Public Employee Press

DEP safety committee — a winning team

Workers at the city Dept. of Environmental Protection deal with a wide range of safety and health issues on their jobs — toxic substances like caustic soda and chlorine, work practices and emergency action plans. An effective health and safety committee is a lifesaver for them, and their committee is a model for other agencies.

The Citywide Contract between DC 37 and New York City mandates a joint labor-management safety and health committee in each agency. These working groups provide forums where labor can bring concerns to management and both sides can work out solutions.

DEP Supervisory Employees Local 1322 takes seriously its role on the committee, which includes several locals plus management. Local 1322 President Fred Ricci and Vice President Bob Waterhouse are active participants, since members’ jobs supervising water and sewer workers and Watershed Maintainers place them at risk.

The committee has made real progress for members. They have convinced DEP to issue steel-tipped work shoes, prescription safety glasses and winter gear, provide right-to-know training, and install washers and dryers so members’ clothes don’t carry workplace toxins home to their families.

“Our involvement gives the union a say on health and safety issues,” Ricci said. His training as a DEP Supervisor and his schooling in emergency construction — including oil spills, hazardous materials, excavations and emergency actionplans — make him a well-informed advocate for union members.

Waterhouse has been an upstate member of the committee for seven years. Super­vising Watershed Maintainers in the Ken­si­co or “East of Hudson” region has helped him appreciate the critical importance of an effective approach to problem solving. He also has specialized training as a volunteer member of the Emergency Rescue Team and the Confined Space Rescue Team.

Members also applaud the commitment of Guille Mejia, who represents the DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. on the committee. “She’s pro-active and always in there fighting for the members,” said Ricci.

Management is vital for an effective committee. “My job is to work with the union and the bureaus of the agency to get them to address safety and health concerns,” said Sheranne Wickham, DEP’s Director of Safety and Health Compliance. “There has to be close collaboration to implement solutions.” And solutions are the goal.