friedlis.
The Michigan Department of Consumer and Industrial Services originally fined the company, a division of National Steel Corp., $10,150 in the death of James Brillhart, Jr., a crane repairman. Brillhart was killed when an overhead crane struck him while he was working on an adjacent crane. Prior to the July hearing, the fine had already been lowered once, in August 1997, to $8,750. Not satisfied with that, National Steel appealed, claiming Brillhart's death was due to "human error." The fine has now been cut to $4,900.
"I think that's pretty cheap for a death," said Harry Lester, director of District 22 of the United Steelworkers of America, according to Crain's Detroit Business. His comment expressed the anger of many workers at the fine reduction.
The cause of Brillhart's death, Lester said, was that machinery was not properly locked out, a safety violation state officials had cited the company for more than a year before. "The whole thing happened because of a repeat violation. More actions should have been taken by the state," Lester was quoted as saying.
Brillhart was one of five workers killed during 1997 at the Great Lakes Steel mill, located just outside of Detroit in Ecorse, Michigan. The other fatalities in 1997 included Willie White, an employee of a contractor, who was killed as he worked on a blast furnace on Zug Island. Marvin Crosby and John Fox were crushed when an overloaded hopper at the blast furnace collapsed onto the shanty where they were taking a break, burying them under 100 tons of metal. Donald Arnold, a carpenter, was killed on an overhead crane runway in an accident similar to the one that killed Brillhart.
National Steel ranked last among integrated steel mills for safety last year. It's noteworthy that the spate of fatalities coincided with National Steel shipping a record 6.14 million tons of steel in 1997 and earning record profits of $213.5 million, compared with $53.9 million in 1996. Shareholders received $4.70 per share in 1997 up from $.99 in 1996.
2,800 unsafe work practices
The union safety committee has been conducting a safety
audit of the aging mill in which they have identified 2,800
unsafe work practices. The Michigan Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (MiOSHA) had cited the company for 1,200
safety violations. Audits of some primary steelmaking areas
have yet to be completed.
In the recent settlement the company refused to assume responsibility, putting the blame on the workers instead. In a written statement company officials said the company is "moving forward with many employee-oriented activities to improve our safety program."
To some workers this promise rings hollow. Unsafe conditions are still rampant throughout the mill. Widespread overtime, job- combinations, foremen who turn a blind eye to unsafe practices, and lack of adequate maintenance all contribute to unsafe conditions. Potholes, uneven floors, cranes and other equipment with brakes and sirens that don't work, and malfunctioning hooking equipment all are common.
Nevertheless, the company goes to great lengths to pose as the champion of safety. There are safety rules in place for every operation, but these rules are used to absolve the company of any responsibility when accidents occur. "When someone gets hurt, they say it's because the workers involved failed to follow the safety procedures," noted Gary Boyers, the Socialist Workers candidate for Lt. Governor, who works in the Great Lakes Steel Cold Mill.
"The company has created the entire situation in which the unsafe conditions occur. They combine jobs and pressure the workers breaking in on those jobs to declare themselves qualified as soon as possible," added Boyers.
Workers must lead fight for safety
Fred Anderson a 34-year veteran of the mill and former union
safety man said, "The company has a responsibility to make sure
people are following the safety rules."
Anderson, who works as a crop shear operator in the temper mill, was quick to add, "We have a certain amount of responsibility too."
Boyers, underscored this point, noting, "Safety is a union question. Workers on the shop floor must take the lead in fighting for a safe workplace. We can't rely on MiOSHA, vigilant foremen, or company programs."
Rick Torres, who recently started working as a crane learner, said, "The only time the company comes down on workers for unsafe practices is when coils are damaged."
He added, "A lax attitude has developed because repairs are often neglected long after problems are reported." When discussing safety, Torres talks about his father who retired from Great Lakes Steel. He was seriously injured many years ago when a piece of mill equipment pulled his arm in. The elder Torres lived in constant pain from the injury for years until his death.
The company has recently started to strictly enforce policies on wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes hardhats, safety glasses, safety boots, hearing protection, and a blanket policy requiring buttoned-down long sleeves.
Torres concluded, "When people see so many serious things wrong and real dangers, and nothing done about them, they don't take seriously some of the PPE issues like long-sleeves. Let's talk about real issues - some of which cost money."
Jay Ressler is a member of United Steelworkers of America Local 1299 at Great Lakes Steel.